Holiday activities to get you in a festive spirit, and help you celebrate the season!

All programs are available in-person or by video

All programs can also be done outdoors in nice weather or with overhead cover (except Soap Making, Viva Mexico!, A Healthier Thanksgiving and Holidays Around the World)

 Valentine’s Day: February 14

• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Great for any holiday! Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Valentine’s Day Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy scented soaps to give as gifts for any holiday. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, decorate gift bags for our soaps, and even have a fun sing along if there’s time. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

St. Patrick’s Day: March 17

• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)

 Easter: Varies Based on Moon and Spring Equinox

• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Easter Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

 Earth Day: April 22

• Earth Day Greeting Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards to celebrate nature. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

Cinco de Mayo: May 5

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Mother’s Day: Second Sunday in May

• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Mother’s Day Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards for any Mom in your life, or we will deliver them to moms at a homeless shelter for you. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy scented soaps to give to yourself or any Mom in your life. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, decorate gift bags for our soaps, and even have a fun sing along if there’s time. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

 Father’s Day: Third Sunday in June

• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Father’s Day Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards for any Dad in your life, or we will deliver them to dads at a homeless shelter for you. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy masculine-scented soaps to give to yourself or any Dad in your life. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, decorate gift bags for our soaps, and even have a fun sing along if there’s time. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

 Memorial Day: Last Monday in May

• Patriotic Sing-Along – Great for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Flag Day, Veteran’s Day and any other patriotic holiday. A full hour of all those great American songs that we know and love! Small percussion instruments are handed out so that everyone can participate. (1 hour class
• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)

 Independence Day: July 4

• Patriotic Sing-Along – Great for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Flag Day, Veteran’s Day and any other patriotic holiday. A full hour of all those great American songs that we know and love! Small percussion instruments are handed out so that everyone can participate. (1 hour class)
• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)

 Halloween: October 31

• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Halloween Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards for family or friends, or we will deliver them to kids at a homeless shelter for you. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

 Veterans’ Day: November 11

• Thank-A-Veteran Cards – Make your own unique cards to thank a veteran for their service. You can give them to someone you know, or we will deliver them to the VA Hospital for you. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Patriotic Sing-Along – Great for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Flag Day, Veteran’s Day and any other patriotic holiday. A full hour of all those great American songs that we know and love! Small percussion instruments are handed out so that everyone can participate. (1 hour class)
• Cookie Decorating and Punch Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations, and we’ll also make a holiday punch.  (1 hour class plus ingredients)

 Thanksgiving: Fourth Thursday in November

• A Healthier Thanksgiving – New twists on your favorite Thanksgiving classics – lighter and healthier recipes that are sure to satisfy! We will make a recipe to eat in class, and we can also provide a pamphlet of recipes for those who like to cook. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Great for any holiday! Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Thanksgiving Day Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

Hanukkah: Begins 25th of Kislev

• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients) Please let us know if kosher ingredients are required.
• December Sing-Along – A non-denominational holiday performance. This one is sure to get those bells jingling and those toes tapping! (1 hour class)
• Hanukkah Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy scented soaps for yourself or to give as gifts. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, decorate gift bags for our soaps, and even play the dreidel game if there’s time. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

Christmas: December 25

• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Folk Art Snowman Art Project – Painting and glued objects to create a wooden folk art snowman. (1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
  
• “Create a Snowy Day” Art Project – A torn paper art project to create a wintry wonderland. (1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
• December Sing-Along – You may choose either a Christmas performance or a non-denominational holiday performance. This one is sure to get those bells jingling and those toes tapping! (1 hour class)
• Christmas Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy scented soaps to give as gifts for the holidays. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, decorate gift bags for our soaps, and even have a fun sing along if there’s time. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.
• Santa and His Pony – A singing Santa or Elf and their Christmas pony visit for an hour of furry fun and holiday merriment. Everyone is encouraged to pet the pony, but we respect the wishes of those who are afraid. Also, their hooves are wrapped so they don’t damage the floor, and they are trained not to “go” while inside the building. (1 hour program – please contact us for pricing)

 Kwanzaa: December 26-31

• Cookie Decorating and Spiced Cider Making – Great for any holiday! Participants will learn cake decorating techniques to create their own unique cookie decorations. They will also learn how to make yummy spiced cider. (1 hour class plus ingredients)
• Kwanzaa Cards – Make your own unique greeting cards using a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
• Soap Making – Make quick and easy scented soaps to give as gifts for any holiday. While the soap is cooling we’ll learn about the history of soap making, and decorate gift bags for our soap. (1 hour class plus $3 per soap for ingredients) If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

 World Holidays

• “Holidays Around the World” – An interactive slideshow presentation featuring December holiday traditions from around the world, complete with holiday songs, games and treats. Fun for everyone! (1 hour class) Please provide a computer, tv or projector for the slideshow

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The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that 30 million Americans age 12 and older have some level of hearing loss in both ears. As age increases, so do the percentages of people with hearing loss: 33 percent of those age 60 and older, and 50 percent of those age 85 and older, have some degree of hearing loss.

Symptoms of hearing loss include having trouble hearing on the phone, not being able to focus on a single conversation in a noisy room, frequently misunderstanding what people are saying, and needing to turn up the volume to hear the television. Hearing loss often occurs gradually, making it hard to notice the difference from one day to the next.

Among adults age 70 and older who could benefit from using a hearing aid, fewer than one in three has ever used them. The Hopkins Hearing Center at Johns Hopkins University speculates that older adults may feel embarrassed about not being able to understand conversations. They may be hesitant to wear bulky hearing devices because they don’t want others to know they have hearing loss. They may even consider themselves to be “abnormal.”

In truth, hearing loss is completely normal. It is a very common part of the aging process, just like getting gray hair. “Everyone with an active full life will experience hearing loss to some degree,” said Glenn Harbold, Shaker Heights resident and managing partner of Zounds Hearing in Mayfield Heights (216-377-3250). “Normal sound exposure over time naturally breaks down the hair follicles in our ears, leading to hearing loss.”

Zounds Hearing makes easier-to-use hearing aids at relatively low costs. Its devices help remove background noise and help to make sound clearer. It hold 57 patents for its hearing device designs. Said Harbold, “We make it easier for people to hear better.”

Hearing aids today are smaller and less obtrusive than they were in the past. Their performance has also increased, they are easier to program and adjust, and some even have rechargeable batteries and remote control operation. Competition in the industry has also caused prices to go down, making hearing aids more affordable.

It is a good idea to get your hearing checked at least once a year, just as you would your eyesight, even if you are not experiencing hearing loss. This will give you a baseline by which to measure future test results. Then, you can make your decision based on fact, not supposition. Many places, including Zounds, offer hearing tests at no cost, and no prescription is required.

Dr. John Kandare, Zounds Audiologist and a native of Cleveland Heights, recently worked with a Cleveland Heights senior who had never worn a hearing aid before. She led an active lifestyle but was struggling to hear in certain environments. “She is doing great now, and is hearing much better in group settings,” said Kandare.

Healthy hearing is an important part of healthy aging. Hearing loss can often lead to withdrawal, isolation and depression, adversely affecting a person’s physical and mental health. Maintaining your hearing can help sustain an active, normal lifestyle.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer