subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


DEBBIE KOGLER, owner of Magnifiers and More, 7775 Mentor Ave., Mentor, holds one of the 75 magnifiers her store stocks. It brings into focus a Monopoly game designed for the visually impaired.
CARL E. FEATHER / The Star Beacon


Published December 11, 2006 07:30 am - If you are 65 or older and possess the visual acuity to make out the words on this page, you are a member of a shrinking majority. According to Debbie Kogler, owner of Magnifiers & More, one out of five people in that age group have visual impairment. By 2010, it will be one out of three. By 2030, when the Baby Boom ...

Bringing life back into focus


Star Beacon

HOME-GROWN BUSINESS : Mentor business helps people who have vision impairments

By CARL E. FEATHER

Lifestyle Editor

If you are 65 or older and possess the visual acuity to make out the words on this page, you are a member of a shrinking majority.

According to Debbie Kogler, owner of Magnifiers & More, one out of five people in that age group have visual impairment. By 2010, it will be one out of three. By 2030, when the Baby Boomer generation peaks into old age, one out of two will be visually impaired.

"It's an epidemic," says Kogler, a state and nationally licensed optician.

Five years ago, Kogler left the security of her position with the Cleveland Clinic to launch a business that would help visually impaired persons live independently for as long as possible. While Kogler had worked with visually impaired persons in her professional career, it wasn't until her grandmother, Margaret Allen, developed a low-vision disease that sent Kogler looking for products that would allow her grandmother work around her disability. She discovered there wasn't much available beyond basic, off-the-shelf magnifiers.

"Because of that disease, I felt the frustration she went through," says Kogler. "That piqued my interest to find out if there were more devices for someone with low-vision impairment."

Kogler says her grandmother inspired her to eventually open a store on Mentor Avenue and dedicate her life to helping people with this issue.

"It was a calling," she says. "I truly believe it was my grandmother and God telling me this was needed in Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counites.

The store is located at 9775 Mentor Avenue (Route 20), across from the Great Lakes Mall. Her shop is in the rear section of the Pier 1 Imports store.

Bright, spacious and well-stocked, Kogler's store is more than a place to purchase things. She offers free consultations and has a section of the store set up like a living room with a television and recliner so shoppers can test out products. Kogler will conduct a basic vision acuity test, as well, although most shoppers come prepared with the results from their latest eye examination.

What the first-time visitor isn't prepared for, however, is to be greeted by the business' CEO - that's Canine Executive Officer.

Murphy Kogler, a 6-year-old golden retriever as gentle as the fallen snow, greets every customer, then returns to his lair under Kogler's desk or playing with one of the dozens of "executive toys" in his cache.

"A lot of people come in just to see him," says Kogler. "Around this time of year, we start to get presents in here, and they are all for Murphy."

Murphy is a licensed service and therapy dog trained by his owner. He and Kogler volunteer their Wednesdays at a school for special needs children.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

PREMIUM JOBS

CLEANER
Mature person to clean offices
Ashtabula 2-1/2 hrs 3 days/wk
Conneaut 2 hrs; 3 days/wk
Must have transpo
...>MORE

NURSES
We are looking for
STNA’s and LPN’s.
All shifts are available.
Call (440)951-8899
or apply onlin
...>MORE

House for Rent Geneva
2-3BR eat-in kitchen, laundry room, att. garage, large lot, close to school & shopping $585/mo+1st+sec. (440)466-9589...>MORE

Finishers
FINISHERS - Fiberglass
OPenings--progressive company!
INFINITY RESOURCES INC.
2608 W. Prospect - ASH
...>MORE

CLERICAL
Collections $12-15/hr
Customer Service $10-15/hr
Office Asst $10-1
...>MORE

STNA's
The Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is now accepting applications for the following positions.
Pl
...>MORE

Positions Available
Openings with the Ashtabula County Board of
Developmental Disabilities
for the following positions:

...>MORE

CHEMICAL OPERATORS

Solid computer exp/Physically fit
Excellent wage/benefts
Interviewing/testing now!
INFINITY RESOURC
...>MORE

STATES TESTED NURSING ASSISTANTS
Inn-Conneaut Health and
Rehabilitation Center is now
accepting applications for
Full-Time STNA's on 1st s
...>MORE

REGISTERED NURSE - FULL TIME
Nursing

You can have it all.
Life balance. Competitive
salary. Bar-setting benefits.
 
