Dayton937

Jane’s Best Bets (9/15 – 9/19)

September 15, 2010 By Dayton937 3 Comments

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

This past week was a blast! One of the highlights for me was Urban Nights, where I was working the corner of Third and St. Clair. That really doesn’t sound right, so perhaps I should clarify – I was in charge of one of the pianos downtown and my job was to encourage people to play a tune or two. Thank you to all who stopped by to “steal the spotlight”…I enjoyed watching you tickle those ivories and hearing about all the fun things you experienced as part of Urban Nights!

Although it’s true we have to wait until May 13, 2011 for the next Urban Nights, there are plenty of other good things to choose from this week!

On Wednesday, if you were inspired by the belly dancers performing at Urban Nights, perhaps you’ll want to go to Kira’s Oasis to try it out for yourself with their Bellydance Class. Or, you could get a little dirty and head to La Comedia for dinner and the show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. While there, be sure to try their famous Sweet Potato Souffle – it’s delicious! And if neither of these events tickle your fancy, head on over to The Neon for the Foxy Film Festival for a special screening of the 70s hit movie, Foxy Brown.

Moving on to Thursday…is your house (or office) so disorganized that it looks like it came right out of an episode of Clean House? If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to head to the Professional Enrichment Series: Giving the Gift of An Organized You at Sinclair. If you are interested in sports, fitness, and nutrition, then check out the Air Force Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo at the Nutter Center, which is also going on Friday. In the evening, all you movie buffs will want to go to The Neon for the Media That Matters Short Film Festival, which will include several short films that tackle a variety of social issues. There is also an article on DMM about this event with plenty of details, so check it out! If you’re a young professional, then attending the ‘Jump into the DAI’ JumpstART Party for Modern Masters is a must! For only $10, you get free admission to the Modern Masters exhibit, two drink tickets, food, and an admission ticket to Oktoberfest later this month! I LOVE great deals!

On Friday, there is no need to watch the Food Channel – you can sharpen your cooking skills by heading to PNC’s 2^nd Street Market for Market Meals to see live demonstrations. If you’d rather have somebody cook for you, that’s okay too. Head on over to Riverscape for the Taste of the Miami Valley. I have gone there for the past few years and the food is amazing – no matter your taste preferences, there is something delicious for you! Plus, there will be live music and cooking demos! Also in the evening, if you are an animal lover, consider supporting SICSA by eating terrific food, drinking cocktails, and bidding on some wonderful silent and live auction items at their Red Dog Charity Auction. Speaking of red dogs, I wonder if Clifford will be there. And if you like children’s theater and you’re “wonder”ring what you should do, then head on down to Town Hall Theatre for their production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.

On Saturday, there are plenty of fun things to do if you’re not participating in the Air Force Marathon, or if you’re not too tired after running, walking, and/or skipping. I am actually skipping it, as I have not been disciplined enough to train for it…although I totally admire all of you runners out there! If you enjoy fashion, lunch, and shopping, all the while supporting adults and youth with disabilities achieve greater independence through art, then you’ll want to attend Fashionable Scarecrows – We Care Arts Style Show 2010. If you have young kids, then you will definitely want to check out The Dayton Mothers of Twins Club’s Fall Clothing & Equipment Sale. Although I don’t have kids of my own, I have heard about it from several people who have found great bargains there on infant/kids clothes, equipment, and much more! No need to have twins to be able to shop…it is open to the public!

If you have a “German” Shepherd, then you will want to take him to his very own version of Oktoberfest…Barktoberfest at the Centerville Library. There will be pet vendors, contests, games, and more! If you don’t have a German Shepherd, you can bring another type of dog, as I’m pretty sure dogs don’t discriminate. If you missed the chance to taste some delicious food at the Taste of the Miami Valley or loved it so much that you want to go back, head on over to Riverscape. With the help of the DMM Calendar, I “found” another great event for you while you’re downtown – the Found Art Show at c{space to benefit Garden Station. If you’re looking for a family friendly event, again, downtown has it! Bring the kids or grandkids and head on over to Fifth-Third Field for Dragons Movie Night with Heater and Gem. For your “entertainment tonight,” the movie E.T. will be shown and the Green Team will be performing fun skits. If you enjoy classic and antique automobiles and motorcycles, consider heading to Carillon Park for the Concours d’Elegance Preview Party (Concours d’Elegance is on Sunday). There will be delicious food, drinks, music, entertainment, and a variety of auction items. If you’re in Miamisburg, then you’ll definitely want to dance in the street while the Fries perform in between a Taste of Wine and T.J. Chumps. And if you live north of town, you can always head out to the Taste of Troy!

On Sunday, if you’re looking for something corny to do, head on over to Young’s Jersey Dairy to eat some yummy ice cream and to navigate Cowvin’s Corny Maze. See, didn’t I tell you I liked corny things?!?! If you want to go way back in time to the 1600s, check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival. And finally, if you’re a fan of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, park yours over at Carillon Park for the Fourth Dayton Concours d’Elegance.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

How does a dog stop a DVD player?

It presses the “paws” button.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

This Week in Dayton Theatre

September 15, 2010 By Dayton937 1 Comment

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010 – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

This week is an exciting one in the arts, because September 12 – 18 marks the first national Arts in Education Week. Because four shows are up this weekend, it’s also a busy one in the Dayton region theatre scene. Those shows range from a children’s show to a Shakespeare, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, there’s definitely something to pique your interest.

Between the national observation and all the opportunities, then, it’s pretty much a perfect weekend to get out and see some of the great theatre that’s around Dayton! Here’s an overview of what’s going on this week…

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS OPENING THIS WEEKEND

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

TOWN HALL THEATRE – All Children’s Theatre

September 17 – October 3, 2010

When a sleepy Alice tumbles down the rabbit-hole and into Wonderland, her madcap adventures are just beginning! From chasing the White Rabbit to racing the Dodo Bird, to having tea with the Mad Hatter and rapping with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar, Alice meets one zany character after another while discovering some important things about herself.

Alice in Wonderland opens the Town Hall Theatre’s 19^th season, and features performers in grades 2 – 12. Performances will be held on Fridays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 pm; additional matinee performances are scheduled on Saturday, September 18^th at 11am, and Thursday, September 23^rd and 30^th at 4:30 pm. The show runs 70 minutes and is recommended for children ages 2 and up.

