Billboard Blunder?

A local ad generates debate over sex in advertising.

Sex sells. We’ve all heard this declaration. Sex may sell, but this momma’s not buying. As parents, we teach our children to believe such adages as: “It’s what inside that counts” and “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But unless you lock your child in a bubble, they’re bombarded by superficial images of beauty and sexual images. Ads and media threaten our best efforts to instill wholesome values.  Examples are everywhere. Still, I was stunned by the giant half-naked man on Steels Corners Road. The suggestive billboard was an ad for a local plumber. I’d like to add a word and change the punctuation of the above sentence: Sex sells everything? Really? Even plumbers? I am torn between appropriateness and humor. I know the intention of the ad…

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Jenny Fickey

11:08 am on Monday, July 25, 2011

Thank you for your thoughtful response, Amanda. I thought about the same thing when writing the column. It's like my Dad always says, two wrongs don't make a right.   more ›

Mom Matters

The Real Housewives of Cuyahoga Falls

Save the drama for the camera. Local mommas are friends, not foes.

I have a confession. I‘ve watched The Real Housewives of various cities. The shows are the epitome of a guilty pleasure for me. I tally the time spent and try not to calculate the chapters I could have written or read. Even so, I tune in for another episode. Why do I spend my time watching these spectacles? It’s not because I admire these women. I wouldn’t trade lives with them for anything, not even money and fame. (Though a million dollar cookbook or memoir deal would be sweet). In my real life, I avoid turmoil. So, in other words, I’d make an incredibly boring reality housewife. I suppose I watch because their lives are so different from mine and the chaos is entertaining. However, the depiction of women’s relationships is troubling to …

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Jenny Fickey

8:09 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thanks ladies. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Hooray for peaceful women.   more ›

Mom Matters

The Dangers of Family Bed-Sharing

Unsafe sleep concerns are not put to rest.

Mayim Bialik—better known as Blossom from the sitcom of the ‘90s—is the spokesperson for the non-profit organization Holistic Moms Network and contributor for TODAY Moms. In a recent post, Bialik discussed her family’s sleeping arrangements. Bialik and her husband have slept on futons with their two children since they were born. She dismissed concerns about family bed-sharing and claimed the practice is not dangerous. There is no question Bialik is an educated woman—with a Ph.D. in neuroscience—and a dedicated mother. But sleep authority? I wasn’t convinced. I contacted Sherry Blair, project director of Child and Family Health for the Summit County Health District, for her professional opinion. “I adamantly disagree with Mayim Bialik’s …

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Jenny Fickey

7:52 pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Hi Candace, You raise valid points, similar to comments I received on Facebook. My short column may have seemed to have generalized the issue. Ms. Blair did share more information, however it wasn't possible to include all of it. My intent for the article was to raise awareness about the dangers of bed-sharing because I was previously unaware of them and thought others may be too. I know there …   more ›

Daily Patchcast: Free Flapjacks and Tasty Deals

A roundup of the top stories across the Northeast Ohio region for March 2!

Here's the list of the top stories from Patch sites in your area: A Sweet Fundraiser Fun Things To Do With the Kids This Week She's Grounded! Breakfast in Brecksville

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New Cafe Serves Up Signature Drinks and Storytime

The Root Cafe offers coffee drinkers a place to relax, sit with their laptops and bring their children to play.

The Root Cafe started pouring cups of morning brew for its customers at the Northampton United Methodist Church in October. With about five months of business under its belt at the Bath Road church, Reverand Cindy Patterson said plans are underway to market and promote the coffee shoppe. Patterson wants the cafe to become a welcoming meeting place for the almost 330 members of its congregation and for those who live near the church, which is out in the more rural part of town. “We’ve not really tapped into the commuter crowd,” said Patterson. Patterson hopes the café will encourage families, young adults in college and recent graduates to stop by and become engaged in the church and its activities. “We’ve created a really great place for …

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Frugal Family: Local Deals to Save You Time and Cash

We've searched the city to find great deals on groceries, cheap movies and a big discount on new baby equipment.

Join me in the next great American pastime – bargain hunting.  Maybe you’ve never clipped coupons or sought out two-for-one deals before, but these days, we’re all watching our family budgets. This weekly column is dedicated to helping you save money and time by giving you five great local deals each week. Let us hear about deals you’ve seen by adding them to the comment box and stop by next week when we’ll have five more deals for you. This week, save money on your Meatless Mondays, get out of the house for a cheap movie and trade in some of your worn out baby things for a big discount on baby equipment that meets the latest safety standards. 1. Acme Deal: At 99 cents a jar, you can’t afford to not stock up on Ragu pasta sauce. Choose …

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Dear Moms: We Need Your Help

Please share your knowledge and wisdom with us—and the community.

Cuyahoga Falls Moms, we want to talk to you. And we want you to talk to us. Often. We know you've got wisdom to share—not just with your children, but with other moms facing the same challenges, dillemas, joys and opportunities you've faced over time. And we know that although it seems like you can do everything (it really, really seems that way—we never stop being amazed by it), it wouldn't hurt to have some fellow moms around. People you could bounce ideas off of. People who could offer their own advice, from their own adventures in parenthood. Here's the deal: Starting very soon, we're going to be producing a lot of material we hope you'll find useful. Tips and stories on everything from finding the best pediatrician to the best spot …

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