Sibs and Kids Weekend: Eastway Palooza

Faith Riggs

Tigers and unicorns were just a few creatures spotted during Eastway Palooza as two face painters finished each smiling face.

Face painting, caricatures and henna tattoos were the most popular activities. Lines were long and the lower level of Eastway was completely full.

However, 5-year old Johnny and 7-year old Joey from Solon City Elementary School were eager to get dragon faces.

As second year participants, the two came along with their twin aunts, Lynn Sankovic, a junior special education major and Jessica Sankovic, a junior exercise science major.

“There were more face painters last year, so the wait was a lot shorter,” Lynn Sankovic said. “But they’ve been really excited for it, they love getting their faces painted.”

Christy Mauk and her 9-year-old niece, Victoria, have attended Sibs and Kids Weekend for three years in a row, but this year has been the best weather.

“Last year it was freezing and I had to bundle her up in her coats and boots; it was bad,” Mauk said. “It’s so much better this year.”

For Myranda Cypher, a junior managerial marketing major, this was her first time inviting her family to Sibs and Kids Weekend.

“I’ve tried to get (her family) up,” Cypher said. “Sometimes it’s just conflicting with schedules, but I always knew this was a big event because I’m in NRHH (National Residence Hall Honorary), and a lot of us are in close ties with Kent Interhall Council who puts on this event.”

Cypher invited her three siblings, her parents, her grandparents and her 12-year-old cousin Mila who stood in line with her for a caricature.

“She visited me for the first time last semester, and she’s been dying to come back ever since,” Cypher said. “This is a good incentive to bring her to events like this. It makes her want to work hard in school because this is her future goal.”

Faith Riggs is the Women and Gender Issues reporter. Contact her at [email protected].