Three new Shepherdstown businesses will be holding a joint ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at 217 South Duke Street, tonight from 5-7 p.m. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Three new Shepherdstown businesses will be holding a joint ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at 217 South Duke Street, tonight from 5-7 p.m.

The oldest business, Sky’s the Limit Pediatric Occupational Therapy LLC, just celebrated its one-year anniversary on Tuesday, but along with the two other businesses, never held an official grand opening celebration for the community to attend.

“People can come in and ask questions — we want everyone to feel welcome and get the opportunity to learn more about our businesses,” said Sky’s the Limit owner and Pediatric Occupational Therapist Amy Childers, mentioning parents are welcome to bring their children to the event. “A lot of people are just curious and want to learn more about our businesses. A lot of people don’t really know what occupational therapy is — it may be an opportunity for people to ask questions about both what occupational therapy is in general, and about their children in general.”

The event will start with Mayor Jim Auxer doing a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m., followed by the open house with light refreshments.

According to Childers, many community members have contacted her after seeing her large sign, and this event may help satisfy their curiosity and gain help from her and her fellow business owners.

“I get contacted by people who say they saw my sign when they drove by,” Childers said. “We’re trying to revive the building complex a little bit, having some professional services offered here.”

Childers’ husband, Jack Childers, is a busy Licensed Professional Counselor based in Leesburg, Va., who opened a second location in the business complex in June, which he is sharing with reading specialist Sarah Poland.

“October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, so I will be sharing information on dyslexia and the science behind how the brain learns to read. Any young learner could benefit from my services, but especially those with dyslexia and other language-based learning challenges,” Poland said. “My office space will be open to view some of the multi-sensory tools I use with students in our tutoring sessions.

“I worked for Berkeley County Schools as a Title I reading specialist for three years, and then as a first grade classroom teacher for 10 years. I then taught reading classes and worked as a reading specialist at Morgan Academy in Shepherdstown for five years,” Poland said, mentioning her new business is focusing more on something she has already been doing for years. “I have worked as a private reading tutor after-school and during the summer months throughout my teaching career.”

According to Poland, she decided to leave the school system and open her business earlier this year.

“I wanted to be able to offer more consistency and availability of my services as a private reading tutor to students with reading difficulties,” Poland said. “I offer one-on-one tutoring, where each lesson is tailored to the specific needs of your child. My teaching is directed toward providing the experience of success. The Orton-Gillingham approach that I practice is particularly effective as remediation for dyslexia, though it could be effective for any learner as it targets the foundational skills necessary for successful reading and writing development.”

Along with being trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction, Poland has an M.A. in Reading, M.A. in Elementary Education and B.S. in Child Development.

“I’ve always had a passion for educating children; helping them to unlock the very best that is in them,” Poland said. “While I was pursuing my M.A. in Elementary Education at WVU in 2000, I took a course in literacy education and became fascinated with the science of how the brain learns to read. I was offered a graduate assistant position at the WVU Reading Clinic, which I gladly accepted, and began working on a dual M.A. in Reading/Literacy Studies. I earned my reading specialist degree in 2003. I am excited to share my passion with my community!”