Join Us ONLINE! August 20th 7:00pm Virtual Performance Dfunk Original Music…Grab your chairs, picnic basket, cooler, and computer or phone, and head out to YOUR lawn. Let’s build community through music right where we are.
This video will be live-streamed on the Levitt Pavilion Dayton Facebook page, the Levitt Dayton YouTube channel and shared in this event!
Video powered by Encore Recording Studios
Archives for August 2020
Mack’s Tavern Now Serving Brunch- PJ’s Welcome!
After the Governor’s orders forcing bars to stop serving liquor at 10pm, MacKenzie Manley, owner of Mack’s Tavern, knew she was going to have to do something to replace the lost business. Historically she makes 70% of her revenue after 10pm. So she decided, ” I am going to do sloppy diner breakfast now to try to make up for some loss.”
“Rolling out of bed on a Saturday or Sunday is hard enough, let alone to get up put on makeup, fix your hair, put in contacts and make yourself presentable to go out and eat breakfast just to go back home and veg out on the couch. So pajamas are recommended, so much so that if you come in and you are in your PJ’s, your coffee will be free,” says Manley.
Mack has created a breakfast menu that just screams comfort food!
While you’re having breakfast don’t forget Mack’s Tavern’s was the Bloody Mary Showdown Champ 2 years in a row! Her award winning Bloody Mary is served up in a mug with a double shot of vodka and garnished with a slim jim, celery and 3 pepperoni bagel bites.
Breakfast is served up from 91m – 1pm Saturday’s and Sunday’s at Macks, located at 381 Miamisburg Centerville Road in Centerville.
Rock Piqua Drive-In Concert This Saturday
Piqua Arts Council and Mainstreet Piqua are excited to announce that the Rock Piqua Drive-In Concert is happening this Saturday, August 15, 2020 from 7pm to 10pm at the Miami Valley Centre Mall. Performing at the concert will be Jamie Suttle at 7pm and Clark Manson at 8pm. The Drive-In style concert will happen in the parking lot between the old Elder Beerman and JC Penney with parking beginning at 4pm.
In addition to the Rock Piqua Drive-In, there will also be a food truck rally from 4pm to 7pm featuring Susie’s Big Dipper, Yummy Gyro, Buckeye Burger and Cumberland Kettle Corn. Organizers ask that anyone attending for the Food Truck Rally maintain social distancing and wear a mask when not consuming food.
“We are excited to be able offer one of the planned concerts for the year, even if it is in a different format,” said Piqua Arts Council Executive Director Jordan Knepper. “These events are great for bringing the community together, but that’s the one thing we aren’t allowed to do right now, so we worked with the City’s Health Department and Special Events coordinator to make sure we could do something that fit within the rules and guidelines.”
Piqua Arts Council and Mainstreet Piqua want to remind attendees that alcohol is not permitted, but they should feel free to bring their own food and drinks to the event.
“We want everyone to have a good time and stay safe. As this is a drive-in style concert, we won’t be offering any alcohol for the concert and we hope that attendees will make wise choices as well,” continued Knepper.
Kentucky born singer-songwriter Jamie Suttle has roots that reach deep into the rich soil of American music. The seeds of her inspiration were planted at a young age while singing in church. As she grew, it flourished under the sweltering heat of soul, R & B, and rock, all the while being suffused with gospel and classic country music.
Jamie’s music pays homage to classic country music while effortlessly creating her own style. While playing shows with people like Ashley McBryde, Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, the Kentucky Headhunters and Shooter Jennings; Jamie’s knack of blending soul with heartfelt lyrics provides a connection with her audience that cannot be broken. Jamie’s newest single, “Pissed Off and Reckless” was released, April 24 and can be found on iTunes, Spotify and more.
“Jamie has been on our radar for a while,” said Knepper. “She’s a phenomenal talent and I love her originals as much as the covers. She actually sang for our Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert one year, so she has been to Piqua.”
Closing out the night will be Covington’s Clark Manson. A small town in Ohio and a guitar are the ingredients that make up Clark Manson. It all began when Manson was a 12-year-old. A hand-me-down guitar caught Clark’s eye, so he picked it up and a few months (and several country concerts) later, he knew he had found his calling. Fast-forward some years later and Clark began playing bar shows while attending school. Soon the shows began to spread farther and farther from his college, but nothing could take the “hometown” out of him. Writing and co-producing all of his own music today, Clark resides back in his hometown with his wife and their children. The catalogue of Clark Manson reads like a well written novel from his young rowdy beginnings, to growing into the loving husband and father he is today. June of 2020 has brought with it a new music with his EP – “Lotta Bout You” which is available on iTunes, Spotify, and more.