Town Hall Theatre is located at 27 North Main St. in the “Heart of Centerville,” directly beside Panera Bread. For the September 18 performance, the theatre is partnering with that Panera for “Taste of the Show,” where guests will be served a show-themed tea party (http://www.townhalltheatre.org/html/tasteOfTheShow.html ; $5, reservations required). Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children 12 and under; all day of show tickets are $10. Reserve tickets online at www.townhalltheatre.org or call 937-433-8957.

Romeo and Juliet

SHAKESPEARE IN SOUTH PARK

By William Shakespeare
September 17 – 19, 2010: 8:00 pm

During the Elizabethan era, settings of Shakespearean plays varied widely through different times and places, based largely on whatever costumes (donated from the rich and prominent members of society) the acting company had available. Appropriately, then, Shakespeare in South Park has chosen a more recent setting for their production of the classic romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Director Daniel Wilson has set the famous story of star-crossed lovers shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War and placed it near the border state region in a spot historically similar to Montgomery County, Ohio; by doing so, he finds renewed relevance in the themes, providing apt reminders that if we are unwilling to find peaceful solutions to our differences, our children will pay the price.

This weekend is your only chance to see the performances, so don’t miss it. The play is staged outdoors at South Park Green at the intersection of Hickory and James, with a minimalistic set that takes advantage of a real two-storey carriage house at the back of the performance space (perfect for the famous balcony scene!). Make sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Admission is free, but contributions are gratefully received and used to defray costs of the show. Parking is available at Hope Lutheran Church (also the location in case of rain; 500 Hickory St) or Emerson Academy. For more information, visit the Historic South Park website at historicsouthpark.org or call 937-603-4893. Also, expect a special onStageDayton feature article soon about the show!

The Spitfire Grill

BEAVERCREEK COMMUNITY THEATRE

Music & Book by James Valcq; Lyrics & Book by Frank Alley; based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff
September 17 – September 26, 2010

Following the feisty Percy Talbot’s release from prison, she follows her dreams and an old travel book to Gilead, Wisconsin, not realizing the town is a struggling one with little to offer. She gets a job at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill, the only local eatery, which happens to be up for sale; when it won’t sell, she suggests raffling it off in an essay contest. Things start heating up pretty quickly!

Performances of The Spitfire Grill are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm, at Beavercreek Community Theatre in the Lofino Center (3868 Dayton-Xenia Rd, Beavercreek). Tickets are $13 for adults and $11 for students, seniors, and BCT members. For more information or to reserve tickets, call (937) 429-4737, email [email protected], or visit http://www.bctheatre.org.

…SHOWS STILL PLAYING

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

LA COMEDIA DINNER THEATRE

Book by Jeffrey Lane; Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek; based on the film by Frank Oz
September 8 – October 31, 2010

Read last week’s column here for a synopsis and full description of this show! But, here’s a recap of ticket information:

Arrival times for Wednesday to Sunday evening performances are 5:30 – 6:00 pm; Wednesday and Thursday matinees and Sunday brunch, 10:30 – 11:00 am. For more information or tickets, call 1-800-677-9505 or (937) 746-4554 or visit http://www.lacomedia.com. Also check out the DMM event page here.

Part of it All

…AUDITIONS AND CASTING CALLS

Wit

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

By Margaret Edson
Auditions: Monday, September 20 & Tuesday, September 21 – 7:00 pm
Performances: November 12 – 21, 2010

Auditions are this week! Last week’s column included a synopsis, cast breakdown, and special audition notes, so refer back to that for specific information. But remember that auditions will be held at the Dayton Playhouse (1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton), and auditionees should be prepared to read from the script. Resumes/headshots encouraged, but not required. Visit http://www.daytonplayhouse.com for more information.

~KN

Katherine Nelson is a senior theatre major at Cedarville University who focuses on performance, playwriting, and stage management. She’s the Literary Intern with locally based Encore Theater Company, where contributors Shane Anderson and David Brush also work. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC just concluded their summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton, which featured Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & the new musical in development Next Thing You Know.

Jane’s Best Bets (9/8 – 9/12)

September 8, 2010 By Dayton937 3 Comments

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Hello wonderful DMM readers! I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend and didn’t have to labor…or at least too much. It was my high school reunion this weekend, but I did manage to make it to some of the Dayton festivals going on and I LOVED seeing all the wonderful people out there having fun!

There is another great week in store for you with even more festivals so I hope you are ready! Get your smartphone calendar out (or, if you’re old-fashioned like me, your pencil and paper one) and arrange your schedule so you can fit in as much fun as possible!

On Wednesday, treat yourself to dinner and a margarita at Carmel’s for Fajita Madness. Afterwards, get your toes tapping at Oregon Express with C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks. Or bring out your Little Tikes trike (well, a guitar and a mic may be a better choice) and head on over to South Park Tavern for the Rock n’ Roll Play Date with Jay Madewell…and you thought play dates were just for kids!

On Thursday, support a wonderful cause and bring your spare change to McDonald’s for the Ronald McDonald House Charities DAY OF CHANGE. The Notorious B.I.G. said “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” so that might be our cue to give a little bit back. Who knew that rappers could be so wise?!?! If you have a hot date planned for Thursday night (or if like me, you really just love your mom), head on over to PNC 2^nd Street Market to make your own flowers for that special someone as part of Fall Flower Arranging. And if you don’t have a hot date, no worries! Head on over to Generation Dayton’s ‘Thirsty Thursday’ at Beef O’Brady’s in Centerville to meet some awesome young professionals in the area for social networking! And if you do have a hot date, perhaps you will want to head on over to the Crowne Plaza Stars Lounge to see the John Slate Trio. Also, just to clear up any misconceptions – I am by no means a dating expert nor is this a dating advice /“Sex and the City” type column. If you are looking for dating advice, you may want to…or rather NEED to look elsewhere.

Friday is a tough day for you if you have difficulty making decisions, as there are so many events from which to choose! Head on over to the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest for some sauerkraut and good German beer, the Dayton Greek Festival for some amazing gyros, or the Italian Fall Festa for some more foods whose names I don’t know how to pronounce. For those of you asking, yes, I am a speech pathologist; however, I never took classes in German or Italian. I just eat the food.

Friday is also the evening to be downtown! Check out Urban Nights (a must attend event), which happens only twice a year. It is like Meijer’s in that it’s a one-stop shop for the city of Dayton. You will be able to check out downtown’s art, music, retail, urban living, nightlife, and dining options. If you enjoy cycling, I also hope you consider riding with the Urban Bikes at Urban Nights. My mom says, “Don’t forget your helmet.”

