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Dayton At Work and Play: Zach Hensley

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Conversation with Zach Hensley, manager of Dayton Ohio Habitat for Humanity ReStore  How long have you had this job, Zeke?
“I’ve been here for four years. Before that I was a manager at the Dayton airport. Almost everything we sell here is donated, and the profits from our sales support Habitat for Humanity. They help people who need affordable housing and who are willing to invest hundreds of hours of work alongside volunteers.”
“We sell all kinds of household goods, appliances, furniture, cabinets, building supplies, books, TVs, flooring and more. We just got a big load of new furniture from a national chain that is moving locations. The Dayton Dragons have also been sending us quite a bit lately.”
I see a sign for volunteer check in. Do you use lots of volunteers? “We do. We couldn’t operate without volunteers. Right now, quite a few of our volunteers are students. We have people from U.D., Wright State, Sinclair and a few high schools.”
“I mentioned that almost everything we sell has been donated to us. The exception is paint and painting supplies. Reselling paint that was donated to us probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Even though it’s not donated, the paint we sell is recycled. It’s called EcoTone and it is supplied to us by a company in Van Wert. They take unused paint, sort it, triple-filter it and blend it into 18 different colors. We like offering recycled paint because it saves out customers money and it prevents unused paint from entering landfills and waterways.”

Dayton Ohio Habitat for Humanity ReStore
115 W Riverview Ave.
Dayton, Ohio 45405

Hours of Operation

Tuesday through Saturday
OPEN. 9:00 a.m.- Noon &
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Dayton ReStore is closed Noon- 1:00 p.m. daily for lunch

From Hollywood to Home Plate: Local Photographer’s Work On Exhibit

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The Centerville Arts Commission is pleased to announce the Centerville Art Gallery will feature the work of local photographer Nick Falzerano throughout the month of April. The exhibit may be viewed 24 hours a day at the Centerville Police Department, 155 West Spring Valley Road.

Falzerano is a seasoned photographer based in Bellbrook, Ohio, where he operates Nicholas Studios. A Bellbrook High School and University of Dayton alumnus, Falzerano initially honed his craft in Los Angeles, capturing images of celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Chris Farley, Ariana Grande and more.

Photo featuring Bob Saget and several kids inside a teacup ride.

Photo featuring Bob Saget and several kids inside a teacup ride

Upon returning to his hometown, he established Nicholas Studios, focusing on high school yearbook and wedding photography, as well as covering local sports events. His work has been featured in national outlets, including a two-page Sports Illustrated spread,

A motion photo showing a Dayton Dragons baseball pitcher

motion photo showing a Dayton Dragons baseball pitcher

The Centerville Arts Commission presents a gallery featuring the work of local artists. The exhibit rotates every month and features pieces from local and national artists. The Centerville Art Gallery is located in the lobby of the Centerville Police Headquarters at 155 W. Spring Valley Road. All exhibits are free and open to the public. The Gallery is staffed 24-hours per day and exhibits may be viewed at anytime, day or night. For more information, call (937) 433-7151 or visit centervilleohio.gov.

Dayton at Work and Play: Anita Nzigiye

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Conversation with Anita Nzigiye at Ikaze East African Market in Belmont. I’ve driven by this store at 2515 Smithville many times, but just stopped in for the first time and met Anita. I asked about the store and the people they serve.
“I am from Rwanda” she told me. “I left Rwanda for the U.S. in 2007 and became a citizen in 2014. I opened this store in March, 2020, just at the start of the pandemic. Most of our customers are from Africa, especially East Africa.”
“Much of the food we sell comes from East Africa. We even get our eggplants from Africa. They are similar to the eggplant you have here, but smaller. I personally think local eggplant taste the same, but people like to have the small African eggplant, the one they ate when they were growing up.”
“We sell a lot of staples like palm oil, rice, corn flour and Cassava flour. We sell most of these staples in large quantities. African people don’t like to go to a market every day. They want to buy enough when they are in the market so that they don’t need to shop again for two weeks or more, even if they have a large family.”
“Our corn flour and cassava flour is used to make fufu, which is an important part of our diet. When you’re done making fufu it looks kind of like mashed potatoes, but it’s thicker. We tear off pieces of it and use it to eat soups or stews.”
“We also carry many kinds of fish because people from the Congo especially love fish. We sell dried fish, salted fish, frozen fish, tilapia, all kinds of fish. They seem to eat fish every day.”
“We also sell green bananas here, which you call plantains. We boil them and then fry them. It’s good. We also sell a lot of ground peanuts, used to make soup.”
Anita told me about a restaurant called Soso Cuisine that recently opened in West Carrollton. The owner is from Rwanda. Anita suggested I try their sambusa. If we go to Soso Cuisine and love one of their African dishes and want to try making it at home, I now know where to buy the African ingredients.

