Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

Ron McDaniel

Basic Healthy Living Roadmap

The Cleveland Clinic and many other hospitals and organizations across the country offer programs on health and nutrition that can help you live a healthy life.  The Cleveland Clinic lists 7 things you need to eat and do to live a healthy life.

  1. Eat at least 7 helping of fruits and vegetables daily.
  2. Choose whole grain more often. Packages  are now labeled with whole grain, multigrain , etc. Read the labels!
  3. Limit your meat consumption.  Chicken and fish are the recommended meats by every organization that deals with healthy living.  Processed meats are not to be included in your diet, or to be kept to a very minimum.
  4. Consume foods rich in calcium and vitamin D.  While exercising, aim to get fifteen minutes of sun exposure
  5. The way you cook your meals is important.  Poaching eggs instead of frying them can help you maintain a healthy weight.  Steaming vegetables instead of frying them, or microwaving them is always preferable.
  6. Get active.  If you start slowly is better than not starting at all.  Dedicate a set  time where you exercise regardless of whether you have dishes in the sink, or laundry to switch.  Choose a time where it’s very probable you’ll make it.  It will become a habit if you stick to it for a week or two.
  7. And last but not least, Keep a healthy body weight.  It is so hard to start when you have 30 or more pounds to loose, that you get discouraged.  But, remember the weight didn’t come overnight, and having a healthy body weight lets you live longer.  Isn’t that worth the effort?

Before I close this, there is something you need to check out as well. The trackers online allow you to create a profile to find out what and how much to eat. You can enter basic information, and they will have a personalized plan for you to explore. Check it out and see if it fits your lifestyle. GO! and let us know if it works for you.

Literacy in the United States

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the U.S. Department of Education states that children that are read by a parent or guardian develop stronger reading skills than those whose parents do not read to them.  The advantages these children develop over the course of their lives are significant.

The children that are engaged by their parents in any literacy activity, are better prepared when they enter kindergarten, and are able to cope with the academic rigors that have become standard in the United States.

Many of the literacy activities are easily done by a parent, guardian, or older sibling.  Reading or telling stories, teaching letters and words, and recognizing numbers are some of the most  basic activities that these children can be engaged  in to become proficient readers.

Some studies suggest that the literacy rate in the United States hasn’t changed in the last ten years, while other studies have shown that among the 20 “high Income” countries, the United States ranks 12th. 

Literacy in the United States is a serious problem that is easily overlooked during these uncertain times. In this country, there are 44 million adults unable to read a simple book or story to their children, and  60% of households in the United States do not or cannot buy a single book in a year. With these grim statistics, literacy in this country have to begin at home regardless.

Children of families that lack the means necessary to foster a love for reading or books, should not be an excuse to let these children fall thru the crack of  an educational system that is failing them.  By helping these families find other means to help their children to read, we can do a lot of good for our society as a whole.

Libraries across the country, offer programs that help introduce children to story time sessions and by doing so, helping them get involved in books. By the time these five year olds go to kindergarten, an emphasis should be put in reading to them and with them.

The statistics of school youth unable to read the most basic books and still graduating from high school are appalling. We need to expect more from them, and as a society, we need to help them achieve the most basic of skills of all. Reading is obviously not for everyone.

Which Food to Shop For a Healthy Liver

Still trying to get healthy for the New Year?  Today we focus on the second largest organ in your body – the liver. Considering that your liver has to work overtime filtering chemicals from the blood, you shouldn’t take this particular organ for granted. Like everything else in your body, the key to ensuring that your liver stays healthy is eating healthy and not indulging in substance abuse. As a part of the whole digestive process, everything that you consume, whether it may be food, drink or medicine, goes through your liver. This means that when you put too much harmful stuff into your system, your liver will have to filter those through and prevent those from coming into your bloodstream. Do note that while the food listed below will help in ensuring that this vital organ remains healthy, everything will be useless if you make your liver work overtime when you consume harmful substances for your body. With that in mind, let’s begin our list of food for a healthier liver.

  1. Turmeric. The Global Healing Center has named turmeric as the “liver’s favorite spice”. Turmeric helps the body process fats and will encourage bile production. Adding turmeric into your diet will help your liver detoxify by getting rid of carcinogens.
  2. Green leafy veggies. Remember when your mom would force you to eat your green veggies and you grudgingly obey? Well, as it turns out, that simple act done regularly will help you avoid issues with your liver later on in life. It’s even better if you consume organic products. Why so? Well, as previously mentioned, you liver filters everything you put in your mouth, including some possible leftover pesticides that may have been left there from non-organic veggies. Leafy vegetables have a neutralizing ability, which will help your liver when it encounters metals, chemicals and pesticides that you have consumed through food.
  3. Cruciferous vegetables. You can almost never go wrong with veggies. Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower belong to this category. Cruciferous vegetables are rich in compounds called glucosinolate, which helps the liver get rid of toxins you have ingested into your system.
  4. Grapefruit. This is not the first time that eating vitamin C rich food has proven to help your body. Grapefruit contains vitamin C and glutathione, which has been found to be helpful in aiding the liver do its job of filtering harmful toxins in the body.
  5. Walnuts. Fond of munching on these? Like grapefruit, walnuts are rich in glutathione, which as mentioned above, will help your liver do its job. Plus, walnuts also contain Omega-3 fatty acids, so consuming it will not only ensure your liver’s health, but also that of your heart.