Rock Piqua is a free event made possible through the generosity of our sponsors, Emerson, City of Piqua, Polysource Inc., Premier Health – Upper Valley Medical Center, French Oil Mill Machinery Co., Park National Bank, Edison State Community College and Vectren Energy. Additional sponsorship provided by McColloch Baker Insurance, Hartzell Industries, WPTW Classic Hits, Troy Community Radio, Koverman Staley Dickerson Insurance, Michael Web Solutions, and Buckeye Insurance Group.
Open Call for Art & Proposals for University of Dayton ArtSource Project
The Contemporary Dayton (The CO), in collaboration with University of Dayton, is seeking artwork for a new building “connector” between the Computer Science and Engineering Buildings, and several lounges and common areas.
Eligibility:
-Artists must be at least 18 years old
-UD Faculty and students are especially encouraged to apply
-Work must be high-level craftsmanship, originality and contemporary design.
-Work must be structurally sound, safe, non-toxic and fit for its intended use.
-2D work must be designed and suited to hang on a drywall or brick wall. Examples: painting, drawing, photography, printmaking and most textiles. Large-scale mural and mosaic work is also acceptable but will need to be created on lightweight panels or other surfaces which can then be adhered to walls.
-3D work must also be designed to be mounted on drywall or brick wall, or be light enough to hang from light fixtures. Examples: wall sculptures, hanging sculpture such as mobiles.
How to apply:
Please email Cydnie King, Curatorial Assistant at [email protected] the following information:
1)Subject line: “Call for Art: UD 2D and/or 3D” (please indicate if you’re submitting 2D or 3D for consideration.
2) In body of email: Name, address, phone number, website (optional)
3)1-10 images of artwork, details and/or proposed installation renderings saved with your last name and image title as JPG, TIFF or PSD file (i.e. Smith_Title of Work.jpg). Image size should be 1600 pixels on longest edge and resolution of 300 ppi. If files are too large you may send links via Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer.
4) Checklist of images (title, year, media, retail price or, if proposed installation, estimate of cost)
5) Short statement about your submission (250 words max)
6)Bio (250 words max) or link to bio or CV.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 14, 2020
Application Fee: Free!
Geocaching the Miami Valley
Geocaching is a great way for the whole family to get outside! A modern-day treasure hunt, geocaching uses a smartphone app or GPS unit to help find caches. You can find these caches in your neighborhood, local park and along the trails in your MetroParks.
Where to Start
Begin by visiting geocaching.com to download the app. Here you can learn the basics, in addition to getting information about cache sizes (regular or large are great for kids) and the difficulty level (a difficulty and terrain rating of 1 or 2 is great for kids).
Local club the Miami Valley Geocachers is also a great resource for getting started — and continuing your treasure-hunting adventures.
Be Prepared by Bringing:
- water and snacks — even on the shortest adventure and especially with kids
- trekking poles and a flashlight for those caches hidden in tricky dark spaces
- a pen to sign the logbook you’ll find in caches
- hand sanitizer for use after finding caches to help slow the spread of COVID-19
Tips and Tricks
Caches come in all sizes, shapes and colors and are very well hidden — but don’t get discouraged!
- Take your time and be patient.
- Look for unlikely objects or objects that appear out of place, such as unnatural piles of sticks.
- Check the size of the cache on the app; use the hint feature if needed.
- Protect nature
- Leave things the way you find them. If you overturn a rock, put it back.
- Old logs and other natural debris are often homes for wildlife so do not disturb them; use your trekking poles instead.
- Protect yourself and your family
- Always be aware of your surrounding — and take your eyes off the screen to enjoy the nature around you!
Geocaching in Your Five Rivers MetroParks
Dozens of geocaches are hidden throughout Five Rivers MetroParks and are listed online. Login to geocaching.com to get coordinates and additional details, so you can find the geocaches found in these parks.
- 2nd Street Market
- Carriage Hill MetroPark
- Cox Arboretum MetroPark
- Eastwood MetroPark
- Englewood MetroPark
- Germantown MetroPark
- Hills & Dales MetroPark
- Huffman MetroPark
- Possum Creek MetroPark
- Sugarcreek MetroPark
- Taylorsville MetroPark
- Twin Creek MetroPark
Learn More |
Winner Winner $8 Chicken Dinner at Versailles Poultry Days
Arrive early to enjoy one of our World-Famous chicken dinners. Since 1952 this village of less than 3,000 people has sold 1,041,685 of these delicious dinners. Last year 29,000 dinners were sold, but arrive early as they can sell quickly. This chicken drive through can be accessed from Klipstine road in Versailles.
