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 Plenty of Christmas cheer at Quadco party
The hall was decked and there were plenty of good tidings spreading Christmas cheer at the annual Quadco Christmas party on Dec. 8.
The event was held at the Defiance Knights of Columbus Hall and featured lots of good music and good times.
The Napoleon High School Jazz Choir kicked off the program with lots of great Christmas music and a couple of other jazzy favorites.
The HOPE Services Rhythm Band from Henry Coun ty brought their bell ringers and made several Christmas songs such as “Run, Run, Rudolph” and “Frosty the Snowman” come alive.
Montpelier High School’s show choir, Locomotion, finished up the morning’s entertainment with some cheery holiday song and dance numbers.
A turkey lunch with all the trimmings was served followed by a dance in the afternoon with Tim Fraker of SoundWaves. Souvenir photos were taken for those who wanted to get one.
Several large boxes were filled with food items such as the ones shown in the picture on the right and a tree was covered with hats and mittens that were all donated to the PATH Center in Defiance who serves people in the area who are homeless.
Brush Creek Candles, made by workers at Quadco, also had a display so people could get some candles or warmers and melting tarts for the holidays or for their gift lists.
Our thanks go to Executive Director Bruce Abell for his leadership and support, the Defiance Knights of Columbus for their contribution toward the party and use of their hall and everyone who helped make the Christmas party such a great time this year!
 Quadco float shares first place honors
With flags flying high, the Quadco float made its way through the Stryker Summerfest parade this year, and ended up in a tie for first place!
For the past three years, Quadco has had a float in the Stryker parade. This year’s entry tied in with the parade theme, “Community, Then and Now.”
The folks in the Senior Activities Center began the process of painting and putting the pieces together. Training Specialist Bobbi Schlosser designed the float and sketched out both sides. The seniors then added their artistic talents painting in the sections with Bobbi.
The sections were then loaded onto a flatbed wagon. People such as David, Aric, Jarred and Jerry, shown above, added decorations such as the flags and red, white and blue streamers along the sides and a blue skirt that reached toward the ground.
Signs were also added that display many of the work areas, including the SUBWAY® and Mama DeLuca’s® Pizza Now! Restaurants and products made by individuals at Quadco, such as the Brush Creek Candles.
 On the day of the parade, Wes Schrock hitched up his tractor and pulled the Quadco entry through the parade, as he has in the past.
The Stryker Area Heritage Council is in charge of the parade and this year added a judging contest for the top three entries. The judges selected the Quadco float for first place in a tie with the entry from the Farmer’s & Merchant’s State Bank.
Congratulations to everyone who helped put together this year’s Quadco float! It’s a real prize-winner!
 The Quadco Summer Picnic was a blast!
There was plenty of fun for everyone at the Quadco Summer Picnic held at Ruihley Park in Archbold on July 9.
Folks took turns getting their favorite staff members drenched in the spray tank. There were also cornhole games, golf-on-a-rope games, and basketball games in the park.
For those who wanted to be indoors, there were bingo games in the pavilion.
 About 300 people got their lunch featuring hamburgers or hot dogs fresh from the grill.
In the afternoon, there was a dance in the pavilion and outside there were games of baseball and more cornhole.
Refreshing root beer floats helped cool everyone off!
At the end of the day, everyone got a commemorative t-shirt to remember the fun they had at the summer picnic!
Developmental Disabilities Awareness event reminds people they are alike
Stories of people who like to play basketball, make jewelry, go camping and other activities abounded during a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month event held at Quadco Rehabilitation Center in Stryker March 3.
Speaking to the crowd that filled the center’s multi-purpose room, Bruce Abell, Executive Director of Quadco and Superintendent of the Williams County Board of Developmental Disabilities,  said that the theme of this year’s statewide awareness campaign is “Just Like You.”
“What that means is we all want to live the same kind of lives,” Mr. Abell said. “We all want a nice place to live. We all want to keep learning new things and become better people. We all like working at different places and doing different jobs.”
“We want to play and have fun. For instance, we like to go to movies. A lot of people like basketball. A lot of people like to go to the ‘Y,’” he pointed out.
Shown in the photo above Mr. Abell introduces Williams County Commissioner Brian Davis to the crowd as Mr. Davis presents a proclamation designating March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to Quadco worker Steve Kimpel. The proclamation signed by the Williams County Commissioners and read at the event by Commissioner Davis, states that an understanding of these kinds of similarities is best achieved when individuals with developmental disabilities are included in the participation of community activities and valued for their individual contributions.
The proclamation encourages citizens to support opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities “so that we all may enjoy the benefits in our society when our lives are shared living, learning, working and playing together.”
In the photo below, Mr. Abell presents Quadco worker Jerry Spencer with a sticker showing the theme of the event, “Just Like You.” Everyone who attended the celebration received a sticker to wear.
Bill Priest, Director of Marketing at Quadco, presented a program about the things individuals at Quadco like to do that are like other people in the community. He pointed out people who said they like to go bowling, play basketball or cheer on their favorite team or NASCAR driver. He noted that there are people who enjoy going to the movies, who have favorite restaurants they like to visit, who play computer games, buy and sell items on eBay, do crossword puzzles or go shopping.
He told about one person who joined a karate school, advanced through a number of the levels and was singled out as a student of the month.
Mr. Priest pointed out another person who wanted to clean the side of a road he traveled each day. So he contacted the Ohio Department of Transportation, was accepted in the “Adopt-A-Highway” program and regularly cares for a two-mile stretch of a state route.
He also shared the story of a person who joined with other young people from his church when they formed a mime group and for 14 years has been traveling to area churches and community events to perform.
“Watching and playing sports, making jewelry and gifts for friends and family, going to good places to eat, traveling to interesting places, listening to music or making some of your own, cleaning up the highway or doing volunteer work to make the world a better place…what does that sound like? It sounds like what everyone else does or should do, doesn’t it?” Mr. Priest asked.
“So during this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, may our communities see that there’s so much more we have in common, so much more we have to offer each other, so much more our lives can be enriched when we enjoy each other’s company, living, learning, working and playing…just like you,” Mr. Priest concluded.
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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