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM AUTOS

2000 Toyota Avalon
V6, 4dr, LX, loaded, leather, sunroof 119,000 5800 obo. (440)2241273...>MORE

Mercury
‘03 Sable LS, FLA. car, 69K, leather, $7200. 992-3427 5p-9p...>MORE

TIRES!!
Tires: 6 new 8 R 19.5 tires on GM Rims $75 ea. Also over 150 good used tires 13, 14, 15 & 16 $15 and up. 998-0462/ 319-0...>MORE

Truck for Sale
1985 Ford F150 4x4, Runs good, looks good, $1,500. 440-593-1721...>MORE

1999 Chevrolet Conversion Van
106k, nice shape $4500 obo. (440)951-9705...>MORE

1996 Ford F250 XLT
4x4, 5.8L, 50,000 miles. Asking $6000. (440)466-6778...>MORE

2000 Dodge Dakota
6cyl. 5spd manual transmission, high mileage, runs good $1200. (440)466-5067 after 7pm. ...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM HOMES

FALL CLEARANCE SALE!!!
4 used Mobile Homes
Financing avail. (440)466-8555
...>MORE

Ashtabula House for Sale
3BR home “as is” $25,000 obo
Call M-F 9-5, Ash. 440-992-9582
...>MORE

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE
Oakwood MHP East Side Ash. 2BR/1BA & 1BR/1BA Rent to Own available. Newer Homes. Call Stacy 440-812-2404...>MORE

House for Rent
Saybrook 2 & 3BR mobiles $550 & $440+sec. dep. 998-1190...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
Nice 2BR N.Kings park, $4750 obo or RTO. 440-593-4512...>MORE

Mobile Home for Sale
Must sell 2BR 1BA mobile home located in nice park $6000 obo.
FMI Call (440)998-4762
...>MORE

Kingsville Home for Sale
3-4BR/2ba Home for Sale;
2.25 ac., 2.5 car gar., 2bay carport,
shed, $85,000; Will consider land contract....>MORE

FALL CLEARANCE SALE!!!
4 used Mobile Homes
Financing avail. (440)466-8555
...>MORE

OWNER FINANCING
Ashtabula 2BR, 1BA, C/A, vinyl siding, new roof, carpet, plumbing & paint $30,000. 10% down & $324.05/mo. 5312 Madison A...>MORE

APPRAISALS - INSPECTIONS
INDEPENDENT Real Estate
Appraisals -Home Inspections-Bankrupt-Divorce - 466-9236
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM EXTRAS

Cemetery Lots
Greenlawn 3 spaces SOM section 2 $500 each. 1 burial vault $700 each. 1 - 28x16 granite base installed $280. Please cal...>MORE

Wanted To Buy!
Immediate Cash for unwanted items.
Call for details 440-319-4274
...>MORE

FIREWOOD
Seasoned firewood, cut & split. $50 a pick up load. No deliveries. Details (440)344-7664/ 645-7215...>MORE

WANTED:
3BR House for Land Contract or Rent to Own for $600/mo.
Need 2 car attached garage with one or more acres. (440)813
...>MORE

MACHINERY & TOOLS
SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE

"WE NEED LAND!"
Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE

Misc for Sale
(1) P215-75R-14 tire; (4) P175-80R-13 tires, like new.; Compound bow (Bear Whitetail Hunter); 3 womens bikes & 1 mens bi...>MORE

Childcare
Loving Childcare in my Jefferson home, (near Rt.11)
Call Roxanne Prine 440-576-8114
...>MORE

BUYING JUNK VEHICLES
WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER
Budget Auto Parts,
6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111
...>MORE

See all ads

PREMIUM RENTALS

GOTL Apartments for Rent
GOTL Furnished 3BR
Spectacular Lake View;
Also 2BR avail. Exceptionally clean. A must see. Util. incl. 440-4
...>MORE

GENEVA APARTMENT FOR RENT
2BR, 208 N. Broadway $500 + utils. 440-428-9082, Mon-Thur....>MORE

Conneaut House for Rent
Conn. 115 Garden St. 3BR/1.5ba lrg yard, att. gar.,
quiet neighborhood. $525 dep & $525/mo.
440-969-0096 or e
...>MORE

Kingsville Apartments for Rent
Kingsville 1 & 2 BR apts.
Appliances incl. 440-224-0158
...>MORE

House for Rent
Ash. Buckeye Schls 3BR twnhs, appl/swr inc. $575/mo. 275-1925...>MORE

GENEVA APARTMENTS 1BR & EFFICIENCIES
Move in specials. Water/sewer/ trash incl. All elec. (440)466-8025...>MORE

Rent to Own
Rent (Rent to Own)
1136 E. 16th, 3BR,
lg yrd $800/mo.
(440)228-2969
...>MORE

Ash. House for Rent:
3BR 1.5BA $650/mo+util. 440-228-5925...>MORE

Conneaut House for Rent
Conn; Half duplex,
3BR,$475/mo. 536 State St.
(440)368-5678
...>MORE

Apartments - Harpersfield
Harpersfield. Country setting, Nice yard.
2BRs $450+ sec; 3BRs $500+ sec
(both avail.) 466-6345
...>MORE

See all ads



 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index