The festival theme of Loaded Up & Cluckin has special meaning this year.” The 2020 festival theme is a salute to all those hard-working drivers, dispatchers and mechanics who keep the freight moving and have contributed to the growth of Versailles. In the last few months, we have been reminded of the importance of the trucking industry.
Warped Wing and Land Grant team up on “virtual” beer collaboration
The Long-Distance High Five Gose is inspired by Ohio’s rich farm country heritage. The beer is a celebration of some of Ohio’s top agricultural products including corn, wheat, and honeysuckle.
SICSA Presents The Poop Show
So too help SICSA stay on track for their fundraising goals, they have put together a tongue-in-cheek game of chance that will give purchasers a shot at winning $10,000! To go along with the “theme” of this year, they have created a new fundraising idea: The Poop Show!
Turn that frown upside down with a chance to win $10,000!
On September 19, 2020, They will hold a live event online featuring our game of chance, along with promoting SICSA and their sponsors through an engaging show hosted by Josh Stucky and Gabrielle Enright and with fun in mind, and sharing the important mission of SICSA. Here are the details of the event:
- A dog play yard will be divided into one foot squares. This means you have a one in 1,584 chance to win!
- At the top of the event, they will randomly draw and assign names to those squares based upon those who purchased chances. Only 1,584 chances will be sold. In the event the winning square is not assigned to a chance purchaser, the proceeds of the winning square will be retained by SICSA.
- Once all squares are assigned chances the day of the event, they will bring out a dog to play in the yard with his/her handler. When nature calls – and it will – the square where the poop lands wins the $10,000!
- Chances are only $50 each. The first 100 people who purchase 4 or more chances will also receive a VIP (Very Important Pooper) Paw Pack with gifts valuing over $50!
- You need not be present on event day to win, but why wouldn’t you? Just log onto SICSA’s Facebook page or YouTube Channel at 2:00pm and watch the fun all the way to the big event–the grand pooper!
Miami Valley Meals Emerges from Pandemic
Chef Matt DeAngulo was the executive chef at Victoria Theatre Association’s Citilites at the Schuster Center and Event Services Department for nearly six years. In January of 2020 it was announced that they were closing down for renovations and a concept change, laying off all staff.
Chef Matt, began volunteering more time with a local organization Set the Banquet Table, which was founded by baker and former Executive Director of House of Bread, Bill Evans. And then COVID 19 hit. In mid-March, Chef Matt DeAngulo asked friend and 501c3 Set the Banquet Table Chairman, Bill Evans, the best way to help. A couple of conversations more and Chef Matt had activated a team of recently unemployed Chefs and culinary professionals to assist by quickly and efficiently bulk preparing nutritious food. They began their efforts at the House of Bread and shortly after, St. Vincent de Paul and eventually, The Life Enrichment Center. The team’s many volunteer hours were soon supplemented through a new fiduciary, Set the Banquet Table.
As word got out among the social services community, Chef Matt’s meals were in demand. In his quest to feed the hungry in the region the vision for Miami Valley Meals was born. Using the skills of local chefs, they were able to use every bit of the donated food they received to create bulk nutritious meals to those in need. They started using the kitchen at the House of Bread, began working with St. Vincent De Paul and East End Community Services.
As the pandemic continued the vision grew by May with a $250,000 grant from the Federal Cares Act, made possible through the Community Action Partnership, Miami Valley Meals morphed into more than just a vision, but a true business. With a business plan that continues to grow and morph, the needs this organization can feed in the community are infinite.
Hiring Amanda DeLotelle as the Executive Director, who had worked with Chef Matt as the Food And Beverage GM at Victoria Theatre, and then worked with Kohler Catering before being laid off due to COVID 19, and Chef Matt were the first two hires. they were also supported by many partners including The Food Bank, Hall Hunger Initiative, East End Community Services, The Department of Public Health, Declare and many more.
They’ve now been able to bring on three full time chefs, several cooks and Janice part time bookkeeper who also paints, builds, and has done welding projects for the new space! Currently they have a staff of 10 and several key volunteers. Other volunteers are needed drivers for delivering meals to their partner, and in the future the plan for a garden will open up more volunteer opportunities.
With the talents of chefs, financial support from contributors, and emotional support from many, it is the goal of Miami Valley Meals to serve groups who are currently in our area directly feeding those who are in need of nourishment. They are currently working with 17 partner agencies and preparing an average of about 1500 meal each week, serving folks in Jamestown, Hamilton and all over the region. To date, they have compiled hundreds of volunteer hours and prepared more than 35,000 meals for underserved citizens in Dayton since our first day in the kitchen on March 24th.
