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Wright State Motion Pictures Program to Premiere Six New Films at BIG LENS FILM FESTIVAL

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1098167_654551394577971_1975119123_nBig Lens is back! Only 144 people will have the opportunity to be the first audience of the latest works from the award-winning Motion Pictures program at WSU, screening August 22 at the Neon Movies.  This year, Big Lens kicks off opening night at the annual FilmDayton Festival (August 22 – 25, www.filmdayton.com).  This weekend of feature films, short films, documentaries, and award winners from Sundance and South by Southwest will have Ohio premieres all weekend long!

In years past, the Big Lens film festival has been used as a launching pad for many WSU films, which have gone on to screen at Sundance, win Student Academy Awards, and play at major film festivals all around the globe! This show will include premieres of entirely new films, diverse in their subject matter and style.  Concluding the evening, a question-and-answer session will be held with the young filmmakers, who are eager to discuss their works. This year’s Big Lens includes, for the first time, FOUR films directed by women.  Like its predecessors, Big Lens 2013 will no doubt entertain, educate, enlighten, and excite.  Make sure to get your tickets at the Neon for $7.00 before they are sold out!  Check out the roster:

  

            Ember, written and directed by Maggie Rose Price, is a film that deals with the emotional and psychological trauma that comes with a history of violence. Still reeling from child abuse, a young woman searches for closure in an unusual way. A powerful and harrowing depiction of a survivor, Ember gives a voice to subject matter often left in the dark. Produced by Ellen Swisher with cinematography by Michael Lowendick.

Anomaly, written and directed by John Swansiger, recounts the story of David Worthington who is the final test subject of a new chemical experience which gives people the illusion of physically reliving a memory.  After suffering nearly fatal side effects David is withdrawn from the project. Despite his failing health, and driven by his addiction to the new product, David tries everything he can to go back to the memory and see a person of his past one last time.  Produced by Colin Brooks with cinematography by Christopher Flannery.

Punk Girl, the first narrative short by filmmaker team Megan Hague and Kyle Wilkinson is a day in the life portrait of a young punk who rebels against the static middle-class life she was offered as a child.  She searches for freedom in a series of one-night-stands, graffiti art, and punk shows while quietly longing to rekindle a severed connection with her family.  Produced by Emily Anne Evans.Punches and Pedicures

Punches and Pedicures, a documentary by filmmaker team Ash Brandon and Dennis Hohne, tell the story of Victor Pham, a Vietnamese immigrant who successfully escaped a life full of gang activity by moving from Oakland, California to rural Defiance, Ohio.  Now the owner of his own business, Victor strives to inspire local youth to overcome lives filled with trouble. He does so by mentoring them in one of the most brutal of sports in the most unlikely of places.

Before We Go, written and directed by Bryan McClurg, takes place on a summer afternoon when two college graduates cross paths outside their elementary school.  As the two explore the space of their childhood and reminisce, they wonder if they ever met as kids and – if not – what things would have been like if that had.  This reflective film deals with the passage of time and how our past comes to shape our present.  Produced by Chris Tung with cinematography by Adam Brixey.

Painted Lady, written and directed by Brittany A. Shyne, tells the story of a nine-year-old girl, played by Sumayah Chappelle, who experiences the first changes of womanhood.  A strained relationship with her mother leaves her on her own to navigate her changing body.  Painted Lady offers a poetic glimpse of the struggles of girlhood while telling a story very few of us have ever witnessed on screen. Produced by Cassie Ryan and John Saylor with cinematography by Jacob Ebel.

 

As submitted by Brittany A. Shyne via Press Release

Center for Healthy Communities announces 2013 Health Promotion Program Award

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image002The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Center for Healthy Communities selected GetUp Montgomery County as the recipient of its annual Health Promotion Program Award.

The award was presented at the Center for Healthy Communities Community Advisory Board meeting on July 10.

Since 1997, the Center for Healthy Communities has invited the community to submit nominations for its annual Health Promotion Program Awards. These awards recognize community-based healthy promotion programs that serve the citizens of the greater Dayton area. To be eligible for the award, programs must have been developed and implemented by two or more organizations and involve the collaboration of two or more groups/organizations.

GetUp Montgomery County is a community-based program designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating for children, youth and families in Dayton and Montgomery County.

The program promotes the theme, “5-2-1-Almost None,” encouraging children to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, spend less than two hours of leisure screen time each day (TV, computer or video games), get at least one hour of physical activity each day and drink almost none of the sugary sodas or juice-flavored drinks.

“GetUp has been busy working with child care workers, schools, after-school programs, worksites, faith-based organizations and the community to help healthy kids graphic2make Montgomery County a model for healthy eating and active living,” said Bruce Barcelo, program coordinator and manager of the Creating Healthy Communities & Tobacco Program for Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County. “GetUp now has more than 300 community partners that agree to share the 5-2-1-Almost None message to reach children and their families where they live, learn, work and play.”

Katherine L. Cauley, Ph.D., director of the Center for Healthy Communities, said GetUp is deserving of recognition for its work in Montgomery County. “Many of us have tried to take on the public health issue of obesity. But the approach of engaging multiple partners across the community in educational and behavior change activities, which is at the core of the GetUp program, seems to be the most effective to date,” Cauley said. “We are proud to be a part of this exciting community-wide endeavor.”

The Wright State University Center for Healthy Communities is a community-academic partnership committed to improving the health and well being of the community, educating its health professionals and serving as a force for change. The center began in 1991 as Partners for Community Health Development, and became a formal organization in 1994. In 2011, the center became a program of the Center for Global Health in the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Department of Community Health.

Davis Rogan Band Comes Marching in to Canal Street **Ticket Contest**

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6If you take the enthusiasm and playfulness of early New Orleans rhythm and blues, add to that the cynical wit of Randy Newman, the rock meets jazz sensibilities of early Steely Dan, and the mocking humor that runs through the works of Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Frank Zappa, and Earl King, you begin to describe the music of “The Real Davis,” Davis Rogan.

