The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
TASTE OF HAWAII
Deepwood’s Willoughby Branch treated to luau
A little wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the staff and employees at Deepwood’s Willoughby Branch as they held a Hawaiian luau.
The Willoughby Branch of Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Deepwood, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, provides vocational training and employment services to more than 150 adults with developmental disabilities. The Willoughby Branch allows these adults, referred to as employees, to learn new skills and maintain employment based on those skills.
The Willoughby Branch employees are treated each year to a Hawaiian luau in place of a traditional barbecue, with this being the seventh year to hold it.
“They (the employees) love it each year and we love because it makes them all happy and all excited,” said Mistie Johnson of human resources department for Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood.
“They talk about it for the whole year waiting for the next event.”
The festivities included a catered Hawaiian lunch consisting of barbecued pulled pork, Hawaiian cole slaw, fresh fruit, chips, Hawaiian Punch and lemonade. Participants also enjoyed island style music, games and dancing. A raffle took place to raise money for the next event, with the prizes being two Hawaiian dancer dolls.
“They (the employees) love it each year and we love because it makes them all happy and all excited." — Mistie Johnson of human resources department of Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood
Hula dancers Roseann Riggins and Tessa Heung from Hula Fusion were on hand to perform traditional hula dances. They also instructed employees with a few dance lessons and participate in the dance with the dancers.
Firenesia dancer Ku’u Awai flew in from Florida to participate in the event by performing a fire dance with flaming wands.
Awai’s performance seemed to be what employees all enjoyed the most.
The luau event, which is sponsored by Deepwood Industries, Deepwood Run and Deepwood Foundation, sprang from a discussion where members were trying to come up with an event that employees normally wouldn’t participate in and the luau idea immediately came up, according to Willoughby Branch manager Katie Huth.
When they approached their client advisory board to find out what one thing they would be interested in, the luau idea continued to come up.
For employee Courtney Collins, her favorite part of the day was the firenesia dancer.
“The guy drew fire around the circle and danced around fire, and the dancers danced,” she said.
Employee Tom Springer was excited and thought the dancers did a real good job.
“The guy had a real wand with a real flame and gasoline on it,” he said.
When employee Richard Binder was asked what he liked best, he replied, “The dancing and the fire, and everything, the food was real good, too.”
He also stated he was looking forward to it again next year.