Ikaze East African Market

2515 Smithville
Dayton, OH 45420
937) 567-0778
Mon – Sat 9:30am – 8pm
Sun 10am -8pm

Joui’s Cork-Aoke Features Nominated Host!

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Another rainy day is in store this Sunday, April 6. It’s time to get out of the house!!!  Joui Wine is offering a sing-along karaoke brunch like no other! The event, a new kind of karaoke for Dayton, features food from Salt Block and is hosted by Philip Drennen from TheatreLab Dayton. Drennen recently found out his Off-Broadway show ‘Big Gay Jamboree’ has been nominated for ‘Best Musical’ in the Lucille Lortel Awards. The awards are the Tonys for Off-Broadway shows. ‘I am so excited,’ Drennen stated, ‘I am heading to the awards event in May!’
Although Drennen’s hit show took place in NYC, he is committed to his hometown, and looks forward to having some fun this weekend!
The Cork-Aoke brunch starts with a mimosa from Joui and a buffet spread at Salt Block Biscuit Company from 10:30am to 11:30am. Then,  the
musical escapades begin. Drennen, joined by Josh Stucky of area trivia fame, will lead the crowd in group karaoke!!
Performances from TheatreLab will have you singing along as well. Participants can sing a solo, a group number, or just sit back and watch!  You can also meet members of the upcoming Full Monty musical, directed by Drennen.
Throughout the event, the hosts will be giving away tickets and discounts to the show are available.
Karaoke lasts from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
Joui Wine is located at 117 E Third St in Dayton
Proceeds benefit TheatreLab Dayton.
For tickets to the event, click the link below!

Bill Franz’s Hidden Figures: Miguel

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This series was inspired by words – President Trump’s lies about the Haitian immigrants in Springfield.    I’ve decided that I should try to include words in the images I’m creating.  I should use my words to combat those of the president.

 

Lies and slander are part of the president’s schtick, the comedic style he uses to entertain his followers.  Wikipedia lists more than 80 of his derogatory nicknames, like calling his predecessor “Crooked Joe.”   The president uses those nicknames to demean other powerful people.  It’s different when his slurs are directed at the most vulnerable.

When powerful people direct hate speech against the vulnerable I hear echoes of some of history’s worst events. Calling Haitians criminals who eat people’s dogs and cats makes me think of the Tutsis who were called cockroaches before the killings in Rwanda, or the Jews who were called vermin before their German citizenship was stripped away. Words aimed at dehumanizing the vulnerable can be a first step towards abuse. When we hear those words we need to shout them down.

Miguel’s parents brought him here to escape the violence in his native country.  He has no documentation, so the president labels him a criminal. We cannot let that label stand.  It can be used to justify abuses, claiming they were acceptable because they were directed only against criminals.

If the president wants to label some people as criminals, we should insist that he use the word accurately.  A criminal is a person who has been found guilty in a court of law of committing a crime.  The president is a criminal.  Miguel is not.

8 Things To Do for The Anniversary of the 1913 Great Flood

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During March 1913, the citizens of the Miami Valley experienced a natural disaster unparalleled in the region’s history. Within a three-day period, nine to 11 inches of rain fell throughout the Great Miami River Watershed. The ground was already saturated from the melting of snow and ice of a hard winter. The ground could absorb little of the rain. The water ran off into streams and rivers, causing the Great Miami River and other rivers to overflow. Every city along the river was overrun with floodwater. Altogether, nearly four trillion gallons of water, an amount equivalent to about thirty days of discharge of water over Niagara Falls, flowed through the Miami Valley during the ensuing flood.

Many residents climbed to the second floor and into attics of their homes to escape death from the floodwaters that raced and swirled uncontrollably in the freezing temperatures of March. In the pitch black of night, cries for help and the eerie groaning of houses being ripped off of their foundations filled the sky as the waters continued to rise. With no functional telegraph lines, the flood survivors were completely cut off from the outside world.