Davis Rogan grew up in New Orleans, and even though he can cook a mean gumbo, he doesn’t sweat red beans and rice nor does he indulge in neon red drinks in glasses named for storms. He DJ’ed on both Tulane’s station WTUL and the New Orleans community radio WWOZ, and hustled for gigs in the early 1990s. In his head, he had an idea to start a band with “a blend of hip-hop sensibility and New Orleans brass band with some classic New Orleans funk,” as he said in an Offbeat article in 2002. “That, and a big ass horn section.” That band became the first and foremost funk/rap/New Orleans band, All That. The band was signed to roots music powerhouse Rounder Records and put out two great albums, Eponymous Debut and the Whop Boom Bam.

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Later he emerged with a bunch of songs that became his first solo record, The Once and Future D.J. The record was lost to the floodwaters of the Katrina levee failures, but another copy surfaced. And in the first issue that New Orleans music magazine Offbeat put out after the flood, critic John Swenson gave it a deservedly great review. Now here’s the twist in this story. Producer David Simon, head honcho of the rightly revered HBO series The Wire. reads the review and hears the record as he is researching a new series about post-Katrina New Orleans that he is going to pitch to HBO. He loves the record enough to base a character on Davis Rogan. That’s how we get to The Real Davis, in contrast to the “The Cable Davis” played by the great Steve Zahn on Treme.

Davis makes New Orleans tradition true to today, yesterday, and at least two weeks from today. But even if you don’t know that, you’ll still dig the record. It’s got that inimitable, indescribable thing that could be called heart. Or soul.

Davis Rogan  performs at Canal Street Tavern on  Friday, Aug 16th  at 8pm as  part of the “NOLA Summer in Dayton” Concert Series sponsored by Abita Brewing Company and presented by Yeah You Right Music Inc. Tickets can be purchased online or  by contacting [email protected].

MostMetro.com will be sending a lucky reader and a guest to the show.  To register just leave a comment on why you should win the tickets and  register below.  Winner will be randomly selected this Wed, Aug 1th.

Our contest has ended.

YWCA is Seeking Nominees That Have the Spirit of a Survivor

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ywcaNEWS-304The YWCA Dayton will be hosting its YWomen – This is My Story Breakfast Fundraiser on Wednesday, October 2, 2013; the event will start at 8:00 am, registration 7:30 at the Schuster Center. The YWCA Dayton and the YWomen Committee are requesting members of the community to identify and nominate an individual for the Marsha Froelich Survivor Award. The award will be given to an outstanding female whose words, actions or demeanor serve to exemplify, inspire, set an example, and celebrate the spirit of a survivor who has overcome difficult odds, conditions, or situations and exemplifies caring, compassion and devotion to helping others.

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Marsha Froelich

The award is in honor of Marsha Froelich, a former YWCA of Dayton Vice President and Woman of Influence honoree; she was also recognized as a Dayton Daily News Top Ten Woman, a Woman of Valor by Beth Abraham Synagogue and was a recipient of the Dayton Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award. She was a graduate of Dayton’s Fairview High School and the University of Michigan. Marsha retired as Executive Director of Clothes That Work! shortly before her passing in 2011.
Mrs. Froelich was a breast cancer survivor and through her efforts she privately counseled women with breast cancer. Through her dedication to the community, she raised millions for underserved people in the Miami Valley Region. In 2011, Marsha was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Greater Dayton Association of Fundraising Professionals. But, most of all, Marsha is remembered for her positive spirit as well as her passion for helping others.
To nominate an individual:
 Go to www.ywcadayton.org and complete a nomination form. The nominations are due no later than midnight, September 2, 2013.
Questions should be directed to the Interim Director of Development, YWCA Dayton, (937) 461-5550 ext 118.

Nomination questions are listed below:
Describe how nominee’s actions, words or demeanor serve to exemplify, inspire, set an example and celebrate the spirit of a survivor.

Describe how nominee has overcome difficult odds, conditions, or situations.

Describe how nominee’s actions, words, or demeanor serve to inspire you personally.
Describe how nominee’s actions have impacted others.
Additional information you feel is important to share about the nominee.

5 Bands To See At Miami Valley Music Fest 2013

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The Miami Valley Music Festival Association is hosting their annual event, Miami Valley Music Fest, this weekend at Eagle’s Campgrounds in Troy, Ohio.  The festival began in 2006 and has been growing ever since.  The weekend gives the attendees a weekend of camping, fantastic live music all day and night, food from local vendors, visual art displays by local artists, dance performances.  Also at the festival you will find informational booths hosted by local charities.  Throughout the weekend, the musical line-up will feature rock, blues, bluegrass, reggae, electronic artists and bands.  With so much great music being played, here are 5 acts to catch this weekend:

 

 

 

 

Such A Night

Jeff Opt’s version of the well-acclaimed documentary of The Band’s last live performance has taken the area by storm.  The first show at Gilly’s electrified the crowd.  The second show at Southgate House Revival at Newport, Kentucky gave folks outside of town an extraordinary view of what local music in Dayton is all about.  This next stop shouldn’t be any different.  There have been a few changes in the lineup, but the show is still top-notch.  The level of play that each musician brings continues to show the appreciation of the original.  For people who haven’t had the chance to see the show, this weekend’s act will be one to not miss.  For those who have seen the performance, expect the same excellence.

 

Lost on Iddings

All around the world, there are so many great jam bands.  The Grateful Dead and Phish are two that have seen their popularity continue to soar.  Dayton has their share of jam bands, as well.  One band in particular, Lost on Iddings, are starting to place their name into the jam bands to not miss when they perform.  The band comprises of individuals who according to their website allow each member to ‘express themselves fully through their own style of play’.  The festival location’s hometown band will give the festival patrons an infectious blend of ska and rock in some of their music.  The guitar play from the band is open and airy, very free-flowing.  Some of their music also incorporates some country influence.  Jam band fans will be craving for more once Lost on Iddings finish their set.

