Miss-Delectable
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http://www.thetranscript.com/headlines/ci_3841990
ADAMS — A new shop on Columbia Street will offer an eclectic mix of cards, toys and antiques with twist — some of the products will be geared toward the deaf and hearing impaired.
Store owners Patrick LeBeau, who is deaf, and his fiancée, Dione Kickery, both of Adams, said they are opening the store because of a lack of easily accessible resources to the deaf community in the Berkshires.
"We want to open a store that strikes a balance between the hearing and deaf community," Kickery said. "Nothing like this has opened in the area before."
LeBeau said he had been thinking about opening a craft store since he has experience in woodworking from attending the Clark School for the Deaf in Northampton. But he changed his mind when the couple's son, Patrick Jr., was born.
"He was born deaf, and we needed to find alphabet blocks, sign-language books and they were not easy to find," he said. "I went to the Internet when I was trying to find alphabet sign-language baby blocks, and I could not find them."
So Creative Designs, at 48 Columbia St., will have items such as toys for deaf children, including baby blocks, flash cards, cloth books using the sign language alphabet, as well as an assortment of crafts and goods.
"It will be quite a mix," Kickery said. "We will also have some refinished antiques, as well as greeting cards, wooden signs and clocks with sign language."
Kickery wants to make the store into a resource for the deaf community.
"We eventually hope to hold a play group for signing children at the store," she said. "The nearest deaf play group we can find for our child is in Boston, and we think there needs to be one here. Also, in the future, we hope to have sign-language courses because I think a lot of people are afraid to learn how to sign, because it's a whole different language."
LeBeau is hoping that the store will also attract deaf people to the area.
"That would be a very big thing, and the store also might eventually become a place where deaf people and hearing people could come and have a cup of coffee," he said. "I want deaf people to see that they can accomplish anything hearing people can do. This is not only a hearing world, deaf people can accomplish anything, too."
Creative Design's grand opening begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 3, with refreshments, entertainment and door prizes. Regular store hours will be Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Closed Sundays.
For more information call (413)743-5664
ADAMS — A new shop on Columbia Street will offer an eclectic mix of cards, toys and antiques with twist — some of the products will be geared toward the deaf and hearing impaired.
Store owners Patrick LeBeau, who is deaf, and his fiancée, Dione Kickery, both of Adams, said they are opening the store because of a lack of easily accessible resources to the deaf community in the Berkshires.
"We want to open a store that strikes a balance between the hearing and deaf community," Kickery said. "Nothing like this has opened in the area before."
LeBeau said he had been thinking about opening a craft store since he has experience in woodworking from attending the Clark School for the Deaf in Northampton. But he changed his mind when the couple's son, Patrick Jr., was born.
"He was born deaf, and we needed to find alphabet blocks, sign-language books and they were not easy to find," he said. "I went to the Internet when I was trying to find alphabet sign-language baby blocks, and I could not find them."
So Creative Designs, at 48 Columbia St., will have items such as toys for deaf children, including baby blocks, flash cards, cloth books using the sign language alphabet, as well as an assortment of crafts and goods.
"It will be quite a mix," Kickery said. "We will also have some refinished antiques, as well as greeting cards, wooden signs and clocks with sign language."
Kickery wants to make the store into a resource for the deaf community.
"We eventually hope to hold a play group for signing children at the store," she said. "The nearest deaf play group we can find for our child is in Boston, and we think there needs to be one here. Also, in the future, we hope to have sign-language courses because I think a lot of people are afraid to learn how to sign, because it's a whole different language."
LeBeau is hoping that the store will also attract deaf people to the area.
"That would be a very big thing, and the store also might eventually become a place where deaf people and hearing people could come and have a cup of coffee," he said. "I want deaf people to see that they can accomplish anything hearing people can do. This is not only a hearing world, deaf people can accomplish anything, too."
Creative Design's grand opening begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 3, with refreshments, entertainment and door prizes. Regular store hours will be Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Closed Sundays.
For more information call (413)743-5664