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 Music brings Christmas cheer at Quadco Christmas party
There were plenty of songs of the season that brought lots of Christmas cheer during the annual Quadco Christmas Party on December 10 held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Defiance.
Tara Murphy set a festive tone for the day as she led off the party with several beautiful clarinet solos.
 The Napoleon Jazz Choir (shown in the photo below) took the stage next with their selections of holiday music, followed by the “Sensations,” the show choir from Tinora High School (shown to the immediate right). There were some sing-along songs and then the “Varsity Blues” Jazz Ensemble from Defiance High School (shown at the top of the page) wrapped up the morning with a fine performance.
Quadco staff members served a delicious lunch with turkey and the trimmings was served to everyone these, and after the meal, the activity moved to the dance floor for the music played by Tim Fraker, the DJ from SoundWaves.
Souvenir photos were taken for those who wanted a memento of the party and there was a display from Quadco’s own Brush Creek Candles for those who might want to take home some great smelling candles or get some great gifts for the people on their Christmas list.
Two tables were filled with food brought by the folks who attended the party, and a Christmas tree was set up in front and many hats, scarves mittens and gloves were hung on it. The food and the cold weather attire was all donated afterwards to the Richland Place PATH Center in Defiance.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the party the success it was and to the Defiance Knights of Columbus for their donation toward the party!
Young people learn about work during summer program at Quadco
Fifteen area young people gained some valuable experience that they may one day apply to their own careers as they participated in a summer youth work program operated by Quadco Rehabilitation Center. The program provides young people with disabilities the opportunity to try some different types of work settings and prepare for the day they will graduate from school and enter the workforce.
 Sharon von Seggern, manager of Quadco’s Northwest Employment Service that oversees the program, said this year’s program served 12 young people from Williams County whose experience was underwritten by the Williams County Board of MR/DD.
Ms. von Seggern said there were a variety of workplace settings for the young people to try. They did cleaning at Stryker area churches, as well as at the library in Stryker, the Springfield Township/Stryker fire department and policing the grounds around the Springfield Township Park building.
One of the young ladies cleaned tables and restocked supplies at Pool’s Dairy Queen in Bryan. A couple of young men picked up the grounds at the parks for the Bryan Parks and Recreation Department. Still others assembled and packaged parts at Quadco’s Stryker workshop and at their Northwest Products plant in Archbold.
 Three Henry County youth sponsored by the HOPE Services/Henry County Board of DD also worked at Quadco’s Stryker workshop.
“The program gives these young people a chance to try out some jobs and see what it is like to have a job,” Ms. von Seggern said. “They will soon be leaving school and this helps them be better prepared for the time they look for work. It helps them begin to plan ahead to figure out what they want to do.”
“This year’s group of young adults has been great to work with,” Ms. von Seggern concluded. “They are enthusiastic, motivated and hard-working.”
Gardens sprout lots of interest at Quadco sites
Gardens grew this summer at three Quadco sites around the area.
The idea of putting out a garden sounded attractive to people at the Stryker building, Northwest Products and the Defiance Center when it was first presented early this year. So plans were made to put together a garden at each site.
A garden club was formed at the Stryker building and Northwest Products. Members learned about how to grow a garden, discussed what they wanted to grow, got the seeds and planted them in the ground.
At the Stryker building, the members chose to plant lettuce, green beans, peas, Indian corn, radishes, carrots, and decorative gourds. They also put in fresh herbs such as basil, lemon balm and rosemary. Tomato plants were added around the edge of the patio outside of the low ratio area.
 At Northwest Products, the club decided they wanted to plant tomato, cucumber and green pepper plants. When Brian Banister heard about it, he donated the plants for the garden.
Once the garden was finished, Mary Ann Gautsche brought some flowers to add color to the front entrance walk and along the front of the building.
Garden club members made sure the plants got watered and that weeds were hoed or pulled from around the new emerging plants.
 The members at Quadco’s Defiance Center joined with a number of other groups in putting in a garden at the Defiance Community Garden site this year. It is the first year the site has been available.
The garden was located behind the Defiance Clinic on land that is owned by the county. Each organization or individual was given a plot and they grew whatever they choose.
The members of the Defiance Center chose to grow Indian corn, radishes, peas and beets.
They were so excited about their garden, that they often asked their van driver to stop by the garden first thing in the morning, while on their way into the center, so they could see how their plants were progressing!
At Stryker, lettuce harvested from the garden was mixed in with salads served in the kitchen at lunchtime. Peas and green beans were also taken from the garden and served with lunches.
Workers at Northwest Products got to take some of their luscious tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers home to add into their meals.
May Inservice abloom with interesting topics
Everything from growing a garden to protecting against a pandemic flu epidemic was covered during the recent Quadco Inservice Training Day on May 4.