 

https://soundcloud.com/lost-on-iddings/greater-understanding

 

 

 

Stillwater River Band

For the folks who enjoy bluegrass, Stillwater River Band will give the audience what they are looking for.  To the folks that haven’t really immersed themselves in the genre, give these fellas a look while at the weekend festival.  SRB plays the classic American root sound beautifully while also giving it a present day feel.   The play of the strings and the vocals possess a wide range of emotion.  Festival goers will be watching a band that is heavily influenced from the music that is played in the mountains.  Grab a dance partner while watching SRB play, because their music will get you moving.

 

 

 

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Gin-Soaked Angels

Yellow Springs is a special place for those who know it well.  The town hangs it hat on being heavily centered on the arts.  Gin-Soaked Angels stem from the town, and are a great representation.  They consider their music genre ‘soul-rock/electric gypsy-punk’.  To the listener, they will hear a heavy dosage of electro-acoustic guitar play, hypnotic percussions with moody vocals.  Gin-Soaked Angels have a laid-back vibe to them to will suit the late night crowd perfectly.  The band has just started getting their feet with being a band, and playing at the Miami Valley Music Fest is just a great way to get some exposure.

 

The Repeating Arms

A set from The Repeating Arms cannot be missed.  The group has a sleepy folk sound that will undoubtedly leave people feeling as good as they will ever feel.  Each song maintains a simply assortment of rock that is has a Southern twist to it.  One of their best songs to date, the psychedelic-driven ‘Pigeon’, only bulks up their range.  The Repeating Arms, like the Gin-Soaked Angels, are still fresh in the music scene in town.  Be expecting this band to be a band that everyone will be talking about after the weekend is over.  They should be the show that will be one of the best of the event. To hear music from the band, click here.

 

 

 

The 2013 Miami Valley Music Fest will be taking place today and tomorrow at the Eagle’s Campgrounds in Troy, Ohio.  Tickets are on sale for $45/weekend, $35/Saturday only, and $25/Friday only.  For more on who is will be performing, click here.

FILMDAYTON ANNOUNCES 2013 FILMDAYTON AWARD WINNERS

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xyublegiva1rlgct4da93er6bgscn32a  The FilmDayton Festival is back for the 5th year with submissions of shorts from around the world, great features you wouldn’t see elsewhere, valuable workshops for professionals or those looking for a behind the scenes view, and the  popular Pitch-It contest where you can share your movie plot idea for a chance at cash and prizes. The Festival, headquartered at The Neon, will take place on  Fri, Aug 23- Sun, Aug 25.

For the second year as part of the festival, FilmDayton honors talented Miami Valley residents who choose to offer their skills, creativity, innovation and support to the local community. This year’s honorees receiving FilmDayton Awards include:

Jud Yalkut – The Innovation Award – an award for a lifetime of innovation and creativity in filmmaking

A resident of the Dayton area since 1973, Yalkut was Assistant Professor of Art at Wright State University (where he yalkut_jud_600x480_01152013-1founded the film and video area of the Art Department), and taught at Sinclair Community College in Dayton and at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Jud started making video art in the 1960’s and collaborated with Nam Jun Paik on a series of groundbreaking video-film pieces. His work has influenced a number of other video artists and his innovative style broke boundaries between artist and spectator, inside and outside, reality and fantasy.

Jud’s film and video work has been exhibited at such venues as the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Miami University Art Museum, and Anthology Film Archives in New York, the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York, the Pompidou Center in Paris, and throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. (Award given posthumously)

 Andy Copp – The Filmmaker Award – a career award for excellence in filmmaking

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A native of Dayton, Andy’s first feature film, The Mutilation Man (1998) was a gritty, blood-soaked, fever dream set ina bleak, post-apocalyptic near-future. Shot on a mix of film and video, The Mutilation Man paid homage to his filmmaking heroes while presenting his own unique and personal vision. Andy was a fiercely independent filmmaker, as well as an emerging artist and innovative filmmaker.

As an educator and mentor, Andy also made an impact on the Miami Valley’s film community. He taught classes in film history and theory at Sinclair Community College, and presented workshops in various aspects of video production at the Miami Valley Cable Council, KIT-TV in Tipp City, DATV and FilmDayton. Andy teamed up with Rick Martin and horror host Dr. Creep to create Horrorama, an annual horror film marathon, which has raised thousands of dollars for charity since 1997. (Award given posthumously)

Levin Family Foundation –The Key Award- an award for special service to the regional film communitybanner-logo

The Levins have supported filmmaking in the Dayton region for decades. Sam Levin’s movie theatre empire consisted of 17 theaters in the Dayton region. In 1964, Sam was driven to improve the quality of movies showing at his theatres and wrote the feature film Girls on the Beach which features major musicians of the day and is still a cult hit today.

Recently, the Levin Family Foundation became involved with film through their generous underwriting of Take Us Home, a documentary depicting the challenges faced by Ethiopian Jews on exodus to Israel.

How to Go:

The public is invited to the 2013 Eichelberger FilmDayton Awards, Sunday August 25 @ 8PM at the Neon Movies.  Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at www.filmdayton.com.

 

Muse Machine’s ‘All You Need is Love’ Invades Victoria Theatre

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fl61jmsf3bgj7ickw245we3ut0c88xadNearly 200 Muse singers, dancers and musicians of all ages perform many of the greatest songs of the last 50 years! From She Loves You to Strawberry Fields Forever to Hey Jude, the music of the Fab Four (along with a few surprises) will be re-imagined in all new ways.

Visit http://www.musemachine.com for additional information &http://www.ticketcenterstage.com to purchase tickets.