Rushing torrentially, the waters swept away bridges, dwellings, and commercial buildings — and anyone who was in them. It precipitated fires at broken gas mains, which spread when fed by spilled gasoline. In Dayton, a fire erupted at a drug store, consuming nearly two blocks of business buildings (now named the “Fireblocks”). At Hamilton, within two hours the flood swept away three of the four bridges, and destroyed the fourth a few hours later.

During those long hours waiting for the waters to recede, residents made a promise to one another: Never Again.

In the Miami Valley, more than 360 people lost their lives. Property damage exceeded $100 million (that’s more than $3.2 billion in today’s economy). Despite the tragedy, the citizens of the Miami Valley, who had lost virtually everything, rallied to raise money for a plan to stop flooding once and for all. Some 23,000 citizens contributed their own money – adding up to more than 2 million dollars – to begin a comprehensive flood protection program on a valley-wide basis.

Today, reminders of how our communities overcame live on. Read below to discover eight ideas for exploring (and tasting?) Great Flood history along the Great Miami Riverway. 

1. Visit Miami Conservancy District Historic Headquarters

The three-story building, including basement, is built of Indiana (Bedford) limestone. Colonel Edward Deeds announced in July of 1915 that he would gift a headquarters building to the Miami Conservancy District. The building was designed and constructed in about six months, with staff moving in at the beginning of 1916. The lobby features original light fixtures, staircase and moldings. The first-floor ceilings are coffered and feature larger replicas of the original lighting fixtures.

In his letter to the Board of Directors, Edward Deeds wrote that “engineers from all quarters will be coming to the Miami Valley to study our work. We owe it to the people of the flood stricken valleys of the world to make this data complete and permanently available”.

While you are free to explore the exterior of the building (we recommend enjoying lunch in our pocket park), we recommend scheduling private tours of the interior. This is for the safety and comfort of our staff, who still use the building to this day. Please contact Sarah Hippensteel Hall via our contact form to request a tour!

More about our Headquarter Building

About the art exhibit displayed inside Headquarters

2. Admire ‘Fractal Rain’ at the Dayton Metro Library Main Campus
The impressive sculpture by Terry Welker is named“Fractal Rain”. It is is fashioned of 3,500 six-inch prisms on nearly five miles of stainless-steel wire. The dramatic piece, which hangs from the third floor under a skylight and cascades down to the floors below, changes as it catches the light at different times of day. One in every six of the prisms has been optically dyed in studio in Monet colors — lavender, green, blue, yellow, and pink.

The piece, according to Welker, references the Great Dayton Flood of 1913 and our city’s love/hate relationship with rain.

The 1,000-pound piece was selected by the internationally known Collaboration of Design and Art as one of the “top 100 most successful design projects that integrate commissioned art into an interior, architectural or public space” (From Dayton Daily News)

3. Explore the Great 1913 Flood Exhibit at Carillon Historical Park
The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit features stories of disaster, perseverance, and heroism. By bringing together numerous flood-related artifacts, the exhibit tells the story of a grief-stricken city banding together to rise above adversity.

4. Taste a Piece of History at the Hamburger Wagon
The famous little Hamburger Wagon in Miamisburg has some unique flood history. After the flood waters receded and disaster relief was in dire need, Miamisburg resident Sherman “Cocky” Porter used a family recipe to serve up delicious hamburgers to flood refugees for many days. When life finally returned to normal, Miamisburg residents loved the little “Porter Burgers” so much that Porter agreed to start selling them on Saturdays. The business grew from there, and ever since it has been a community staple, ranked one of the top 100 hamburgers in the United States by Hamburger America.

5. Search for Flood Depth Markers
In many riverfront cities along the Great Miami River evidence of the 1913 flood depth can be found at various flood depth markers. While you are enjoying local restaurants or retail stores in one of the historic downtowns, keep your eyes peeled for these markers and statues.

Many communities along the Great Miami River such as Troy, Dayton, West Carrollton, Miamisburg, Middletown, and Hamilton have done an excellent job maintaining flood markers to showcase the height of the flood. Markers can be found as stand-alone statues, on buildings or bridges as stone or metal plaques, or can be found wrapped on light poles and fixtures. See how many you can find!