Saturday has too many options to choose from as well! Again check out one of the many festivals going on throughout the weekend: the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and/or the Italian Fall Festa. In addition, check out the 10^th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at Riverscape (just going on Saturday). If you love arts and crafts, head on down to Miamisburg for the Miamisburg Starving Artists Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival. Don’t let the name fool you…there WILL be food there!

Also Saturday…do you have an old formal that has just been taking up space in your closet? Then consider donating it to the Clothes That Work 2^nd Annual Royal Dress Drive to help underprivileged teens in the area attend their high school formals. If you feel the need to burn off all those calories from all the eating and drinking you have been doing at festivals lately AND support the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association, consider participating in the SPIKING ON CRIME Sand Volleyball Tournament at Setters. If you love live music, head on over to Jackass Flats for the 5^th Annual Miami Valley Firefighter/EMS Memorial Association Concert. And finally, in the evening, if you enjoy getting dressed up, listening to live music, dancing, eating great food, and supporting a great cause (listed in no particular order), head on over to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Boonshoft Gala: ReDiscover. You are sure to discover a great time!

On Sunday, if you’re not watching the Browns game, consider heading out to Guitar Fest at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville or X Fest at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. If you have a pooch that could use a good washing AND enjoy a good glass of wine (you, not your dog), head on over to A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg for Wine, Washes and Wet Noses. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of elé Cake Company’s buttercream icing, check out their Buttercream Fest 2010. They’ll have lots of fun things including live music, food, crafts, a cruise-in, and a 5k (probably to balance out all those amazing buttercream treats they will have)! And if you didn’t get to make it to all those weekend festivals or had such a good time that you would like to go back, the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and the Italian Fall Festa will still be going strong! Gosh, I feel exhausted just talking about all the stuff going on this week! Decisions, decisions!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

I went to the library to try to find a book on indecisiveness but I couldn’t decide which one to pick.

Have a great week Dayton!

This Week in Dayton Theatre

September 8, 2010 By Dayton937 1 Comment

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

Excited about SEED Theatre’s upcoming production of Grey Gardens, I was listening to the Original Broadway Cast recording earlier. In the song “Goin’ Places,” Joe sings to Edie, “Kid – we’re goin’ places, goin’ places you’ve never really seen… All the signs are good, so knock on wood, we’re gonna be a-okay! ‘Cause the place we’re goin’, we’re goin’ all the way.”

Well, onStageDayton is going places, too.

My name is Katherine Nelson, and I’m a senior theatre performance major at Cedarville University and also a literary intern with Encore Theater Company. For a while, Shane and David at Encore have been writing occasionally to feature various shows and organizations, and now, we have a lot of plans to make onStageDayton even better. We all would like this to become not just another website to check, but the central place to go for everything pertaining to Dayton stages, a nucleus for theatre and arts professionals, participants, and spectators alike.

So, I’ll be publishing a column on Wednesday of each week, centrally including:
–        The upcoming weekend’s shows opening, reminders of what’s still playing, and things not to miss before they close – and where to get tickets for all of those.
–          Any special arts events, such as the upcoming Urban Nights celebration.
–          And, auditions and casting calls for the next several weeks, so you can plan ahead.

Additionally, we’ll continue to write feature stories to highlight events, shows, volunteers, organizations, and more. Comments are accepted on the stories, so join the conversation and let us know what you’re thinking! We’d love to get your input.

So… onStageDayton is definitely going places! But for now, here’s a post, like what you’ll be able to expect from me and onStageDayton every Wednesday. Here’s to many more!

Another Openin’, Another Show

…SHOWS TO CATCH BEFORE THEY CLOSE

The Producers

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan; Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks
September 10 – 12, 2010

What happens when a down-and-out producer and his mousy accountant realize that they can make more money on Broadway with a flop than a hit? They option the rights to “a gay romp with Adolf and Eva” in a guaranteed disaster of a show called “Springtime for Hitler!” What they didn’t plan on is that flop becoming a runaway hit… Find out what happens as the Dayton Playhouse presents its season opening musical comedy The Producers.

This is the final weekend of performances, so make sure to see it before it closes! Curtain is Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm.

The production is directed by Chris Harmon, with choreography by Annette Looper and musical direction from Ron Kindell.

Dayton Playhouse is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, Ohio. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.DaytonPlayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at (937) 424-8477 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Monday thru Friday.

Glengarry Glen Ross

SPRINGFIELD STAGEWORKS

by David Mamet
September 9 – 11, 2010

Small-time, cutthroat real estate salesmen try to grind out a living by pushing plots of land on reluctant buyers, the scramble for their share of the American dream never ending. Described as a “scalding comedy,” Glengarry Glen Ross (by legendary playwright David Mamet) took Broadway and London by storm, winning Tony nd Pulitzer awards. Now, Springfield StageWorks is entering their second and final weekend of performances of this gripping work.

Directed by Josh Katawick, Glengarry Glen Ross is at the historic State Theatre in downtown Springfield (19 S. Fountain Ave). Curtain is at 8:00 pm each night, and tickets are available for $10 at the door. Go to http://www.springfieldstageworks.org/home for more information.

…SHOWS OPENING THIS WEEKEND

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

LA COMEDIA DINNER THEATRE

Book by Jeffrey Lane; Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek; based on the film by Frank Oz
September 8 – October 31, 2010

In this hilarious musical comedy, two fraudsters living on the French Riviera discover the small town they live in isn’t big enough to support two scammers. They agree that the first person to successfully steal $50,000 from a young tourist will get to stay, so thus begins a contest that will keep you guessing and laughing the whole way!

To accommodate for dinner before the show, arrival times for Wednesday to Sunday evening performances are 5:30 – 6:00 pm; Wednesday and Thursday Matinees and Sunday brunch, 10:30 – 11:00 am.

For more information or tickets, call 1-800-677-9505 or (937) 746-4554 or visit http://www.lacomedia.com. View the DMM event at Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. La Comedia Dinner Theatre is located on 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro, OH.

Part of it All

…CASTING CALLS AND AUDITIONS

Wit

DAYTON PLAYHOUSE

Auditions: Monday, September 20 & Tuesday, September 21 – 7:00 pm
Performances: November 12 – 21, 2010

Directed by Matthew Smith

Playwright: Margaret Edson
The Story: Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a renowned English professor, has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Her approach to her literary studies: aggressively probing, intensely rational. But during the course of her illness—and her stint as a prize patient in an experimental chemotherapy program at a major teaching hospital—Vivian comes to reassess her life and her work with a profundity and humor that are transformative both for her and the audience.