Spanish Wine Tasting & All You Can Eat Paella

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b9rs5co3v36mnmcom4dfazj7nhwwqi0rWe’ll be featuring Chef Margot’s terrific Seafood Paella and a tasting of these Spanish wines:

• Domaine Nizas Rose
• Prazo Albarino
• Vina Alarba Grenacha
• Matchbook Tempranillo
• Vina Eguia Rioja
• Biagorri Crianza

Thursday, August 8th 5:30-8pm
$25 for the wine tasting
$26 for all you can eat Seafood Paella
Does not include tax and gratuity

Champps Beer Tasting

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images-1I would like to invite you and your pallets to an evening of handsomely crafted beer paired with a sinfully succulent selection of cuisine. Wednesday August 7th, Champps Americana will be hosting a private beer tasting featuring some heavy hitters in the craft beer world. Such as…

Avery Majarahja IPA
Dogfish Head Black & Blue
Hoppin’ Frog B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher
Hoppin’ Frog Turbo Shandy
Kentucky Pete’s Cherry Cider
North Coast Pranqster
Rogue Dead Guy
Rogue Honey Kolsch
Southern Tier Unearthly IPA
Stone Ruin-Ten IPA
Triple Digits Decimation
Two Brothers Laughing Panda IPA

Each ticket includes 8 10oz. drink tickets for tasting, as well as multiple courses of food specifically designed to highlight each tasty beverage. This exclusive evening will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets are only $25. Extra drink tickets will be sold for $2 a piece. See ya there. Please let me know if your coming so I can get a close idea for attendance. Thank You!

Food designed &
prepared by: Jeremy Street & Adam Harkless

 

Paddle Faster, I Hear Bluegrass

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1000853_406944936081730_1192402143_nSix weeks ago Tom Helbig cooked up this idea for a festival called canoegrass! Things have happened quickly: he built a website, created a logo, built a floating stage, started a  Facebook page, booked 8 musicians, made t-shirts, ordered beer and ticket sales have started for the Aug 16-17 festival. Tom is quick to credit help from his friends that have helped turn his dream into a reality and invites you  to join the fun. Tom also shared this will be a family friendly event.

Canoegrass will be a weekend celebration of bluegrass music, the best of the human spirit and river life. The festival site will be banks of the Great Miami River, which will come alive with the best entertainers in the region.  This isn’t your ordinary festival. Get ready to get wet, wild and jam all weekend long.  The best seat in the house just may be from a canoe or tube!

You will find music everywhere; at camp, on your river trip and even on a floating stage.  Some will be scheduled, some will not!  Attendees are encouraged to help build the scene and jam everywhere you find the inspiration.

CampStage:CanoegrassBand

  • Home of the Friday and Saturday night featured acts that includes some of the best bluegrass and roots performers in our region.  Bring your dancing boots, a partner and shout “Take a Drink a Beer” all night long.
  • Lineup includes  Friday 7 pm (Bibs and Barefeet), 9 pm (Blue Caboose) and Saturday at 7 pm (Todd the Fox),  9 pm (Hickory Robot)

Tube Jam:

  • This is what everyone will be talking about at Canoegrass!  Borrow a tube or bring your inflatable to float on the Great Miami River during the Tube Jam floating stage shows. Cool off during these shows as the August heat will be in full force!  Float around with friends and enjoy up and coming performers from our region.
  • Lineup includes Friday at 5:30 pm (Jay Cullis and Dillon Brown), Saturday 5 pm (Holy Hickory)
  • Open mic on the floating stage, Saturday 10 am – 2 pm

 River Jam:

  • On Saturday morning, the Great Miami River will play host to our paddling trips and streamside jam sessions.  Make sure you stop and join a jam session along your journey. We encourage you to bring your own instruments, raft together with friends and jam your way downstream!
  • Canoeing and kayaking trips, 10 am – 3 pm

There is so much to do beyond camping and music at Canoegrass!  Check out all the fun you can have during the weekend:

Take a river trip

Slip and Swing

  • Canoegrass offers access to a stream-side rope swing for a splashing good time!  We also claim to have the greatest slip and slide in the world.  You will feel like a kid again no matter your age. Access granted with camping or day pass.

Canoe Jousting

  • That’s right medieval jousting meets canoeing!  Hop in a canoe and battle the opposition in a friendly match to see who can be the last one standing.  Competitors will be required to wear a life jacket and helmet.  We like things a little crazy so wear costumes and the wildest helmet you can find to distract your competition and give those on the bank a good laugh! Register Saturday morning by 1 pm at the camp office.  Jousting begins at 2 pm.  A single-elimination bracket will be created at close of registration.  First place earns braggin’ rights and some of the coolest photos of all time!

Biking

 

  • Canoegrass is across the river from the Great Miami River Bikeway and provides convenient access to over 300 miles of paved trail to explore.  This is the largest connected bikeway network in the country.  We highly recommend you bring a bike for the weekend.  You can put on a bunch of miles or take a leisurely ride to Tipp City or the Tadmor Historic Site at Taylorsville MetroPark in between the action at Canoegrass.

Fishing

  • We are on a river and there are hungry small mouth bass that live there!  Pack a rod and try to land the big one from camp or on your float trip.  Ohio Fishing License required.

Hiking

  • Take a hike.  Yes, we mean it!  We are minutes away from some of the most beautiful hiking trails at Charleston Falls Preserve and Taylorsville MetroPark.  Definitely, a great way to shake the hangover before action picks up at Canoegrass.

For ticket info please checkout the Canoegrass website.

 

Deja Vu for Morning Radio Show Host

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gina2A familiar voice returned to Dayton radio this summer when Gina Ferraro joined The Mix Morning Show on Mix 107.7, bringing her back to the Miami Valley after six years in Chicago. From 5 – 10 a.m. each weekday, she  joins hosts to cover traffic, entertainment news, and social media during the broadcast, among other topics. Ferraro’s first broadcast with the program was July 1, and today she celebrates one month at Mix.