With the many unhealthy food and substances we tend to consume daily with our diet, you can imagine how much a football-size organ has to do in order to filter those from our bloodstream. Remember, eating food such as the ones mentioned above in a regular basis is only a part of the whole process in ensuring that your liver remains healthy. With proper diet and avoidance of harmful substances as much as we can, there is no reason why we cannot save ourselves the trouble of dealing with liver disease in the future.

Akron Boxing and Kickboxing

For a lot of people, boxing paints a mental image of two individuals beating each other into a square ring on national TV. Recently however, the sport of boxing has become more available and tapered to any kind of individual. Kickboxing first seemed to spur the initial boxing trend, but then eventually, boxing and kickboxing clubs started popping up everywhere. On social media, you began to see your favorite stars donning boxing gloves and posing by bags. It’s all for a good reason too, boxing has some major mental and physical benefits that can burn a ton of calories as well.

  1. Boxing helps lower stress levels. The amount of adrenaline you get from punching a bag after a long, stressful day is incredibly rewarding. The hormones and chemicals released afterwards are a great way to boosting your mood and feeling incredibly productive.
  2. Boxing is a great workout, and works the entire body. Not only does it work your arms and shoulders. But continuously hitting the bag, and rotating your body, works out your entire core, and makes your heart rate skyrocket. All of this results in a killer workout for your entire body, and ends up burning a ton of calories. This is also great for keeping a healthy heart and mind.
  3. Boxing is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination. Many of the moves in boxing require a focused eye and a good mind and body connection. Constant drills, and routines that have set moves are great for this, and continuous practice will really help improve these skills.

Now that boxing has become more available, and friendly for everyday people, it is a great way to mix up your workout routine, and get yourself in a friendly environment with people who are trying something new, and trying to improve themselves.

Remember to check with your doctor before trying anything new like boxing or kickboxing.  You want to be sure you are ready for a good workout and you do not have any issues that might be made worse by the repetitive motion or the types of movements you will be making.  Most clubs ease you into the sport and make sure you are ready, so do not worry that you are going to be fighting people.  You move at your own pace.

Accounting Checklist for Business Startups in Akron

There are a few steps that you should take to ensure that your small business is successful. Organizing your accounting practices early will assist you to concentrate on the important work of growing your company. You will realize that there are a number of finance software applications that you can use for your accounting practices.

Bookkeeping is an essential part of any company because it helps in controlling the operations of your company and avoids an audit by offering the IRS what they require. Therefore, in order to attain your long-term objectives, increase your sales and organize your company’s accounting practices, ensure that you consider the following factors;

  • Make sure that your small business is legally registered and thereafter open a bank account for your company. The bank account for your business should be separate from your personal account including checking and credit card. Separating your company and personal expenses will give you peace of mind in the future.
  • It is critical for you to keep a record of all your expenses so that you can be certain that your business will be successful. This activity will assist you to track the development of the organization, organize your financial statements and also the deductible expenses. Therefore, keep all the important receipts of your business.
  • Develop a bookkeeping system through the different kinds of software that are available or simply an Excel worksheet if you have a very small number of monthly transactions. Additionally, you can hire a temporary bookkeeper that is based near your business.
  • The next step is to create a payroll system that will assist you to assign different roles in your small business and then compensate them for their input. Create a payroll system for all employees including permanent staff members and independent contractors. There are many companies that offer payroll solutions and your accountant can recommend one.
  • You should produce accurate and detailed invoicing so that you can easily answer questions from your clients in case of a misunderstanding. In addition, you should consider online payments so that you can automate your bookkeeping process.
  • You need to be ready to receive large expenses such as computer upgrades and equipment repair. These kinds of major expenses can come up in a slow month and therefore, you should be ready to avoid a cash crisis.
  • Devote some time to update your books. Dedicate a few hours per week to clear out your paperwork so that you can avoid a long pile up. It is important that you stick to the days that you have set aside so that your books can be updated at all times.  If you have hired a bookkeeper this is easier for you as you just need to be organized and get information to them, and keep an eye on their work.
  • Re-evaluate your accounting practices regularly. At the start, you will only use an Excel worksheet; however, as your company grows you will need to use more improved methods. Therefore, when you realize that an Excel worksheet is not adequate for you and needs a lot of effort; you should begin to look at the Internet-based bookkeeping platforms. Continue to reassess the effort and time that you use for your company’s bookkeeping so that you can save time for other more relevant activities.

