Kazee Lammers, left, and Lainey Lammers participate in the sidewalk chalk art contest Saturday at Kids Fest in Ottawa.
Charlotte Caldwell | The Lima News
OTTAWA — Many local organizations again came together Saturday at Ottawa’s Kids Fest to show all of the services and activities offered to children in the community and have some fun while doing it.
There were more than 30 booths representing clubs, churches, county government departments and more, along with touch a truck, a sidewalk chalk art contest, a football pass game and performances.
Putnam County Job and Family Services was represented as one of the booths. Beth Coleson, the supervisor for the Child Support Enforcement Agency, said this is the organization’s first year participating, and the organization wanted to bring attention to August being Child Support Awareness Month.
“It’s for the community to show that kids are important to the community because that’s who’s going to be here in the future,” Coleson said about the significance of Kids Fest. “We want kids to be involved in the community. We serve the community and the kids, so we want to be here so they know we’re part of the community and we’re here to help them.”
Jack Fought of Den of the Tiger Karate Dojo brought some students to do a demonstration of some equipment and techniques they use. The dojo includes 54 children and 26 adults.
Fought said Gichin Funakoshi described the goal of karate the best: “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”
He mentioned some of the things he tells his students to help their character, like, “Everything I say and everything I do reflects on everyone else forever,” and “The most vicious tool or weapon you have in your possession is your tongue. If you say, ‘I can’t do it,’ you won’t.”
Fought added, “The journey of a thousand miles begins and ends with one step. Every step I take is going to be fun, productive and positive. And that’s how you make a difference.”
Jo Deskins, a director and board member of the Putnam County Children’s Theatre, said the theatre teaches kids skills such as confidence on stage, teamwork, memorization and focus.
Third through eighth graders can participate in the theatre, and Deskins said everyone who auditions gets a part. This summer’s musical that cast members acted out at Kids Fest, Finding Nemo Jr., had 88 cast members. The most the organization has had was 92 cast members in an Aladdin performance. The theatre has been doing junior versions of Disney musicals since COVID, which has increased kids’ participation.
Deskins said the benefits of Kids Fest are “exposing parents to the opportunities that are out there, for kids and grandkids. Seeing other kids, seeing friends they haven’t seen, getting excited for the school year. Knowing about the things in the community for them to be involved in, because sometimes you don’t know until after the fact.”
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