“I just couldn’t turn down the offer,” Ferraro said. “The timing was perfect. My family lives north of Dayton in the Wapokoneta area, and my 80 year old grandmother lived in Virginia for 40 years and announced out of nowhere that she was selling her house and moving back to Ohio. I thought, this is an opportunity to do something from a new angle and my grandmother will be there. It’s been great. Everyone’s welcomed me with open arms. My co-hosts were happy to have a female back on the show, and we all knew each other from when I was here before, so the dynamic isn’t forced and we all click. It’s been a smooth transition.”

While attending Wright State University in college, Ferraro worked for the Dayton Bombers, where she met WTUE’s John “The Bman” Beaulieu. He suggested she intern at Clear Channel Dayton, and she scored an internship that lasted through her graduation in 2002.

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Gina with Clayton, ? and Quinn in 2006

“When I was done with school,” she remembered, “Kramer from 103.9 The X approached me and said he needed an overnight person and asked if I’d be willing to do on-air work. I’d never been on the air, not while I was with Clear Channel, not even on the college station, and Wright State has a great radio station. I ended up doing a year and a half at The X, first on overnights, then mid-days and a solid weekend shift. In 2005, I went to 94.5, which was a sister station that did Top 40. I was on mornings there until 2007, then went to Z93 and signed a two-year contract. Six months later, a new company bought the station, changed the format, and fired all the staff!”

A stint at WHIO radio followed before Ferraro’s husband was offered a job in Chicago, and suddenly she found herself in a market she didn’t know, with nothing lined up.

“Lite 93.9, a Clear Channel station in Chicago, was looking for a traffic producer. That wasn’t what I wanted to do, and after I applied, I got an interview and almost didn’t go because I was so uninterested. One of my radio buddies said, ‘In Chicago, you never know who you might run into on an elevator, so go to the interview.’ I got there, and the woman who was interviewing me greeted me right off the elevator and was frantic. She said, ‘I know you’re not going to believe this, but on Monday, they fired the traffic guy. I gave your demo to the news director, and you’re hired. You’ve got the job.’ I literally walked right into that job.”

Later on, television beckoned, and Ferraro landed on a local daytime talk show, WCIU’s You and Me This Morning, doing entertainment reporting on a regular guest basis. Two subsequent local programs, Nude Hippo and Tattoo Factory TV, gave Ferraro the opportunity to push her boundaries on camera, being a celebrity guest in a roller derby, broadcasting live from the Sears Tower rooftop, interviewing Robert Downey, Jr., and getting her first tattoo on camera while interviewing the tattoo artist.

In Dayton, Ferraro’s day begins at 3 a.m. On the road from Wapokoneta by 4 a.m., at the station by 5 a.m.

“That first half hour,” she explained, “I print out all of our show prep and sanitize the studio. I was taught that early on; we’re all sharing microphones and headphones, and you can’t risk a cold in radio. Our prizes are predetermined for the whole week, so I set up that day’s prizes and start going through the show outline to see if there’s audio from other sources that I might want to use. For instance, when the royal baby was born, we aired the announcement from the town cryer. Then I’ll go through Twitter and see what’s trending and figure out what happened the night before, because I have to tweet during every hour of the show and encourage people to chime in on their phones.

gina3“After that, I highlight the entertainment news I want to use for that segment, and then once six o’clock hits, we’re in our busy time on the air. Taking calls, discussing events. At the top of every hour is news, weather, and traffic, and weather and traffic come in again during the hour. Jamie Jarosik from WDTN does weather, and there’s entertainment news at a specific time, and at 7:35 we do The Impossible Question. There’s a prize for that. At 8:40 we do the At Work Club: you can sign up at mix1077.com, and if your place of employment wins that day, you get a bunch of prizes.

“At 9 a.m. we do the Favorite 5 at 9, and your business can enter that as well. You pick five songs and we play your requests. I swear, it’s one of the last things in radio where you can actually request songs and get them played. It has to be stuff in the Mix realm – like you can’t really ask for Travis Tritt or Metallica, but we have played Elvis and the Beatles and such, so sometimes they do color outside the lines a little. There are prizes for Favorite 5, too: for instance, all this week, we’ve given a pair of tickets for the Maroon 5/Kelly Clarkson show at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati this Sunday.”

At 10 a.m., when the show ends, Ferraro and Stevens work with the station’s sales team, handle the next week’s prizes, mail the current day’s prizes to their winners, and do prep for the next day’s show, and at 1 p.m., the work day is over.

“I’m pretty basic in my home life,” Ferraro said. “I’m an avid CrossFitter, and I do the Paleo Diet. I spend time with my husband and family because it’s so good being back with them after living away for years. I have a golden, half golden retriever and half poodle. I love taking her out.”

Of future career goals, Ferraro said, “I would love to host my own national show on The Travel Channel or Oxygen, maybe Bravo. Something that has to do with the history of cities in America or around the world. Right before I left Chicago, I’d launched a brand new show, Uncovering Chicago, with a co-host, and I had to table it because of the job offer in Dayton. Ultimately, I’d love to pick up that idea again and take it to a national level – uncover Columbus, Atlanta, all over, and do a really cool, interactive show that brings the viewer something they can have fun with and be educated by at the same time.”

ginamix

Jeff Stevens, Gina and Dave Alexander

But for now, she’s perfectly happy to be at Mix.

“It’s been a nice breath of fresh air being back home. I still feel unsettled because I don’t have a place yet and 90% of my things are still in storage in Chicago, but I’m really enjoying it here. I don’t miss the Chicago traffic, and the cost of living here is almost like I’ve tripled my income, so that’s seriously a blessing. And I love my new job. When I’m at work, it’s constant and I’m having fun the whole time. By one o’clock, I’ve got to go home or I’ll work all day and night. I’m having so much fun that it doesn’t feel like work.”

Gina can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and more. For a complete list, bio, photos, and more information, visit her website.

There’s still one more day to win tickets to see this Sunday’s Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati! Register by noon on August 2 at Mix 107.7’s website.

Registration lasts until 11:59 p.m. on August 3 for Gina’s Girls Night Out with the Backstreet Boys! Gina will treat the winner and a friend to a VIP concert experience including two tickets to the show, plus a meet and greet with the band and passes to the soundcheck party before the show.

