SICSA

We’re Giving Away Tickets To SICSA’s Creole Shrimp Boil Fundraiser

September 8, 2014 By Lisa Grigsby

For 40 years, the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA) has been dedicated to place adoptable dogs and cats in loving homes. They have over 1,400 dog and cat adoptions annually and spay and neuter over 2,000 dogs and cats each year for the community. As a nonprofit, they rely on donations from the community, hosting many fundraisers like their Red Dog Auction, Holiday Bazaar and their annual pet calendar.

But this year, they’ve planned a brand new event for Friday, Sept 12th and they’ve enlisted the help of James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur Anne Kearney of Rue Dumaine and Chef Matt Hayden from Scratch Event Services to pull off The Cat’s Meow. Guest will arrive at Benham’s Grove in Centerville to enjoy a 1920’s Creole style garden party featuring a shrimp boil like Dayton’s never seen.

Here are the event details:

5:30-7:00 – Era-specific appetizers and spirits, dancing to the beat of Dave Greer and the Classic Jazz Stompers, a themed photo booth, and an exciting silent auction made up of unique and enticing packages. If this lineup doesn’t keep you entertained while you visit with 249 other guests and enjoy our garden party Creole ambiance, we need to check your vitals!

7:15-8:30 – A shrimp and Andouille sausage boil, Creole-style. What’s that mean? It means we boil up those bad boys with corn, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, Chef Anne’s special spice mix and lots of love! We then serve it up piping hot to your table family style, with a side of Chef Anne’s Grandma’s famous cornbread. Not a fan of shrimp or meat, no worries. We also have a red beans and rice dish which will be sure to please. We will round out the main course with homemade pickled vegetables made just for you! Then we finish it up with banana-pecan trifle garnished with pecan praline while you bid on our five special live auction items. You will swear you have been transported back to a 1920 Louisiana back yard.

8:30-10:30 – The party doesn’t stop just because the bidding has! Dave Greer and the Classic Jazz Stompers will turn up the heat and get you going on the dance floor. Not into the swing, we dare you not to do some chair dancing, toe tapping or finger snapping to these cool cats!

Individual Tickets are $150 each and tables of 8 are $1200. Tickets may be purchased on the SICSA website.

DMM Ticket Contest:
We’ve got a pair of tickets for a lucky winner who’d like to enjoy this Creole Garden Party. To be entered in the drawing you must like & share this story and fill out the entry form below. Congratulations to Theresa from Huber Heights, who will be our guest at The Cats Meow!

Experience Wheat Penny at their Sneak Peek For Charity!

August 20, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

DaytonDining has partnered with the brand new
Wheat Penny Oven & Bar

to present a truly unique opportunity for you to have a sneak peek of this cool pizza-centric restaurant featuring rustic, creative dishes and a bar that serves up fresh, handmade cocktails-brought to you by the culinary-minded folks at Meadowlark Restaurant!

Wheat Penny is opening their door to local charities, to allow them a fundraising opportunity while working with their new staff to perfect their service. If you’d like the opportunity to attend one of these nights, you can contact the charity’s listed below:

Tickets are $35/person of which $25 is tax-deductible. Guests will be able to order pizza an appetizer (like a salad or eggplant fritters) and a pizza entrée (you’ll have your choice of hhite, wheat or gluten free dough). Guests will also receive a special Wheat Penny dessert treat. Tea and Coke products are included. There’s a 90% chance the liquor license will arrive by Tues/Wed, so guests should be able to buy cocktails as well. Servers will drop checks and collect at the end of the meal (gives them register practice).

Wed, August 21st Artemis Center
Leading the community in its commitment to end domestic violence
For reservations email

Jennifer Dean

Thurs, August 22nd SICSA Pet Adoption Center

A limited admission animal shelter which strives to place adoptable dogs and cats in loving homes.
For reservations email Kira Petrykowski

Friday, August 23rd The Food Bank
Leading the charge to relieve hunger for our Miami Valley Neighbors
Sold Out – email Ann Roberts to be put on the waiting list.

Please do not contact Wheat Penny- each charity has their own reservation list and Wheat Penny will not have any information on open spots.

Glow, Bark & Brew 5K

April 22, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Bring your glow sticks, jewelry, paints, friends and your dog to this first annual fun event in downtown Miamisburg on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Sponsored by Michelob Ultra, proceeds benefit the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA) Pet Adoption Center. is excited to announce the inaugural Glow, Bark & Brew 5K, sponsored by Michelob Ultra with proceeds benefiting the SICSA Pet Adoption Center.

Registration includes entry to the run, T-shirt (while supplies last) and one complimentary Michelob Ultra (to those 21 and over). Register here prior to the event, or starting at 6pm the day of at the parking lot of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at 41 S. 1^st Street in Miamisburg. Early registration (through 4/25) is $30, and event-day registration is $35. Pre-event registration is available online, at http://www.active.com/5k-race/miamisburg-oh/glow-bark-and-brew-5k-2013.

The Glow, Bark & Brew 5K will also feature an after-party aglow with music, a Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, and numerous local vendors.

For more information about the Glow, Bark & Brew 5K, visit www.sicsa.org and http://www.active.com/5k-race/miamisburg-oh/glow-bark-and-brew-5k-2013, or call SICSA’s main office number at (937) 294-6505. Don’t miss this chance to Glow, Bark, and enjoy a Brew—all for a great cause!

About SICSA

Originated in 1974, SICSA was started as an alternative to the traditional animal welfare system with a mission of improving the lives of stray animals and promoting adoption. The organization runs an Animal Adoption Center in Kettering at 2600 Wilmington Pike, which is open seven days a week to the public for those interested in bringing a companion animal into their home. For more information about SICSA, please log onto their website at www.sicsa.org or call the Adoption Center at (937) 294-6505.

Run with a Shelter Dog

April 4, 2013 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Paw Partners program connects shelter dogs in need of exercise with walkers and runners in our community.

How The Paw Partner Program Works

Go to 1 hour orientation:

Wed, April 10th from 7-8pm
Wednesday May 8th from 7-8pm

Run or walk with a shelter dog any day or time Mon-Sat 12-7pm, at your convenience. There is not a designated area you are required to run/walk in. There are several nearby options, the SICSA neighborhood is great (if you don’t want to drive anywhere) you can even run/walk to Delco Park from SICSA. According to SICSA, “you can also drive with the dog to any local area like Sugarcreek Reserve, WSU, Kettering, Centerville , but we want to keep it local. You will get a lot of info about this at the orientation. We are happy to have children run/walk with their parents. The adult must have completed the orientation. The dog must be one approved by staff as “kid-friendly”, as not all of the dogs are comfortable around children. In addition, the dog must remain under the adult’s control at all times.”

Run or walk 6 different days and receive a $25 gift card fromUp and Running Fitness Shoes & Apparel.
Free registration for SICSA’s 5K Lift Your Leg Run and Walk for Strays. Raise $100 and get a $25 gift card.

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!