Statue in Hamilton near the Great Miami Rowing Center

High water mark at Riverscape MetroPark in Dayton

High water mark on the Market Square Building in Miamisburg

6. Follow the remnants of the Miami-Erie Canal Along the Great Miami River
The Miami and Erie Canal was 274 miles long, connecting Cincinnati to Toledo – the Ohio River to Lake Erie. Construction began in 1825 at a cost of $8 million. In today’s money? That’s $177 million. At its peak, the canal had 103 locks and featured feeder canals, man-made reservoirs, and guard stations.

As railroad systems were introduced and found to be a more reliable and cheaper mode of transporting goods, the Ohio canals saw less and less use. Various attempts at canal revival were made between 1904 and 1910, however, the Great Flood of 1913 caused the reservoirs to spill over into the canals, destroying aqueducts, washing out banks, and devastating most of the locks.

Luckily, history lives on. Throughout the Great Miami Riverway, you can find pieces of the original canal and many other places that celebrate its history. Here is a guide to view pieces of the canal today along the river. In Piqua, you can even ride the canal in a canal boat called General Harrison.

7.  Take a walk through the beautiful Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum
Many flood heroes are buried like John Henry Patterson, who shut down his cash register factory to build rescue boats and provide housing and shelter to flood victims, or James M. Cox, whose leadership helped secure state aid for flood victims and establish the Miami Conservancy District. The land of the cemetery itself was a refuge for many escaping the flood waters in Dayton due to its higher elevation.

8. Visit the 5 dry dams that continue to protect the region from flooding to this day. 

Within weeks of the Great Flood of 1913, community leaders hired engineer Arthur Morgan to develop a regional flood protection system, which was awarded the 1922 Engineering Record’s distinguished “Project of the Year,” placing it in a category with other international engineering design feats like the Brooklyn Bridge (1883), Eiffel Tower (1889), Empire State Building (1931), Golden Gate Bridge (1937), Gateway Arch (1965) and the Channel Tunnel (1994).

The flood protection system is designed to manage a storm the size of the Great Flood of 1913 plus an additional 40 percent. The drainage patterns of the entire Great Miami River Watershed are incorporated into its design. The 5 dry dams and 55 miles of levees operate without human intervention and have no moving parts, except floodgates on storm sewers along the levees. They are called dry because the dams are used only to store floodwaters after heavy rainfall. The remainder of the time, the storage land upstream of each dam – 35,650 acres – is used predominantly for parkland and farmland. The Miami Conservancy District partners with many park districts to enable outdoor recreation opportunities on these flood protection lands. Learn more about the system and visiting the dams with the links below:

Dry Dams
Germantown
Taylorsville
Englewood
Huffman
Lockington

Storage Basins
Levees
Operations & Maintenance

Hydrologic monitoring

Miami Valley Meals Celebrates 5th Anniversary

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Miami Valley Meals (MVM) marks its 5th anniversary today, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, honoring five years of transforming donated and rescued food into nutritious meals for those experiencing food insecurity. What began as a small group of furloughed culinary and hospitality professionals responding to the pandemic has grown into an impactful nonprofit that now serves over 4,000 meals weekly across the Miami Valley.

Since its founding in 2020, MVM has provided over 1 million meals, collaborating with more than 129 nonprofit partners to ensure access to high-quality, chef-prepared meals. By sourcing over 90% of its ingredients from rescued and donated food, MVM not only nourishes the community but also plays a critical role in reducing food waste. The meals additionally serve as a connection to additional wrap-around services through their network of nonprofit partners.

Amanda DeLotelle

“Our journey started with a simple question—‘How can we help?’—and five years later, that same spirit of service and collaboration continues to drive us,” said Amanda DeLotelle, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Miami Valley Meals. “The need in our community has only grown, but so has the support. We are grateful for our volunteers, partners, and donors who make it possible to serve nutritious meals with dignity and love.”

As MVM celebrates this milestone, the organization remains committed to expanding its impact. Hunger persists in the Miami Valley, with 1 in 7 people facing food insecurity and a growing waitlist for their meals. MVM invites the community to get involved—through volunteerism, donations, or partnerships—to help sustain this mission for years to come.

To learn more about Miami Valley Meals or to support its work, visit miamivalleymeals.org.