Cityfolk to Focus on Jazz – Cancels Season, Festival and other Programs

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Ruthie Foster at the 2010 Cityfolk Festival.©2010 Andy Snow

Ruthie Foster at the 2010 Cityfolk Festival.©2010 Andy Snow

After several years of financial challenges, including a rained out festival in 2012, a festival in 2013 that didn’t meet its attendance goals, along with declining ticket sales and sponsorships, Cityfolk has announced it will focus on jazz, while canceling its 2013-14 season and its plans for a 2014 festival. It will also discontinue its residency program, Culture Builds Community, and has withdrawn from its anticipated partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.  Ohio’s only full-time traditional arts presenter was founded in 1980, and was committed to presenting ethnic and traditional folk arts. Through the years Cityfolk presented Celtic music, jazz, blues, world music, American roots, and more. In 1996, the National Folk Festival chose Dayton as its location for a three-year run. After the third year, Cityfolk kept the tradition going. Early festivals were at Courthouse Square and surrounding streets. Recent festivals have been at Riverscape.

According to Matt Dunn, Cityfolk Board President, Cityfolk knew it had to change its business model. “Even prior to last year’s festival, we were realizing declining ticket sales, sponsorships, and government support,” said Dunn. “The rain that devastated last year’s festival put us in a deeper hole and sped up our process for making changes, including having a fundraising campaign, while also letting go of some staff.”

The change, according to Dunn, included the staff reductions, a post-festival campaign following the 2012 festival, seeking potential partners, and making the decision to charge admission for the 2013 festival. “Many festival-goers,” Dunn said, “didn’t realize we were a non-profit organization with a full-time staff and year-round programming. The festival costs money to produce and we couldn’t continue to offer it for free.” The other change involved a pending partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.  That change was to take place after the festival. According to Dunn, Cityfolk had planned to let its remaining staff go, and responsibilities for the programming and management of Cityfolk would have been contracted with The Dayton Art Institute, under a management agreement. Likely because of a combination of rain and the paid admission, the festival didn’t meet its attendance goals. “Money raised at the festival is used to support the organization’s year-round programming,” Dunn said. “And this year’s festival came up short.”

“It’s disappointing,” said Michael Roediger, Executive Director at The Dayton Art Institute, “We were looking forward to a relationship that would have been beneficial to both organizations.” Dunn and Roediger both acknowledge that a lot of work went into defining the partnership with the hope that new and creative opportunities would evolve to capitalize on, and integrate, the mission and strengths of both organizations.

In recent years, other arts organizations realized they needed to change in order to realize economies of scale. The most prominent and recent change was the merger between the Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra to form the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Before that, Carillon Park and the Montgomery County Historical Society merged to become Dayton History. While the partnership between Cityfolk and The Dayton Art Institute wasn’t a merger, each organization was hoping its structure would have impacted their bottom lines in a favorable way. However, citing the desire to enter into the partnership with cash on hand, and no debt, Dunn said “in the end, we just couldn’t make the numbers work.” He continued, “It would have been irresponsible to enter into a partnership knowing that we wouldn’t be able to meet our commitment or live up to our end of the agreement.” Taking it a step further, Dunn continued, “The only responsible thing to do is to discontinue programs that lost money.”

While the 2013-14 concert season was announced at the 2013 Festival, no tickets have been sold, according to Dunn. Shows, in partnership with the University of Dayton’s Arts Series, will continue. The other shows will be canceled. Knowing the power of the arts, and referring to Culture Builds Community and the Welcome Dayton initiative, in which Cityfolk was involved, Dunn said, “hopefully the community will continue to use the arts to affect social change and to bring people together using the arts as a bridge between cultures.”

“Cityfolk has 33 years of history under its belt,” said Dunn, “We have had great relationships with major institutions, including the City of Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, Dayton Public Schools, the University of Dayton, WYSO, The Dayton Art Institute, The Masonic Center, Gilly’s, Canal Street Tavern, and more. We’re grateful to the county, the city, the Ohio Arts Council, Culture Works, the National Endowment for the Arts, and our many volunteers, sponsors, foundations, members, and other supporters. We’re proud of the diverse artistic experiences we’ve brought to Dayton. That will be our legacy.”

While suspending normal operations will allow the organization to down-size, Dunn hopes Cityfolk will not go away completely.  An all-volunteer-led Cityfolk will use the coming weeks to assess its options to continue presenting jazz, for which it has an endowment to help cover the costs. The endowment, specifically for presenting and preserving jazz, was raised locally and matched by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Said Dunn, “Cityfolk is committed to keeping this money in the community and using it for the purpose for which it was intended.”

GLSEN Working Locally To Promote Anti-LGBT Bullying in Schools

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glsensagifGLSEN Greater Dayton is excited to be active again in the Dayton and surrounding areas. The goal of GLSEN Greater Dayton, is for every student, in every school, to be valued and treated with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. GLSEN  believes that ALL students deserve a safe and affirming school environment where they can learn and grow.  The Dayton chapter was   reformed in September 2012 and is now active in a 19 county area from Dayton, to Celina, to Columbus. They are one of 38 chapters across the nation spreading respect in our local schools.

They  accomplish these goals by working in hallways across the country — from Congress and the Department of Education to schools and district offices in your community — to improve school climate and champion LGBT issues in K-12 education.

Currently, CLSEN is seeking educators, school administrators, and principals to join them on August 6, 2013 at the Downtown Dayton Metro Library for their  first Teacher’s meeting at 6:30 PM. They have numerous resources to provide to teachers about respect in the classroom, safe playgrounds, and activities to promote individuality.  The  teacher’s meeting will be conducted by Lasue Juniel, a local teacher at Kiser PreK – 8 School and Kevin Mabrey, Co-Chair of GLSEN Greater Dayton. More information on the meeting can be found here.
[yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_967ZXI9qIE’]

GLSEN Greater Dayton has made some great local connections with schools and is hopeful to be able to connect with more schools and educators soon. They recently sent Safe Space Kits to all Middle and High Schools in our territory to promote respect in our communities. Their main goal is to have a GLSEN advocate represented in every school![yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_967ZXI9qIE’]

Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBT students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Join them as they transform our nation’s K-12 schools. If you or anyone you know are interested in making our schools a safe space for kids, please contact us at [email protected], Twitter @GLSENDayton, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GLSENDayton.

