Every day, Jonna Siano hopes to catch the eye of the thousands of motorists and pedestrians passing along one of Battle Creek’s busiest roads.
As part of her nighttime routine, she and her husband John Whitaker walk the building From their home to the corner of Hiawatha Dr. and Capital Ave. SW to write positive affirmations, quotes, and inspirational messages meant to spark smiles on a spotlighted 4″ x 4″ chalk board.
“The Internet has these influencers,” she said. “I’m an old-fashioned blackboard influencer.”
Siano, 58, a native of Battle Creek, is a married mother and stepmother of two adults and owner of Cool Mama’s Ice Cream. A type 1 diabetic, she made the difficult decision to close her ice cream shop after five years at her former Continental Pastries and Deli location in Battle Creek during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to better protect her health.
The board was built by Whitaker and stands opposite Capital Ave. SW, which carries more than 10,000 vehicles per day. The couple obtained permission to post the sign on the property of their neighbor, Marie Boschke-Legit.
“It was fantastic,” said Boschke-Legit. “This sign is really for everyone. I get a lot of interaction on social media about how positive it is. If I see something on the sign, it’s always funny and positive… (Jonna) is about community, friendship, fellowship and all that.”
The messages began as a way for the couple to publicly thank the frontline workers amid the public health crisis. As the pandemic continued, Ciano’s positivity continued, a trait she attributes to her parents, John and the late Margo Ciano
In the two years following the first letter, Siano wrote hundreds, such as “Try to be an optimist,” “Fail to plan, plan to fail,” and “You’re not alone. I love you.”
Sometimes they’re funny, like “I wish the dollar store would sell gas!!”
The signs are rarely political or partisan in nature, although they may be topical. One recent sign stated, “Let’s agree to disagree (good)”.
The banners are put away during the winter months, but Ciano plans to continue posting them indefinitely. She said she usually comes up with the messages when listening to music while training for triathlons, taking bits and pieces of words that inspire her. She said that one of the elements of her “list of things” is to become a motivational speaker, and she has long used the words to inspire others.
“When (my son) was young, I tried subliminal messages all over the house,” she said. “On the fridge were the words ‘vision’ and ‘courage.’ The words have always been there.”
Ciano added that she believes positivity is an option for many, and said the words are meant to uplift and inspire others to think more positively.
She said, “I don’t want to be remembered as the lady who owned the ice cream shop. I would like to create my own version of being a positive person.” “We need to remind people that it’s a choice, happiness, and joy, not negativity. It’s important to remember that you are not alone and that mental health is important.”
Contact reporter Nick Buckley at [email protected] or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter: @NickJBuckley