Roles:
Vivian Bearing, PH.D. – 50; Professor of Seventeenth Century Poetry at the University
Harvey Kelekian, M.D. – 50; Chief of Medical Oncology, University Hospital (Also plays Mr. Bearing.)
Jason Posner, M.D. – 28; Clinical Fellow, Medical Oncology Branch
Susie Monahan, R.N., B.S.N. – 28; Primary Nurse, Cancer Inpatient unit
E.M. Ashford, D. Phil – 80; Professor Emerita of English Literature
Lab techs/clinical fellows/students/code team

Auditions will be held at the Dayton Playhouse (1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton). Those wishing to read should be prepared to read from the script. Resume/headshot encouraged but not required. Go to http://www.daytonplayhouse.org for more information.

Special note: those wishing to be considered for the role of Vivian Bearing should understand that there are the possibilities of nudity and hair alteration (including shaving).

One Short Day

…Special Events for the Artistically Minded

URBAN NIGHTS

September 10, 2010 – from 5:00 pm on
Urban Nights is a free event showcasing downtown’s dining, nightlife, art, music, retail, and urban living options. Described as an all-inclusive street party that overtakes downtown Dayton, there’s definitely something for everyone to see. Close to 100 creative places and spaces participate, including locations throughout downtown, the Artists of Front Street, the Oregon District and the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. Free trolleys help transport people to the more distant venues, but many of the locations are within walking distance. Courthouse Square is the central starting point and the main stage for artistic performances, but there are also roving entertainers and smaller stages throughout downtown.

Come explore the city, check out art, peek inside a cool loft, enjoy live entertainment by amazing community artists, eat at a restaurant you’ve never been to, and party ‘till the break of dawn. You’ll see that it’s possible to make every night an urban night downtown!

We at Encore are particularly excited, because at 8:00 pm will be our performance of COME TOGETHER, an original musical starring Amy Geist and JJ Parkey. The show is free, and will be on the stage next to the Trolley Stop in the Oregon District at the corner of 5^th and Wayne. Don’t miss it!

For more information and performance listings, visit http://www.downtowndayton.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11

~KN

We are excited to introduce you to another contributor to onStageDayton on DaytonMostMetro.com. Katherine Nelson, a senior theatre major at Cedarville University, will be posting a weekly update of shows opening or closing that weekend, along with audition notices and other notices. Welcome, Katherine, to the DaytonMostMetro.com family of contributors!

Shane Anderson & David Brush work with locally based Encore Theater Company. ETC recently moved into the new arts collective space in the Oregon District, along with Zoot Theatre Co. & Rhythm in Shoes. Anderson, Brush & ETC just concluded their summer season of new musicals in downtown Dayton, which featured Johnathan Larson’s RENT, [title of show] & the new musical in development Next Thing You Know.

The Unofficial Guide to the Montgomery County Fair

September 1, 2010 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Enter the fairgrounds on Main Street across from Miami Valley Hospital

Hello, I’m Holly Michael – farm wife, mother, blogger , DMM crazy headline writer and communications professional who has worked at some of Dayton’s largest companies. I straddle the sometimes equally stinky worlds of agriculture and corporate life, so you don’t have to.

The 158^th Montgomery County Fair started today. Along with rides, food, livestock and handsome farmers in jeans (the fair is where I found my cute farmer 20 years ago), there are lots of great attractions and some hidden gems.

To help all the savvy readers of DaytonMostMetro.com make the most of their “farm fun comes to the city” experience this weekend, I have put together my top 10 must-see Montgomery County Fair attractions and must-eat treats.

Newborn pigs. As a pig farmer’s wife, I may be partial, but my own kids, who live on a pig farm, may I remind you, can’t get enough of the sow (mama) and litter (little pigs) in the front of the swine barn. Little hands are welcome to reach in and pet the piglets, just don’t make them squeal or mama gets upset.
Montgomery County Cattlemen beef booth. Get your meat on at the Montgomery County Cattlemen booth and try their tasty sandwiches. Proceeds benefit youth beef programs. For dessert…
Ullery’s Ice Cream. It takes all my willpower, not to eat this tasty treat morning, noon and night at the fair. Look for the booth next to the Round House, listen for the sound of the little motor they use to crank the ice cream on site.
Round House. Speaking of the Round House, head inside (you can even bring your ice cream!) and check out all the quilts, baked goods, scarecrows and vegetables on display. The Farm Bureau booth features a giant cow that young and old can “milk.”
Livestock Pavilion. Visit real dairy calves and learn about different breeds. Also, check out the goats—all are happy to have visitors.
Grandstand. Come and see the truck and tractor pulls (Saturday) and demo derby (Sunday and Labor Day). If amateur smack downs are more your style, check out the extreme fighting (Friday).
Cox Concessions. If you’ve never had a walking taco, then you haven’t lived. Also, elephant ear. Need I say more?
Coliseum. Check out the colorful, creative booths made by county 4-H clubs and the beauty of the flower show. Also the location of the fairgrounds nicest bathrooms—just a tip.
Masters of the Chainsaw. Seriously, watch some guys create a lifelike bear out of a stump. Very cool.
Midway. This isn’t some block party festival, it’s the county fair. The rides are big and fun. Get a great deal on a ride-everything wristband Thursday and Friday for $8.00 (Valid from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm only).

We’ll see you at the fair through Labor Day. Admission is only $5, with kids 12 and under free.

Jane’s Best Bets (9/1 – 9/6)

September 1, 2010 By Dayton937 3 Comments

: Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

First of all, thank you for all the wonderful feedback with regard to the first edition of Jane’s Best Bets on DMM! I feel so honored to have your support! It just confirms what I already know…that the people in Dayton are truly the best!

Hopefully you had a terrific (beer) week last week…and a good DD. Perhaps you were able to sample a new beer and learn a thing or two. I personally learned that there are more beers than there are calories in a McDonald’s Big Mac. To name a few, I discovered a blueberry beer, a raspberry beer, a watermelon beer, an apricot beer, and a banana bread beer. Who knew that drinking could be so healthy?!?! (Disclaimer 1: I am not a registered dietician or MD. You may want to talk to your healthcare professional before making these beverages a part of your daily diet. Disclaimer 2: I am not a lawyer either, so don’t trust that disclaimer 1 is properly worded.)