Not taking accounting seriously is a huge risk for businesses.  It can lead to lost money, paying too much in taxes, poor business performance and even large penalties and fees simply by not paying things on time. If you are not able to conduct the bookkeeping process on your own then you should seek the assistance of an expert. That way, you will have a chance to concentrate on running your small Akron, Stow or Fairlawn business and try to get ahead of your competitors.

 

 

 

Kids Art In and Around Akron Ohio

The educational system in the United states has for many years now shifted resources to teach and test children in common core areas like reading,writing and math, while leaving art and music education behind.  And while many people do not appreciated the impact music and art education have in a child, these teachings constitute some of the most important building blocks in their development. From motor skills, decision making, and language development to visual learning, and cultural awareness, art and music education provide the child with the tools necessary to succeed in life. That said, this is a list of art instructions facilities in and around Akron that can be of interest to you and your family.

Canton Museum of Art

Address: 1001 Market Avenue North Canton, Ohio 44702

Tel: 330.453.7666

Website: http://www.cantonart.org/

The Canton Museum of Art offers classes weekdays and weekends throughout the day and evening to fit your busy schedule.  They offer classes geared to all ages, and all budgets. They offer classes in drawing, jewelry,painting and textiles.  If you are planning ahead and want to enroll your child in a summer art camp, then the Canton Museum of Art is a very good choice for you.

Palladian Palette

Address: 106 N Main St, Akron, OH 44308

Phone:(330) 730-0334

Website: http://www.palladianpalette.com/open-studio-membership.html

A beautiful place where memberships can be tailored to the  individual or families, and walk-Ins are welcome. A place where five days a week offers you a 2-3 hours of painting, clay, wood working, or stamping experience with a local artist.  Do you have questions or want to visit their site to learn more? Then follow the link above.

Akron Art Museum

address: One South High, Akron, Ohio 44308

Tel: 330.376.9185

website: https://akronartmuseum.org/calendar/list/demos-workshops-classes/10/

Cuyahoga Valley Art Center

Address: 2131 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221

Tel: (330) 928-8092

website: http://www.cvartcenter.org/classdescriptions.html

The Cuyahoga Valley Art Center is a wonderful place for adults to learn a variety of art expressions. From  acrylic, mixed media, collage journaling, drawing, ceramics and painting, the center truly offers a wide range of art instruction.  They seem to geared more to the adult population, although they do say they can accept responsible 12 year olds, and do have classes for 13-18 years old. But, if you are looking for a younger child art instruction class, this may not be the place for you.

All fired Up

Address:  30 Rothrock Loop, Copley, OH 44231

Tel: 330-865-5858

website: http://www.allfiredupakron.com/  contact: [email protected]

All Fired Up is  creative studio located in the Akron/Montrose/Fairlawn area.They have called this area their home for the last 15 years, and they offer classes for all ages and all skills levels. When considering classes for your young ones, this is a bit of information you appreciate when researching art classes and studios in the area.They offer painting, pottery, glass fusing and canvas painting classes for you and your children to explore.

Art in Action

http://artinaction.org/#pricing

Art online? You bet!  If you don’t have the time to take your child to an art class outside the home? No problem. Art in Action provides an online curriculum with a nine level program, and  age appropriate lessons for your child.  From Kindergartner to 8th. Grade, this place is sure to provide some alternatives for you and your child.

 

We sincerely hope you have found the art place you’ve looking for, and to email us if you would like to be included.

What is Probate and why should you care?

Many people do not know about probate until a person has died. When a person dies, their will and other legal assets have to go through the probate process. This is often done by a probate lawyer because the process can become very complicated. When family members are involved it can create tension so having a neutral third party can help the process along.

Akron families can protect themselves with planning and finding an Akron probate lawyer.

When a person dies they leave behind debts, tax bills, property, and other assets. All of this is called a person’s estate. When a person dies with a will in place, by law the estate needs to be administered. This is done by a person called an executor. The executor will read the will and notify the beneficiaries that the process has begun.

Many people do not understand that even if they die with a paid off home and cars that their debts still need to be resolved. This is why most probate lawyers ask people to give a specific percentage of their estate’s value to each beneficiary. This way it does not become too confusing to administer after the debts are paid off.

This process can be lengthy because creditors need to be notified of the deceased person’s death. Some creditors will even ask for a death certificate as proof that the person has in fact passed away. If the person has a life insurance policy then that needs to be administered either by the insurance company itself or the executor. Some people decide to leave their life insurance proceeds to one person or to their estate so that it is divided equally among the beneficiaries.