Dayton at Work and Play: Kait Gilcher- Heart Co-Owner

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Several people have suggested I post about Heart Mercantile because they’ve done so many good things for Dayton, so I stopped by recently and met Kait. I asked her how long the business has been in operation.
“Brittany Smith started the business in 2015” she told me. “It wasn’t in this location but it’s always been in the Oregon District. That’s worked out well for us. People visit the area often so there are always folks walking by. People also bring out of town guests to the Oregon District, because it’s one of the areas that make our city special. While they are here they can stop in for a souvenir of their visit to Dayton.”
I see that many of your products relate to Dayton. “Our shop offers a wide variety of gifts, but we specialize in items that relate to Dayton. We say we’re Dayton-centric. All of the Dayton themed items are designed by us and to the extent possible they’re also made in Dayton.”
A lot has happened during your 10 years of operation – the day 14 tornadoes hit the city, the mass shooting on this street, the pandemic. I understand your business has done a lot to help people through those troubles.
“That’s something we’re passionate about. We try to give back as much as we can, and we have a donation center to make it easy for others to support the causes we care about. You mentioned the Oregon District shootings. Just two days after that terrible event we designed a new shirt to honor the vic

tims and the #DaytonStrong movement and donated all of the profits to a fund created by the Dayton Foundation.”
Is anything happening soon that you’d like to mention?
“Derby Day will be here soon, with a fashion show and wiener dog races. That’s always fun. And we do monthly block parties. The Oregon District is a great part of Dayton and we try to contribute in our own way to keeping the area interesting. “

Heart Mercantile

In the Oregon District
601 E. 5th Street,
Dayton, OH 45402
Open daily 11am – 8pm

Upcoming NATO Parliamentary Assembly Causing Disruption to Downtown Dayton Businesses

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Downtown Dayton was supposed to be buzzing with promise and progress on the afternoon of March 20th, but instead, the Small Business Social at The Contemporary Dayton revealed deep divisions between city planners and the very community they hoped to serve.

A Promising Venue, A Troubled Agenda

In a venue usually celebrated for its art and culture, the event—organized by the Downtown Dayton Partnership—was intended to showcase how the upcoming NATO Assembly might bring opportunities for downtown businesses. But as the night unfolded, small business owners voiced their mounting frustration. The galleries, typically filled with creative energy, became an impromptu forum for grievances about decisions that could jeopardize local livelihoods.

Mixed Messages from the Top

The afternoon opened on an upbeat note. Gallery host and curator Heather Jones welcomed the crowd, highlighting current exhibitions and a raffle that momentarily lifted spirits. Yet that optimism quickly faded as Syron Townsend, Community Partnership Manager for the Downtown Dayton Partnership, thanked small business owners for their ongoing support before turning the stage over to Jason Galanes.

Galanes, Chief of Staff for Republican Congressman Mike Turner and one of the lead planners of the NATO Assembly, delivered a message that many found dissonant. “The opportunity for downtown businesses to welcome delegates and constituents to patronize shops and restaurants,” he declared. But he soon undercut his own message with a remark that struck a sour chord: “The event begins on Memorial Day weekend, many people already out on vacation…” The suggestion that local businesses might simply “take advantage” of a national holiday to close shop was met with audible grumbles—a reaction that underscored the economic pressures these businesses are already facing.

Adding insult to injury, Galanes extolled the virtues of lasting public art and beautification efforts—projects funded by state and local tax dollars. Yet he offered little reassurance that these improvements would compensate for the financial strain that a week-long shutdown could impose on struggling downtown shops and restaurants.

Updated Secure Zone Map for Downtown Dayton NATO Assembly 2025

Security and the Specter of Exclusion

The tone grew even more contentious when Major Christopher Malson of the Dayton Police Department took the floor. Tasked with explaining the design and purpose of the NATO Village Secure Zone, Malson’s presentation was a mix of policy details and offhand humor that did little to assuage the concerns of those present. “When the City Manager met with me over a year ago, she gave me the edict of ‘We will not be shutting down businesses…’” he recalled—yet the absence of City Manager Shelley Dickstein was conspicuous by itself.

Malson outlined a security plan that included designated entrances, foot-traffic only policies, and even a “Designated Protest Area” for what he insisted would be “peaceful” and “lawful” demonstrations. However, his warning that any protests outside that area might be branded as “riots” did not sit well with business owners who already feel marginalized in the planning process.

 

 

Parking Woes and a Clamor for Accountability

Questions about the logistical impact of the NATO event, particularly regarding parking, further fueled the discontent. One business owner’s query about whether the city would subsidize monthly parking costs for employees—an essential lifeline for local commerce—was summarily dismissed by Major Malson with a curt, “The city will not be providing any financial assistance to private businesses.” The response was met with growing frustration, as many pointed out that the downtown community was being expected to shoulder the burdens of an event from which they would reap little benefit.

