Preschool Celebrates 100 Days With Special Guests, Parade And Balloons
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
Little hands clapped with joy as teachers declared the 100th day celebration had finally arrived for students at Elizabeth Wayne Preschool.
They had been counting the days to the three-digit mark since the school year began.
“I’ve been waiting for this day,” said Lily Hickey, who will head to kindergarten next year.
Dressed in a plaid jumper with matching pink cowboy boots, Lily said she enjoyed the celebration.
“It was like I went to a birthday party. I loved it,” she exclaimed.
Friends and family joined the students in song to help celebrate the event on April 3, during which the children released 100 balloons, marched around the school and enjoyed cookies and milk.
Three local mayors and the superintendent of the Maumee City Schools also congratulated them for reaching the milestone.
“I think this is really neat – this is your day,” said Maumee Mayor Tim Wagener, who presented a proclamation to the school on behalf of the city.
“I think it’s great they’re having a party to celebrate,’ agreed Oregon Mayor Marge Brown, a good friend of Mayor Wagener, who also attended the event.
“When I went to kindergarten the dinosaurs were walking around. Do you believe that?” she asked the kids, who giggled and answered, “Yes.”
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, whose granddaughter Juliet Burns attends the school, read the book Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten.
Maumee superintendent Dr. Greg Smith encouraged the young students to stay inquisitive.
“Ask your parents a lot of questions, ask them to read to you and ask them to help you and look over your work. It will help you in kindergarten,” he said.
Diane Bethel, the preschool teacher in charge of organizing the event, began contacting each state in January to request two small state flags. Of the 50 states, 22 sent small replicas of their flags, which the children carried in the parade. The teachers made flags for the states that didn’t respond.
“When the flags arrived in the mail, we colored their state on the map and talked about where they were located in relation to us,” Bethel explained.
Pam Brower, the preschool director, said that learning to count to 100 is a big event for the children.
“Getting to 100 days is a special crossroads in their learning,” she said.
Fellow teacher Maria Fisher said the event helped introduce many other concepts.
“We were able to introduce other states, counting by 10s and number recognition,” she said. “The kids loved it.”
Currently 67 children are enrolled in the school, which caters to children age 3, 4 and 5.
In addition to Bethel and Fisher, other teachers include Maureen Barcheski, Tina Scheuerman, Tina Faulkner and Tamie Daly. Therese Schneider serves as lunch bunch coordinator and Bette Elliot is the assistant to the director.
Elizabeth Wayne Preschool is located at 310 Elizabeth St. in Maumee at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. It is licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
For more information, call (419) 893-3383 or e-mail preschool@stpaulsmaumee.org.
City Council Approves Purchase Of New Police Vehicles
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
The Maumee Police Division has been given the green light to purchase a fleet of new vehicles.
At Monday’s meeting, Maumee City Council approved a purchase agreement for eight 2008 Dodge Chargers from Charlie’s Dodge of Maumee.
The finance committee, which also reviewed the request, recommended approval of the purchase, which is part of the 2008 capital budget.
The cost of the new vehicles is $212,679.52. The city will receive $16,900 for the trade-in of six 2004 and one 2006 police package Crown Victoria vehicles, bringing the net payment to $195,779.52.
According to Police Chief Robert Zink, the city has purchased a new fleet of vehicles every two to three years; however, “the last purchase was made in 2004,” he said.
The new fleet is expected to arrive sometime this summer.
In addition, council also approved the department’s request to purchase a 2007 Harley-Davidson police model Road King motorcycle it had been leasing since April 2007. The cost to purchase the motorcycle along with a six-year extended service contract is $16,000. One officer is currently trained to use the motorcycle; however, a second officer is scheduled to begin training.
Also at the meeting, council took the following action:
• Approved the appointment of Marilyn Wendler to the records commission.
• Approved the appointment of Jeff Bretzloff to firefighter class I, Dave Mather to firefighter class II and Rick Davis to firefighter captain.
• Approved the appointment of council member Tim Pauken as city council representative on the Substance Abuse Intervention League board.
• Approved a request from the fire chief to apply for a $313,516 grant through FEMA/USFA Assistance to Firefighters for traffic information and control systems.
• Approved a $12,041.48 contract with Duke’s Root Control to perform annual sewer root treatment.
• Referred an amendment to the downtown revitalization grant to the streets committee for review.
• Referred the annual street paving program to the streets committee for review.
• Approved a $4,345.20 contract renewal with Workplace Resources to provide employee assistance programs and services from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
• Referred a request from the Maumee Valley Historical Society for $75,000 in funding to the finance committee for review.
• Referred a request to install Internet access at Rolf Park Pool to the parks and recreation committee for review.
• Approved the 2008 capital budget.
Mayor Tim Wagener and council member Todd Zimmerman were not at the meeting.
The next Maumee City Council meeting will take place on Monday, April 21.