Anyways, with last week being such a busy week, you’re probably thinking there isn’t much going on this week. Wrong! Get ready to celebrate the beginning of September…and another wonderful week in Dayton! Plus, it’s a holiday weekend to boot!

On Wednesday, head on over to the first day of the Montgomery County Fair. Don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you’ll still have five more days to check it out! Or bring the whole family to watch the Dayton Dragons play against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (I wonder if there is any relation to A-Rod) for their Friends and Family Night. Also, give yourself a day off of cooking and don’t feel guilty about it because it will be for a good cause! For every meal sold at Coco’s, $1 will be donated to the Victoria Theatre Association’s Physicians for Kids as part of the Coco’s Cares – Dine for a Cause Program.

If you have ever thought about starting your own business, head on over to “One-On-One Business Counseling” provided by the Dayton Area Chapter of SCORE at the Dayton Metro Library’s Main Branch on Thursday. Also on Thursday, if you’re a fan of smooth jazz, check out the J.T. Fedrick Band as part of the Dayton Art Institute’s 2010 Vectren Just Jazz Series. Kill two, three, or four birds with one stone by also visiting the Modern Masters Exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Investigation Destination: Science and Math in Art Exhibit, and/or the Prints from the Great Depression exhibit. If you’re an animal lover like me and don’t feel like killing ANY birds, then head on over to The Greene to see First Call Acoustic. And finally, if you like to sample delicious food, you MUST head over to the Fraze for “The Taste”. Experience multiple “tastes” from places like Tumbleweed, the Oakwood Club, Belmont Catering, and Fleming’s.

On Friday, learn what people are thinking about you without them having to say a word at Generation Dayton’s Lunch with Dan Edwards presenting “Body Language“. I need to ask him how to improve my poker face, even though I have no intention of turning into Lady Gaga. Speaking of ladies, later on in the evening, head on downtown for Ladyfest 2010 at c{space (which continues through Saturday) or Dayton’s First Friday, which will give you an opportunity to explore many of Dayton’s artistic offerings. If you enjoy biking, join the Courteous Mass Ride with fellow cycling enthusiasts. Or have fun listening to Stranger, a super fun 80s cover band that is playing at Sharkey’s. I still remember what my parents said about talking to strangers, so if you go, just be careful or bring your mom and dad with you.

On Saturday, start your day off right by heading to the PNC Second Street Market for breakfast and a little shopping with some of their amazing vendors. Another “must attend” event is Alterfest, which has been a Labor Day weekend staple in Dayton for many years. No matter your age, there is something for you to do, from great live bands (Saturday’s lineup includes The Johnsons, The Fries, and This Side Up) to rides and games to their famous chicken dinners. If you don’t feel like taking a chance with the weather at Alterfest, then check out the Producers at the Dayton Playhouse or get tickets to the Sandra Rutledge Jazz Show at Gilly’s.

On Sunday, the fun continues at Alterfest with several bands performing, including Spungewurthy and Last Call, along with the other festivities. Or head on over to the Holiday at Home Festival where there will also be numerous things to do, including listening to live music, singing karaoke, and arts and crafts booths. This is a family friendly event, as there will also be activities for the kids. If you enjoy reggae music, head on over to the Michelob Dayton Reggae Festival. And if music from from the 50s, 60s, and 70s is more your style, then check out the band Legend at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville.

And finally on Monday, if you’re not having friends and family over for a cookout to celebrate Labor Day, Kettering is definitely the place to be. You can still celebrate “at home” with the annual Holiday at Home Parade in Kettering. Following the parade, again check out the numerous activities going on in Kettering as part of the Holiday at Home Festival, including an auto show (only on Monday), arts and crafts, and live music from The Fries, as well as music from some other great performers! And, if you would like to BE one of the entertainers, you will have the opportunity to do so. Just check out the karaoke going on there. Or, if you haven’t had an opportunity to go to Alterfest or the Montgomery County Fair, this is your last chance for the year! So, with so many great things to do, you have absolutely no excuse not to celebrate the holiday! And if your boss is actually making you labor, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Just don’t count on anything.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Did you hear the joke about Labor Day? It works for me.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it – it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (8/25 – 8/29)

August 25, 2010 By Dayton937 10 Comments

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Time and time again, I have heard people say, “There is nothing to do in Dayton.” Usually it is pretty difficult to ruffle my feathers (probably because I don’t have any), but this phrase really gets my goat! As a Dayton native and huge advocate of the city, I know there are TONS of things to do in Dayton…and my goal here is to prove it to you!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jane Krebs. For those of you who do know me, my name is still Jane Krebs. Each Wednesday, I will be bringing you Jane’s Best Bets – a weekly column devoted to informing you of some of the best events going on in and around our wonderful city. To give you a little history, Jane’s Best Bets actually began a little over a year ago when I started emailing a group of friends and family about fun events going on around town. The concept grew and grew and today, that email reaches more than one-hundred people. And now, I feel so fortunate to bring it to all of you – the wonderful readers of DaytonMostMetro.com!

I am a person of many interests and am involved in many wonderful organizations in our community, such as the Red Cross Associate Board and Generation Dayton. So whether you’re a sports fanatic, a food guru, art enthusiast, community service advocate, or a music junkie, you have definitely come to the right place. Dayton has something to offer you…and it is my job to show you!

Also, for those of you who have not seen a “Jane’s Best Bets”, in addition to featuring fun events, it also features the signature “Dumb Joke of the Week”. Perhaps not my readers’ favorite part, as those who know me would describe me as VERY corny (think the “Laffy Taffy” type). So, if you are corny, I think we’re going to get along just fine. And if not, that’s okay too – just feel free to shake your head because after all, I’ll never know!

So, without further adieu, here are your best bets! It’s Dayton’s very first Beer Week, so if you like beer, then this is definitely your week. If you don’t, however, there are plenty of other fun things for you to do!

Starting on Wednesday, check out one of the many beer tastings going on as a part of Dayton Beer Week, such as the Abita Beer Tasting Event at Rue Dumaine, the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Beer and Wine Throwdown at the Culinary Company, the Stone Beer Dinner at Thai 9, the Dogfish Head Beer Dinner at Dorothy Lane Market, the Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest Release at Fox & Hound, or the Stone 090909 Vertical Epic Tapping at Chappys. That sure was a mouthful! Speaking of mouths, perhaps you like to use yours to sing. If so, you’ll want to head to the 88 Club for ‘Wild Out’ Karaoke Wednesday. Or, if you’re a bookworm who likes a good bargain (don’t we all!), check out the Wright Library Book Sale, which runs through Sunday.