Williams County Extension Agent Florian Chirra planted the seeds of ideas for growing a good garden. He explained how gardens flourish best with ample amounts of sunshine. Mr. Chirra, a Master Gardener, also presented the attendees with several helpful articles on growing garden plants and charts on the best times to grow various types of vegetables and staples often found in a garden.
Gary Burr from Burr Funeral Home and Crematory in Bryan explained the issues involved in pre-planning for a funeral. A licensed funeral director in Ohio and Indiana, Mr. Burr expounded on the options available to individuals today when planning a service. He also mentioned how trusts and insurance policies can be used to cover the expenses of a service.
All this month media outlets have been providing stories of the H1N1 flu outbreak, and the people who attended the Quadco Inservice day learned the latest information about it. Beth Schweitzer, Public Information Officer and Educator for the Williams County Health Department, brought the group up to speed on the specific aspects of the flu and how it was spreading around the world.
With any flu outbreak, there are typically some fatalities. Mrs. Schweitzer explained that preliminary tests indicate the H1N1 flu lacks some of the genetic factors that may have made the 1918 flu so devastating. However, she pointed out that some experts are saying the H1N1 flu could return in a more potent form later this year.
 She reminded the attendees that the best protection from contracting the flu is frequent hand washing with soap and water. The use of the alcohol-based hand sanitizers is also helpful. Other suggestions include keeping the body’s immune system working best which means getting a good night’s sleep, eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise.
Preparing to be safe during severe weather was covered by Safety Coordinator Bill Priest. He showed past incidents of severe weather in the area and gave examples of what to do when severe weather threatens.
Anne Irving, RN, reviewed the rules and regulations for medication administration, provided annual training for delegated nurses and led a session of CPR with Training Specialist Deb Rauch.
Observation focuses on people “Just Like You”
 March was MR/DD Awareness Month. Quadco Executive Director Bruce Abell noted that county boards of MR/DD in Ohio host a variety of public awareness projects during the month to draw attention to the inclusion of individuals with MR/DD.
Mr. Abell said this year’s theme for the month was “Just Like You.” He explained, ”What the theme means is that when you afford people with disabilities equal access to housing, employment and learning opportunities and include those folks in your daily activities, the more we all realize that we’re all the same. People with disabilities are just like you, just like me.”
March is designated as MR/DD Awareness Month as a way to foster better acceptance and greater opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Mr. Abell says the effort helps people see the many abilities people have, regardless of disability, by reminding them there are many common areas we all share…where each individual is “just like you.”
The Williams County Commissioners issued a proclamation declaring March as MR/DD month in the county. One of the purposes stated in the proclamation they issued is to “encourage all Williams County citizens to realize that individuals with developmental disabilities should be afforded full access to community housing, employment and leisure activities.”
Quadco supports the efforts to promote the awareness month campaign.
“During MR/DD Awareness Month, we encourage people to learn more about the people in this area served through the local county boards of MR/DD who have developmental disabilities,” Mr. Abell said. “When you include them in your activities, and they have the same access to all the other things everyone else enjoys, all of our lives are enhanced and our community is a better place.”
Public tours Defiance Center at open house
 Members of the public were greeted warmly as they got the chance to see what goes on at Quadco’s Defiance Center.
On open house was held on March 6 at the center located in the Kroger Plaza at 1838 East Second Street in Defiance. Participants worked on craft projects and escorted interested persons through the building to show the various program areas.
Many family members in particular took advantage of the open house to walk through and see some of the items made by their son or daughter, brother, sister or cousin.
A number of people commented on the new vibrant wall colorings and decorations that have made a real impact in the kitchen area, giving it into more of a comfortable Tuscany décor reminiscent of old Italy.
They learned about the cooking classes, as well as other daily life skills that are covered for those who come to the center.
Others enjoyed the video room, sensory room or the large program area decorated with bulletin boards full of projects that they have created. There were also photos of places the participants at the center have visited, such as the Fort Wayne Science Center, Whitehouse Butterfly House, Sherwood Buffalo Ranch, Burkholder Apple Orchard, Grand Rapids Canal Boat, Fort Wayne Zoo, DeBrand’s Chocolates, Padrone’s Pizza, the old time popcorn museum and firefighter’s museum to name a few.
 Copies of activity calendars for participants at the center that show trips to the mall, the library, the Defiance YMCA, area parks and more were also distributed at the open house.
Participants also have the opportunity to work up to two hours a day as long as work is available. Examples of the work being done were shown to those who stopped by.
New flyers about the program were made available and a display of the new Brush Creek Candles was set up to show everyone the latest product manufactured by workers at Quadco’s Northwest Products division.
Individuals who may have an interest in attending the center and their families are always welcome to set up a tour and see the center for themselves. Just call Sharon von Seggern at 1-800-569-3907 to set up a tour of the center.
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