They’ve just secured a building to serve as the hub of their packing and distribution center at the corner of Washington St. and Edwin C Moses, with a plan to raise the $330,000 it will take to buy the building, which will place them just minutes from Sinclair College and Ponitz Career Tech, where they would be abler to work with the culinary students from both schools to teach bulk food preparation and perhaps offer internships.
If you’d like to help Miami Valley Meals with a cash donation, please donate here.
Miami Valley Meals Wish list:
Food Carts, plumbing services to install a mop and 3 compartments sinks, stainless tables, a cargo van, someone who could build a ramp at the building entry, painters for the building (the paint has been donated). For more information contact [email protected]
Miami Valley Meals serves those that feed the hungry. If you work with an organization that is seeking assistance in feeding the hungry, see if it’s a good fit for Miami Valley meals by filling out this form. If you are an individual in need of assistance, please use the 211 resource phone line.
Lebowski, Fargo & How To Build A Girl!
Synopsis for REPRESENT – Virtual Cinema: “Equal parts personal and political, REPRESENT follows three women on both sides of the aisle who share the singular goal of improving their community through public service. Myya attempts to spark a youth movement and unseat the incumbent mayor of Detroit; Bryn, a farmer and working mother in Granville, OH, runs for township trustee; and Julie walks a tightrope between her identities as a Korean immigrant and Republican candidate for State Representative in a liberal Chicago suburb.” (Music Box Films) Click the image below to watch the trailer and pre-order 72 hour access to the film for $12. (This film will be available starting Friday.)
Dayton at Work and Play: Aj Bauer of Smokin Bbq
“I lived in the Oregon District when I went to the University of Dayton” AJ told me. “I loved the food here and ate here several times a week. I knew the family that owned the place, and when they gave me the chance to buy it I bought it with my brother Brendan in May, 2019.”
“Before buying this place I sold restaurant equipment. That gave me a look at the operations of all kind of restaurants, but this is the first time I’ve operated one. This place has been voted “Dayton Best BBQ” so we didn’t want to change the food at all. We kept almost all of the employees and kept the recipes the same except for making the Mac and Cheese a little cheesier.” (I tried it – delicious).
“When the pandemic hit we stayed open for carry out orders, but business was down. Lunch has always been our busiest time, but no one was eating lunch downtown. Our other busy time was late at night on weekends when people stopped by after being at the bars. That died too. Fortunately, our dinner business boomed. That gave us enough business so that we haven’t needed to lay off any of our employees.”
Smokin Bbq
200 E 5th St
Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 586-9790
Hours:
Mon – Thurs 10:30am – 9pm
Fri & Sat 10:30am- 11pm
Sunday- closed
Open for dine-in & carryout. Grub Hub & Uber eats for delivery.
Citizen-Led Initiative is Re-Imagining Policing and Public Safety
A citizen-led initiative to re-imagine policing and public safety has begun as a part of the Re-Imagining America initiative that was launched last month. The present policing model places unrealistic expectations upon police officers and magnifies our community’s inability to address social ills that are often outside the context of policing. Piecemeal solutions, tweaking here and there, promises of better training, and recruiting for more diversity will not accurately address the inequitable structure and culture that prohibits effective relationships between police and community.
The recent protests and acts of civil disobedience are reminders of a need for the community to approach public safety differently. We believe there is a better way to serve and protect our communities. The beginning of that process is to seek input from community members, as we work together to create a framework that equitably addresses the personal and public safety needs of the citizens of the Dayton region.
Re-Imagining Policing / Re-Imagining Public Safety is being led by local subject matter experts, citizens and Social Justice advocates, It is the beginning of what will become a community conversation and co-creation process. Phase 1 of the process begins with the release of a DRAFT Framework and Policing Survey, both of which can be found here. Over the next month, volunteers will begin accepting and curating community input and reaching out to those interested in participating in Phase 2. Phase 2, a series of town hall style collaborative conversations based upon the input of the policing survey results, will formulate recommendations, that will be made public and shared with police departments within the Metropolitan Statistical Areas of; Montgomery, Greene, Miami and Preble counties.