 

 

Fifth Street Brewpub Officially Opening its Brewpub Saturday, August 3:

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fsbrewpub Fifth Street Brewpub (FSB), the fastest growing co-operatively owned brewpub in the nation, announced today that they would open their brewpub and courtyard to both the general public and member-owners during their grand opening on Saturday, August 3 from 11 am to midnight. The event will begin with a ribbon cutting at 11 am to officially open for business.

 

Fifth Street Brewpub will initially feature twelve craft beers on tap, rotating out varieties to include Southern Tier 2x Stout, Dark Horse Sapient Triple, and Boulder Mojo IPA, and will also serve a selection of wine and liquor. Alcohol service will be available in the courtyard as well.

 

Local musicians Dave and Pam Baugham, Dustin Vincent, and Jonathon Hamilton will perform at various times throughout the day. Street food will be offered by several vendors including Pa’s Pork from Noon – 5 pm, McNasty’s from 4 – 8 pm, and Cheeky Mobile Meat Pies from 5 – 10 pm. The grand opening also will include a number of festivities throughout the day including random prize give-ways and a raffle of a large basket containing a variety of craft beers, FSB-branded pint glasses, coasters, t-shirts, and hats. Tickets can be purchased during the grand opening, and the winner does not need to be present to win.

 

The new brewpub isn’t yet offering its own signature craft beers from their seven-barrel fsbrewpubcourtyardbrewing system that will be housed in the brew house. Fifth Street Brewpub co-founder and president Brian Young stated that construction of the brew house is ongoing, and once brewing begins he expects to replace at least half of the taps with FSB’s own signature brews.  “We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It is very exciting to be talking about what beers and styles we are starting with, and what we can accomplish with our new equipment, both with regard to brewing and the kitchen.”

 

When Fifth Street Brewpub set out on this journey a little over a year ago, they had hoped to attract 300 members initially, but in just over a month they were well over 850 members. Setting an ambitious goal for themselves, they reached 2,000 member-owners on the day they celebrated their 1st birthday as a co-op, June 22,2013, making them the fastest growing co-op in the nation. Membership director Maureen Barry said, “It was very exciting to welcome our 2,000th member-owner at our first birthday party.  Reaching that milestone together as a community, at our brewpub, was truly a special occasion.”

 

Non-members can still join the brewpub at the one-time fee of $125 and own a share of the co-op. For more details visit www.brewpubgifts.com.

 

Fifth Street Brewpub’s hours are Monday through Thursday 4 pm to 10 pm, Friday 11 am to midnight, and Saturday 11 am to midnight. The brewpub will be open on Sunday from Noon to 10 pm starting mid-August. For more information, call (937) 443-0919.

 

For a complete schedule of events during the grand opening, visit Fifth Street Brewpub on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FifthStreetBrewpub.

 

 

 

About Fifth Street Brewpub

Fifth Street Co-op formed in June 2012 by community members who began the initiative of opening the Fifth Street Brewpub in the St. Anne’s Hill Historic District near downtown Dayton. Brewpub membership grants access to exclusive, member-owner only events, patronage refunds, as well as rotating food and merchandise discounts. The first 2,000 brewpub member-owners will also receive discounts on food and beer. Fifth Street Brewpub is a not-for-profit entity, and supports the efforts of local charities throughout the community. For more information visit www.FifthStreet.Coop and www.brewpubgifts.com.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Hot Yoga’s First Anniversary with Free Classes

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cache_3037310604Join us for a day of celebration as we welcome everyone to the studio to try any class free of charge. Please bring a mat, towel, and a bottle of water. We will have lot’s of specials, and give aways! Please come 10 minutes early. If this will be your first time to the studio , you will need to sign a waiver. All classes 90 minutes. Please arrive on time , doors are locked at the start of class. This is for the safety of yourself and your belongings.

NEW STUDENTS
Please be well hydrated prior to your first class, drink plenty of water up to 24 hrs. before attending class. Try to eat 2-3 hrs before class, so you will have an empty stomach. If you must eat prior to class please choose fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables.

Class times:

9 am – Hot Series w/ Sarah A. – In Hot Series we do 26 poses, each done twice. We start with a breathing exercise followed by a standing series, a floor series, and finishing with a breathing exercise. All levels welcome to this class.

5 pm – Hot Power Flow w/ Anca – Come to this highly energizing class that will flow along to some great tunes. This class will move along at a faster pace.

7 pm – Hot Vinyasa w/ Becky – Vinyasa means ‘ breath synchronized movement ‘ Be ready to flow through this yoga class as you practice a variety of asanas, and learn the power of inhaling and exhaling.

Come in to our hot studio and let us help you take your yoga practice to a new level. We practice several types of yoga in a room that is heated to 95-100 degrees. The heat is going to help warm your muscles for greater flexibility, and to achieve a deeper stretch. Get ready to flush the toxins from your body as you sweat your way through class burning upwards of 600-1,000 calories.

Enjoy all of these great benefits from hot yoga:
* Tones, strengthens, and lengthens your muscles

*Reduce weight- lose pounds by balancing your
metabolism

*Restore flexibility

*Improve circulation

Sweat, work hard, have fun, and leave feeling wonderful!

Motel Beds Gives Dayton More ‘Sunfried Dreams’

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Living in Dayton, Ohio throughout the summertime is pretty standard.  You have the ability to enjoy the sun longer than the other seasons.  Kids are outdoors longer.  People take their much needed vacations more often during this period of time.  The local and private pools are visited frequently.  Cookouts replace cooking indoors.  We celebrate the nation’s birthday by gathering around and watching fireworks litter the night’s sky.  There is a sense of freedom when it comes to the season.