Then on Thursday, continue to celebrate Dayton Beer Week by sampling more beer at another tasting, such as the Troegs Beer Tasting at the Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, the Mt. Carmel Beer Tasting at a Taste of Wine, or the Goose Island Beer and Cheese Tasting at Spinoza’s. If you’d rather check out opportunities to be out and about in the great outdoors as opposed to chilling and sipping a brewski, you may want to check out Five Rivers MetroParks’ Intro to Backpacking Class. Or, check out the Kim Kelly Orchestra as part of Big Band Nights at the new Pavillion at Riverscape!

On Friday, support local farmers by going to the Xenia Farmer’s Market. If you’d like to meet other young professionals in the area, check out Generation Dayton’s 4^th Friday Lunch, followed by Generation Dayton’s 2010 WPAFB Tour (open to Generation Dayton Members). I know several people who attended this event last year and said it was great! Later in the evening, check out some live outdoor music – one of my favorite things! Some options are the Websters at Sharkey’s (very fun cover band!) or Funky G at The Greene (FREE)! And, if you enjoy festivals, check out the Lebanese Festival to sample authentic Middle-Eastern food and pastries, watch some belly dancing, and enjoy all the other things festivals have to offer including amusement rides and poker (I guess this column is about “bet”ting after all!). Or, if you feel like going to another beer tasting, check out Red Carpet Night at the Trolley Stop, where there will be many different beers to try!

I’m hoping you can save up some energy during the week because Saturday is the big day – the 12^th Annual AleFest Dayton at Carillon Park! If you like beer at all, then this is one event you won’t want to miss, as you can choose from over 300 beers to sample! At Riverscape, check out the African American Cultural Festival. Or, if you didn’t get to check out the Lebanese Festival Friday, now is your chance. If you’re a Jimmy Buffett Fan, check out the 3^rd Annual Concert, Fish Fry & Benefit with the Parrots of the Caribbean. Just be sure you don’t put Margaritaville in your Garmin – you may get lost. And, if you love the 80s, go to Mix 107.7’s Summerfest at the Fraze to see Blondie and Cheap Trick! “One way or another,” I’m sure you’re going to make it a great Saturday!

And finally on Sunday, if you’re not too exhausted – head back to Carillon Park for WYSO’s FREE Summer Concert featuring the Rev Cool Arkestra and Dance Ensemble & C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks, or go to Stubbs Park in Centerville to see Lone Raven. Or if you feel like just kicking back and reading a book, I know where you can get one at a bargain! Head on over to the last day for the Wright Library Book Sale where a bag of books is just $2.00!

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

What did the farmer say when he picked up the corn?

“Aw, shucks!”

(See, I told you I was “corn”y!)

Have a great week Dayton!

Montgomery County Fair – Win Tickets

August 22, 2010 By Dayton937 14 Comments

Congrats to our winners: Amy, David, Rebecca, Maribeth and Kristi!
The marketing representatives at the fair will e-mail you for your mailing address.

It’s county fair time and thanks to the great connections of our Rural Life correspondent, DaytonMostMetro.com has FIVE carload passes to the Montgomery County Fair to give away.

The Montgomery County Fair runs September 1-6 at the fairgrounds in downtown Dayton. Free, on-site parking is available off the Main Street gate.

Attractions include livestock shows, demolition derby, truck and tractor pull, garden club flower show, midway rides, food concessions, harness racing, prize vegetables and much more. New exhibits this year include the COSI on Wheels Science Spot, the Kidbucks Game Show and Kachunga the Alligator. Kids under 12 are admitted FREE every day.

To win a carload pass, comment below with your favorite fair attraction: animals, rides, vegetable display, food, demo derby, etc. Five commenters will be selected at random. MAKE SURE you use your real email address. We won’t make your email public but will use it to contact you if you win. Comment before Thursday, August 26 – we’ll announce the winners on that day.

The 158^th Montgomery County Fair offers six days of smiles.

For more giveaways and the scoop on this year’s fair, follow the Montgomery County Fair on Facebook.

Don’t forget to comment below and get entered in our drawing for a carload pass.

DIY, Riverscape-style

August 8, 2010 By Dayton937 1 Comment

A century ago, Orville and Wilbur Wright looked at their bicycles and said, “I think we might be able to fly these things.”

Today, some hearty fellow Daytonians followed in their footsteps, sort of. They looked at piles of debris and said, “I think I can row this.”

And then they tried.

At Riverscape, in the shadow of the Engineers Club and a statue of the Wright Brothers taking flight, we watched do-it-youselfers take part in Dayton’s Outrageous River Derby. If I heard emcee Commodore Jim Bucher of WDTN Channel 2 correctly, this was the 14th one.

But it was my first, and it turned out to be a beautiful day to hang out by the river for some silly fun. The gist of the event is this: Make a raft, any kind of raft, get it in the river, and race it down the river a hundred yards or so. Try not to sink.

Themes included a Lady Gaga boudoir and an Abe Lincoln who looked suspiciously like a plastic Jesus with an electrical tape beard. A last-minute entry was made of a pipe frame, cardboard, saran wrap and duct tape.

Was there lots of duct tape, you ask?

Did Wilbur wear a funny hat?

The paddle prizes didn’t go only to the swift. The judging panel included an engineer, some student artists from Stivers and K-12 gallery, who gave out prizes in categories like creativity and most-likely-to-sink before the race even started. I can’t tell you who won the superlatives because we’d taken a pause from the sun to get snacks for our boys.

Poor Man's Kayak, the derby winner

But then again, I can tell you who won: Everyone there because it was just goofy fun, a gorgeous blue sky, a soft breeze and a great time at Riverscape.

After we downed our snacks, we sat at the river’s edge and watched the race. Honest Abe got a little dishonest help from someone pushing, and Lady Gaga was surprisingly strong. What I mean by that is that I still have no idea how she stayed afloat.

But they finished second and third. The race went to Poor Man’s Kayak, which turned out to be a fine kayak indeed, held aloft by rows and rows of one-liter soda bottles on its underside and sped along by a very able rower with a great sense of balance.

I’m not sure we’d have made Orville and Wilbur proud, but I have no doubt our hometown ingenuity would’ve made them laugh.