“This Re-Imagining Policing project is starting with a clean sheet of paper. It offers a tremendous opportunity for citizens to participate in the process of creating a Department of Well-Being and Public Safety. The expectation is to create an organization that reflects a true partnership between the community and the government, of, by and for the people. Historically, policing, its policies, procedures, and discipline existed without much community input, we aim to change that. The creation of the Department of Well-Being and Public Safety is not about defunding the police but rather creating an organization that meets the needs of the entire community,” stated Peter Benkendorf, founder of The Collaboratory and one of the co-creators of the Re-Imagining America initiatives.
Re-Imagining America: Dayton, Ohio was borne out of the September 2018 Frontline/ProPublica documentary “Left Behind America”. The documentary featured Dayton as a manifest example of what has happened to too many great American cities and the people who live there as a result of our current socio-economic model… they have been behind or in many cases left out. Housed at The Collaboratory, Dayton’s independent, non-profit civic innovation lab, Re-Imagining America seeks to build a more equitable and thriving community by focusing on eight Action Areas: Regional Economy/Employment, Education, Environment, Health and Wellness, Housing, Justice, Media and Transportation.
Free Pop Up COVID-19 Testing Event
Five Rivers Health Centers, in partnership with the Governor’s COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio National Guard, will host a free pop-up COVID-19 community testing event this Saturday, August 15, at its Five Rivers Family Health Center, 2261 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton. All who participate must wear a face mask and Five Rivers will provide masks for those who do not have one. No doctor order is needed for this free testing and children age 10 and older can be tested.
Test results for this event are expected in approximately seven days. This testing may NOT be appropriate for individuals needing fast, return-to-work results, or those currently experiencing COVID-related symptoms. Individuals currently experiencing symptoms should contact their primary care provider immediately to be assessed to determine the appropriate testing.
Five Rivers Health Centers providers or designated representatives will call all positive test result patients as soon as the results are received from the lab. Negative test results will be communicated via text or mail.
Individuals should bring their State I.D./Driver’s License. Appointments are not required, but pre-registration is encouraged, prior to Friday, August 14. More details and pre-registration are available at: https://bit.ly/33IWP8s
“The COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force has worked with local partners to create pop-up testing sites in communities where access to testing may be limited,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “By joining with the Ohio National Guard and other local partners, we can have a better understanding of COVID-19 through increased testing and be better able to prevent its spread.”
Live Stream Johnny Mathis
Starting his career with singles of standard music, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status and 73 making the Billboard charts to date.
Culture Works Now Accepting Applications For Artist Opportunity Grants
Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) invite Montgomery County artists of all disciplines to apply for funding through the 2020–2021 Artist Opportunity Grant program. The MCACD is providing $40,000 to support artists’ pursuit of professional development opportunities and the creation of new works. Individual grants will range from $500–$3,000.
Timeline:
Artists can apply through the Culture Works website from August 10, 2020 through October 9, 2020. The project or opportunity for which an applicant seeks funding must take place between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel, and funding decisions will be announced later in the fall.
Culture Works will host an Artist Opportunity Grant Webinar for individuals interested in learning more about the application process:
Artist Opportunity Grant Webinar
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Noon-1:00pm via Zoom
Register here.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Artist Opportunity Grant program, applicants must:
- Be a resident of Montgomery County, Ohio, with a valid street address (no P.O. boxes)
- Be a United States citizen or a permanent legal resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a professional artist or creative entrepreneur. This is defined as someone who:
- Has specialized training in the field (not limited to academic training; may be self taught)
- Is recognized as a “professional” by peers (artists working in the same discipline)
- Has at least a one-year history of public presentation or publication.
Applicants should review the complete 2020-2021 Artist Opportunity Grant Guidelinesbefore beginning the application process.
More About the Program:
When evaluating applications, panelists consider each proposed project’s artistic merit, feasibility, potential impact on the artist, and potential impact on the larger community. Because the program is publicly funded, it’s important for applicants to make their work available/accessible to the general public of Montgomery County in some way (e.g., a performance, exhibition, presentation, publication, workshop, class).
To learn more about the Artist Opportunity Grant program, visit cultureworks.org or contact Karen Maner, Culture Works Grants Manager, at [email protected].
Do You Have A Musical Instrument You Could Donate?
Do you have a used musical instrument you no longer need? You can make it sing again in the hands of a young musician. WDPR- Discover Classical is hosting it’s annual It’s Instrumental, a musical instrument drive that benefits aspiring young musicians in the Dayton region.
During the past few years, hundreds of instruments have been collected for students in area schools, and for musicians in the Q the Music program. All kinds of instruments are accepted, even those in need of repair, as well as accessories like carrying cases and bows. You can even get a receipt for tax purposes.
Drop off instruments by August 15th at a local Grismer Tire & Auto Service Center.