The first thing that needs to be done is to submit the will to the court in the state where the will was filed. A petition will need to be filed with the court that states the deceased person’s full name, if there is a will, and when the death occurred. Then, the court will review the information, appoint the executor of the estate, and see if a bond needs to be given to the estate. After this process is completed, people who are related to the deceased, those individuals named in the will, and creditors will be notified by mail that the court has received the will and that the estate is now being dealt with.

After this, the probate process begins; it can take more than a year to get a will through this process. It depends on how well the parties that are involved deal with each other. If someone challenges the will then it can take years to close the probate process. When dealing with the probate process it is a good idea to consult a probate lawyer. They can help guide people through the process to make it easier and much less stressful.

Mushroom Coffee Review

One of the most exciting things I have discovered in a long time is mushroom coffee by the guys over at Four Sigmatic.  Sounds disgusting, right?

Bear with me – because what it did was amazing.

I heard from Tim Ferriss that this mushroom coffee increased focus, energy and mental sharpness so I ordered some right away.  After all, he is the guy always experimenting, trying to find the optimum performance.

Got the order and in one day it was like a fog cleared.  No, it does not taste as good as a normal cup of fresh brewed coffee, but it was not bad.  But let me list the benefits I experienced (Keeping in mind I am not a health professional and results will vary).

  1. Experienced sharper mental thinking within an hour
  2. Enhanced will power later in the day – I often fade as the day goes on and start eating badly.  (Lost 7 pounds after 2 weeks of this coffee)
  3. Worked longer and more productive hours – because I got less distracted and bored.
  4. Stopped drinking 5-7 cups of normal coffee.  Now just drink this stuff and green tea.
  5. Accomplished more goals and remain very excited about getting stuff done.

What is even more interesting is that my Wife and my teenage daughter had almost identical effects.  Our daughter scored her first perfect college math score IN HER LIFE after being on this for a while.  She reported she is simply more patient and understands the lectures better.

I LOVE this stuff – you can buy it here: Check out the flavors. I recommend Lion’s Mane Coffee.

How To Keep Germs Away This Flu Season

During a school flu outbreak, it is very likely your child will come home sick and will get the other members of your home sick as well. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/everyday_preventive.pdf offers some guidelines to help you deal with a flu outbreak at school or at work, and here are 7 concise easy steps to follow if you are home with a sick child or spouse.

  1. Wash your hands and your children’s hands with soap and water every time you enter your home. Keeping germs away from the outside world is a good tip for anyone dealing with small and school age children.
  2. Change linens and bathroom towels daily when you are sick. Contaminating each other by using the same towels or sharing a pillow will ensure that everyone gets sick, and stay sick for a longer period of time.
  3. Disinfecting kitchen and bathroom counters thorough out the day will ensure that you’ll encounter less germs going forward.
  4. Believe it or not, feeding your children chicken noodle soup will get them through their illness a bit faster
  5. Covering their mouths on their sleeves instead of their hands should decrease the number of germs they spread around the home.
  6. Cleaning door knobs around the home will greatly decrease the germs that get passed around.
  7. A diet full of fruits and vegetables can do a lot of good to your child. The old saying of “An apple a day will keep the doctor away” hasn’t survived this long for no reason.

Whether you are in Akron or anywhere, this is great advice.

For more about flu outbreaks and what to do about them, check the CDC for more information.

Akron Business Networking

Akron is full of things to do.  But if you are starting a new business or if you want to get out and meet more people because you are in sales, you have to know where to go.

What many people do not realize is that not only is there an Akron Chamber of Commerce that provides business networking opportunities in Akron, but there are many other chambers as well in all the surrounding communities.  I have been to Fairlawn, Kent, Stow, Ravenna, Streetsboro and more different chambers.

Beyond that, Rotary is in many of these same communities.

Then you have professional networking organizations that provide specific networking opportunities.  One I was in was B to B Connect which generated a lot of referrals for our business to business marketing agency at the time.  They had groups in Kent, Stow, Akron, Streetsboro,  Aurora and more locations.  Because the same group meets every two weeks, you get to know people better and even if you do not get business, you will probably develop some good business friendships.

Network After Work puts on events in Akron and Cleveland as well and you do not have to be a member to attend and meet some new people.  The combination of events to meet new people and other events where you get to know people better is very powerful over time.

Then you can check Facebook Groups, LinkedIn and MeetUp to find even more things going on in Akron for business networking.  If you want to go to something new every few days you should be able to find something.

Some tips to networking better:

  1. Follow up the next day – nothing is more frustrating when people do not follow up after meeting.
  2. Do not expect sales – look to grow your network of connections and keep them fresh (reaching out regularly) and the sales will come over time.

Sure you can go to Cleveland which has come great events as well.  But chances are you can find all the new customers you want in the greater Akron area if you just know where to look.