Calling all Crafty Dudes and Divas of Montgomery County

August 8, 2010 By Dayton937 1 Comment

My Best of Show cookies from the 2009 Montgomery County Fair

As you might have imagined, the Montgomery County Fair is an important event to a farm family like mine. And while it isn’t practical to invite all our friends from DaytonMostMetro.com to visit us on the farm or accompany us to the Ohio State Fair, we CAN encourage you to visit us at the Montgomery County Fair—happening September 1-6 in downtown Dayton.

And guess what! You don’t have to be a farmer to participate in the fair and even earn some blue ribbons.

Photos, antiques and more on display in the historic Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fair

The Montgomery County Fair is currently accepting entries for everything from cakes and pies to giant pumpkins; antique collections to photography; crocheting to quilts. Entries are a bargain at $1 each (although, if you get ambitious like me, the one-dollar entries start to add up) and pay out premiums for first through fourth place (this varies by category).

So even if you don’t have three barrows (boy pigs), two gilts (girl pigs) and two dairy heifers (girl cows) to enter, you can still take on the Michael family with a scarecrow, decorated cupcakes or photos.

Visit the Montgomery County Fair website to download the fair book PDF. Mail-in entries are due by August 16. Walk-in entries are accepted August 12, 13, 16, &17, 9 am – 5 pm. NOTE: you don’t actually take your goods to the fairgrounds until fair time—see the book for details.

If you are a regular fair-goer or have never checked it out, try making an entry this year. The fair is an important part of downtown Dayton and nothing beats the thrill of seeing your chocolate cake take the top prize (trust me, I’ve done it!)

Saving the World, One Armpit at a Time

August 5, 2010 By Dayton937 2 Comments

Much to the chagrin of some of you, especially the guy who occasionally buys pizza for the DMM contributors, I haven’t posted much this summer. But I have an excuse. I’ve been saving the planet.

Oh, and I’ve been hot. Real hot. Eighty-four degrees in my kitchen H-O-T. Why? Well, we don’t have air conditioning. I’ll let that sink in. We. Don’t. Have. ANY. Air Conditioning. In 2010.

Our decision is one part economics (the cost to retrofit our old farmhouse would be high), one part physical (Husband works outside, so coming in and out of the AC would make him feel sick on hot days), and two parts stubborn (we didn’t have AC growing up and we do fine without it now).

I thought we were just sweaty country bumpkins who prefer to keep the windows open, but it turns out we have been saving the planet—who knew?

Salon published a great article in early July about Stan Cox’s new book titled “Losing our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths about our Air-Conditioned World.” According to Salon, Cox’s book points out the “dizzying rise of air conditioning comes at a steep personal and societal price. We stay inside longer, exercise less, and get sick more often — and the electricity used to power all that A.C. is helping push the fast-forward button on global warming…”

See, every morning when I get up and attempt to apply makeup to an already sweaty face, I am saving the planet.

I do find it interesting that people consider air conditioning to be an essential home amenity. I consider not being able to look in your neighbor’s windows from the kitchen table an essential home amenity—but I don’t usually say, as people do when they hear I don’t have AC, How do you stand it?

I do agree that people with asthma, people in the hospital, people in movie theatres , people in airplanes and elderly people of poor health really do need air conditioning (there are lots of other situations, of course) but I do agree with Stan Cox that all this AC is making us soft.

When the National Academy of Engineering picked its 20 greatest engineering achievements of the twentieth century, they ranked air conditioning above the Internet, space travel and the mass production of antibiotics. I’m just not sure how the technology that made it possible for people to live comfortably in Phoenix is more important than, say, penicillin—but obviously, I don’t get it.

So come visit me in Farmersville, we’ll sit under the ceiling fan and drink a long, tall lemonade while the kids play outside (yes, my tough little farm kids play outside in this weather). You might be surprised how comfortable it can be.

Two-Way Streets Equal All-Way Confusion

July 25, 2010 By Dayton937 11 Comments

Photo by jamestraceur on flickr

So, if you haven’t noticed, construction crews are busy ~~messing up~~ converting 18 blocks of downtown Dayton’s one-way streets into two-way streets.

Am I the ONLY one who doesn’t like this idea?? (Don’t answer that, no one asked me anyway.) But seriously. WHO are they doing this for? If you already live, work, or frequent downtown Dayton, like moi, then you already know which streets are one-way and you drive accordingly. It’s not that hard. If you don’t already live, work, or frequent downtown Dayton, GET A MAP or a GPS! Again, not that difficult. I mean, were there a HUGE rash of crazy traffic accidents downtown because people didn’t know which side of the street they should be driving on??? If so, there must be a cover-up because as you know the local news around here covers every fender-bender and flat tire in the region.

2nd Street in the good ol' days. *Sniff* Photo by DDFic on flickr

So, my dear City Commissioners or whoever the heck decided this was a good idea – here’s what you have done. I, Jenny Rapson, a life-long resident of Dayton who drives through downtown several times a week, NO LONGER KNOW WHERE THE HECK I AM GOING. At 32 years old, I am already set in my ways, and one of my ways was ONE-WAY streets downtown. Now, we may have a rash of fiery traffic accidents because the routes I have been driving my whole life are now totally different. AND? MY GPS DOESN’T KNOW IT YET, EITHER!

Let me reiterate: you have confused and irritated the people who were already frequenting downtown. Good luck luring all those new customers with your shiny two-way streets. I’m sure your really good idea will work.

I’m just a *smidge* grumpy about the directional street changes downtown. How do you feel about them?

Summer Fun for Kids: Wegerzyn Children’s Garden

July 22, 2010 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Two years ago, my kids and I discovered the fun that is the Children’s Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark. Located on Siebenthaler Ave., this Metropark offers not only a gorgeous display of glorious gardens, but a real opportunity for your kids to play, learn, and have fun! The Discovery Garden features a world of water play – there’s a man-made safe wading creek and fun waterfall.

There’s also a man-made cave to chase your friends (or your sister) through:

The fun is completed with sand pits and tables to learn how to plant plants in, a play house, a musical maze, and so many more ways to have fun at the Children’s Discovery Garden. It’s a great place for a playdate and to take a picnic lunch. My kids and I love it there – head over to their website and check it out!

Blue Sky Project Offers Unique Array of Arts Experiences

July 16, 2010 By Dayton937 1 Comment

The Blue Sky Project may have its home base at the University of Dayton, but the resident artists of the program are making waves throughout the Dayton community. With weekly presentations, special events, performances and exhibits, be sure to catch a glimpse of their work while you still can!