Another summer staple is the rising temperatures.  A recent Tuesday evening provided uncomfortable conditions.  The sweltering heat wave that Dayton was experiencing didn’t let loose of its grip.  In town, six individuals gathered together in a small locale that didn’t provide any escape.  The meeting spot had two air conditioners.  One was in a small area where a beaten down, black leather couch sat.  In the same space was a computer and soundboard for recording.  As you walk out of the small area and into the larger section of the room, another air conditioner sits atop the wall farther down at the end.  There are three fans that are scattered about.  Two of them are your typical pedestal fans.  Sadly, they have become decorations because they no longer work.  The other fan is a box version and its down at the other side of the room.  The lime green color makes it look like it’s been rocking and rolling since the early 70s.  The heat inside the space was unreal.  The ice cold cans of Miller Lite helped some, but it wasn’t going to solve the problem.  The heat wave had taken over the room.  However, the group that consisted of six individuals couldn’t care less.  The collection of people was myself and the Dayton rock band, Motel Beds.

Photo by Chris Corn)

Photo by Chris Corn)

Guitarists Tommy Cooper and Darryl Robbins, drummer Ian Kaplan, singer PJ Paslosky, and bassist Tod Weidner make up Motel Beds.  This Saturday, the band will be releasing their 2011 album Sunfried Dreams.  The reissue will be released on CD and for the first time on vinyl.  The LP will include a bonus track.  The band will be having a show at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District.  Joining Motel Beds will be The Harlequins, Speaking Suns, and Holy Smokes.  Label and design studio Brain Candy will helping with the release of the special release.  “The guys over there love the album and wanted to do something special”, Kaplan explained when asked why this album was choose above the others.

Motel Beds was formed in 2003, with the Kaplan, Paslosky, Cooper, and bassist John Lakes.  The band released their first EP, Hasta Mañana.  Hasta Mañana features dreamy, surf rock songs that are driven with acoustic guitar play.  The band would dissolve in 2005, and remerged in 2009, with Robbins joining the group.  That same year, the band released a much different sounding EP, the rock heavy Go For A Dive.  Shortly after that, Moondazed was released.  The 29 song, lo-fi album ranges from rough demos to polished rock gems that show the band’s range bouncing all over. In 2011, Weidner joined the band and the group marched forward by releasing Feelings, an fantastic collection of indie rock songs that continue to highlight the band’s continuing growth at that time.

Immediately following Feelings is the album that will be celebrated this Saturday night at Blind Bob’s.  Sunrise Dreams is the band’s most solid and most different to this point in their musical journey.  “It was one of the fastest and most fun albums we have done”, Robbins mentions.  “Everything just came together smoothly with this album”.  The album’s sound shows the band reaching back to their first EP, and expanding it.  The songs on the album each have a blend of influence from 60s rock to garage rock. ‘Western Son’ is a slow moody song that will creep up on you without notice with Paslosky’s vocals.  ‘Bat Naps’ has a British punk rock feel to it.  The influence of The Clash roars through the song with the resounding drum play of Kaplan and the thrashing guitar play of Robbins and Cooper.  To continue with the British rock theme, ‘Obey Your Lunch’ really highlights that.  The Who-influenced track really shows off Weidner’s bass playing skills.   Sunrise Dreams is truly a beautifully made album that is destined to be a staple for vinyl lovers.

Motel Beds didn’t stop working on perfecting their craft with Sunfried Dreams, which started to see some critical acclaim throughout the US.  In the same year, the band released another marvel Tango Boys.  Tango Boys is a quick, 34-minute album that resembles what you come to expect with another band that Dayton calls their own.  Some of you may have heard them-Guided By Voices.  Once again, Tango Boys is filled with British punk, but an added element of lo-fi and hi-fi presents the album with a different spin.  The album also features local Daytonian/guitarist for the alternative rock band The Breeders Kelley Deal on the song ‘Tropics Of The Sand’.  The song with Deal got spun extensively on Sirius XM, nationwide on terrestrial radio stations, and gave the band a chance to perform at 2011’s CMJ Music Marathon, 2012’s SXSW, and the 2012 Downtown Dayton Revival Festival.  Dumb Gold is their recent album, having been released last year.  Dumb Gold continues to showcase the band’s growth.  Staying true to their British indie influences, Dumb Gold keeps pushing the envelope.  ‘Smoke Your Homework’ is an exemplary garage rock song.  Dumb Gold just proves that the band continues to strive to be a better band with each album.

The band strives to make sure that their music is as accessible as possible. “You can easily find most of our music all over the internet”, Weidner says.  “YouTube is amazing.  It truly is one of the best search engines to find music”, added Kaplan.  “If you have someone tell you about a band, you can easily go to the website and find all this music on that band.  It’s so easy to have your music on there.”  The band stands by that statement by doing what most local bands don’t do-present music videos.  One of the recent music videos the band released was for ‘Smoke Your Homework’.  The video shows the band visiting a neighborhood, and looking into purchasing some equipment from a creepy man.  The humorous video is one of many videos that are easily accessible videos that you can find from the band.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Vt8yucJXE’]

Another exciting event will be coming up soon for Motel Beds other than the reissue of Sunfried Dreams this Saturday.  On August 27th, the band will perform at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio.  The outdoor amphitheater will be one of the greatest accomplishments that the band has experienced.  The venue will also give folks from all walks to come and witness a local band taking the stage at larger scale.  “It’s going to be a true honor to be playing there”, Kaplan said.

Motel Beds are one of the many bands in Dayton to continue to be another reason for music to be noticed in town.  Saturday night, the reissue release party of Sunfried Dreams will be happening at Blind Bob’s Bar.  Showtime is 9pm.  For more details, click on the Dayton Most Metro event calendar link here.