Weekly Group Presentations:

Thursday, July 22, with Michael Casselli, 3:00 — 3:30 PM
Science Center 114 Auditorium, University of Dayton

Thursday, July 29, with Joyce Lee, 3:00 — 3:30 PM
Sears Recital Hall, University of Dayton

Sonic Spa at c{space:

Tuesdays, July 20 and July 27, 7 PM — 9 PM
20 N. Jefferson St. between 2nd and 3rd St.

Led by Blue Sky Program Director Shaw Pong Liu, Sonic Spa is a weekly laboratory for musicians and dancers to explore collective improvisation and spatial composition.
Free and open to the public.

Check out Shaw Pong’s collaboration with Chris Erk at Therapy Cafe:

Of A River:

Thursday, July 22, 7 PM and 9 PM (each performance is 30 minutes in length)
Wintergarden at the Schuster Performing Arts Center
Free

Dancers, musicians, and flowing silk transform the Schuster Performing Arts Center’s Wintergarden in this collaboration between the Victoria Theatre Association and Blue Sky Project, featuring choreographer Rodney Veal (BSP Board Chair) and musician Shaw Pong Liu (program director). A mesmerizing performance-installation exploring time, space and water, our most endangered resource.

Final Exhibition:

Final Exhibition Preview Party
Thursday, August 5, 6:30 PM — 9:00 PM
The Armory, 201 East Sixth Street in The Oregon District
$75.00 per person

Exhibition Opening and Closing
Friday, August 6, 5:00 — 10:00 PM
Saturday, August 7, 6:00 — 10:00 PM
The Armory, 201 East Sixth Street in The Oregon District
Free

Heading out of town for vacation instead? You can still experience the work of the Blue Sky Project; two works of art from the 2009 program have been installed in the Dayton Airport. Katherine Mann’s large-scale painting, “Byzantine,” fills a wall of the terminal, while Lisa Nonken’s paper airplane sculpture, “Dayton Flight, ” is suspended in mid-air near the gates.

To learn more about the Blue Sky Project, visit the Blue Sky website or Facebook page.

Choosing the City Life

July 12, 2010 By Dayton937 3 Comments

When my husband and I began to look for our first home almost ten years ago, we never thought of looking anywhere but the city of Dayton. We lived in an apartment in Grafton Hill, and my parents had a lovely old house in Five Oaks. We wanted an old house of our own, we wanted character, we wanted more for our money than we could get in the ‘burbs.

Most of our contemporaries thought we were crazy. But we were thrilled when we found a big fixer-upper on a busy street in Belmont. We had ourselves a “Belmont Beauty”. At first we thought we might fix it up and sell it for a profit, but we soon discovered that we really liked living there.

So we’re still here, nine years and two-and-a-half kids later.

And we still really like living here!

We have super-nice neighbors, both with young kids, who have lived in their homes even longer than we have. We have a double lot, so there is plenty of yard for our kids to play in. Each spring we do something more to fix it up – this year it was a sweet swing set. Next year, we’ll be gating off our driveway – the downside of the busy street we live on being that my kiddos can’t run free like I did when I was a child living on a lazy cul-de-sac.

There are other downsides of living in the city, of course: our old, uneven sidewalks and busy street make it difficult for bike riding and wagon-pulling. But you know what? Neither of my kids seem to think anything of that at all. They have a safe, happy home full of fun, a nice big yard and a big front porch to play on.

And on every spring and summer date that even kind of qualifies as a holiday, they also get a free illegal fireworks show. 🙂 What more could a city kid want?

Dayton in the Thick of the Battle for Baby Vanessa

July 11, 2010 By Dayton937 27 Comments

A hotly-contested custody case that has garnered national attention is heading from Orange County, California, back to where it started – here in Dayton.

Stacey Doss, a single woman from Orange County, adopted daughter Vanessa at birth in June 2008. Vanessa was born in Dayton and her birth mother had been matched with Doss through a California adoption agency. Although the birth mother signed a document under penalty of perjury stating that she did not know who the birth father was, she was lying. While Stacey took Vanessa back home with her to California, thinking all was well, the child’s birth father Benjamin Mills, Jr., began taking steps to try and get her back. Because of this, Stacey’s adoption of Vanessa has never been finalized, and now Vanessa is in danger of being taken from the only home she has ever known.

If the facts about Benjamin Mills, Jr. were not the facts, I might be outraged for him. After all, his biological child was put up for adoption without his knowledge. But the facts are these: Mr. Mills has four other children, none of whom he has custody of. (His mother has custody of Vanessa’s two full-siblings). Mr. Mills has a felony criminal record, (which if you’re so inclined you can look up on Montg0mery County’s website) including a conviction for domestic violence against the birth mother for which he served eight months in prison. (It has been reported by several media outlets that in this instance Mr. Mills pulled the birth mother around by the hair so violently that police found clumps of bloody hair strewn about when they arrived.) Mr. Mills has a child endangerment charge on his record. Mr. Mills has a very long misdemeanor record. The Dayton Daily News has reported that Montgomery County Children Services currently has an open case involving Mr. Mills’ older children. With these being the facts about Mr. Mills, it seems clear to me that he never would have received custody of Vanessa at the time she was born – so why should he receive it now? And why is he fighting to have his daughter taken away from a loving, stable home, when he clearly cannot provide this for her?

On July 2, California courts ruled that this case belongs in Ohio – and so does Vanessa. Stacey Doss has been told she has until July 16th to surrender her daughter, who will then be taken by Montgomery County officials and placed in foster care here. This, to me, is the truly mind-boggling element of this case – why traumatize a two-year-old child by putting her in foster care when she has a perfectly happy home to live in while this case is decided? It is cruel and unusual punishment to take this child from Stacey Doss’ home – temporarily or permanently.

Doss has filed an emergency appeal to keep Vanessa with her in California with hopes that it will be heard before the 16th. In support of Stacey and Vanessa Doss, some Dayton locals, including myself, will be holding a candlelight vigil on Thursday July 15th (the eve of the deadline for Vanessa to return to Ohio) from 8:30-9:30 at the Deeds Carillon. I hope that many of you can join us for what is a support rally not only for Vanessa, but for the best interests of the child in cases like these.

Vanessa’s custody case will be heard in Montgomery County courts on July 29th and 30th, and tensions in the community, and between the the parties involved will surely be heating up between now and then. The question is, who will Montgomery County law and judges protect – the “rights” of an unfit biological parent, or the best interests of an innocent child? Only time will tell if justice will be done for Vanessa.