A moment of further disruption came when an unannounced voice from the back of the room, later identified as Kristina Scott, Vice President of Strategy for The Downtown Dayton Partnership, abruptly attempted to cut off the ongoing questions. “I think this is enough, I believe we have what we need to bring this back to the broader group,” she interjected, prompting a bewildered business owner to ask, “Who are you?”—a question that underscored the disconnect between event organizers and the community they were meant to support.

Aftermath: More Questions Than Answers

By the end of the evening, many small business owners left The Contemporary Dayton not with a sense of possibility, but with more questions and a deep-seated mistrust of the process. The event, meant to highlight opportunities for downtown Dayton, instead exposed a glaring imbalance: local tax dollars were being spent to host an event that many feared would inflict financial harm on the very businesses that form the backbone of the city.

In an economic climate where every dollar counts, the promise of future benefits from beautification projects and enhanced public spaces feels hollow to a community that sees itself as an afterthought. As downtown Dayton prepares for the NATO Assembly, one thing is clear—without genuine support and transparent dialogue, the promise of a thriving, inclusive business community may remain just that: a promise unfulfilled.

If you are a small business owner who needs your voice heard regarding NATO, reach out to DowntownDayton.com and we will include your story in our next NATO Assembly update.

HBA’s Parade of Home Tours Is Back!

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The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Dayton is thrilled to announce the return of the Parade of Homes Tour, coming to the Dayton, Ohio region on March 21-23 and March 28-30, 2025. This highly anticipated event will be open daily from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, offering attendees the chance to explore a stunning collection of homes across multiple sites in Sugarcreek Township, Beavercreek Township, Huber Heights, Miamisburg, and Washington Township.

The Parade of Homes Tour is the ultimate event for anyone on the journey to finding their dream home. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, planning your forever home, or searching for the perfect place to retire, this tour offers something for everyone. Discover the best in innovative design, exceptional craftsmanship, and state of the art technology that will elevate your vision of home.

– Dates: March 21-23 and March 28-30

– Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM daily  

– Location: Multiple sites throughout the Dayton region (Map of sites) 

– Admission: FREE

 

This year’s tour will feature an impressive lineup of homes built by some of Dayton’s most renowned builders, including M/I Homes, Charles Simms Development, Artisan and Oberer Homes. Each home will showcase unique floor plans, luxurious finishes, and the latest in energy-efficient and smart home technology.

 

The Parade of Homes is a signature event hosted by the Home Builders Association of Dayton, showcasing the region’s top builders, designers, and industry professionals. This event celebrates innovation, quality craftsmanship, and the art of homebuilding, offering inspiration for homeowners and enthusiasts alike. The 2025 Parade of Homes Tour is proudly sponsored by Centerpoint Energy, a trusted partner in providing energy solutions that power the homes and communities we love. Their support helps make this event possible, bringing together the best in homebuilding and design for the Dayton community.

 

M/I Homes: 682 W Spring Valley Pike Dayton, OH 45458

 

 

Charles Simms Development: 2010 Cedar Lake Drive, Huber Heights, OH 45424

 

Artisan Communities, LLC: 464 Triple Crown Way. Beavercreek Township/Xenia, OH 45385

Oberer Homes: 1001 Belfast Drive Dayton, OH 45440

 

Arrive Safe Offers $20 Uber Rides

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This program, sponsored by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, aims to provide safe rides home for Montgomery County residents, particularly during events like St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Free Uber Rides:
    The program offers vouchers for free Uber rides, with a value of up to $30, to help people get home safely after celebrating.
  • Program Details:
    • The program is available until 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 19.
    • Vouchers are valid for rides anywhere within Montgomery County.
    • Residents can scan a QR code to add the voucher to their Uber account.
  • St. Patrick’s Day Focus:
    Dayton is known for hosting the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Ohio, and this program aims to encourage responsible celebrations by ensuring people can get home safely after drinking.
  • Promoting Safety:
    Prosecutor Mat Heck emphasizes the importance of safe travel and the program’s commitment to ensuring that anyone who needs a ride home gets one, regardless of impairment.

McCoy on Movies: Black Bag

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Steven Soderbergh’s spy drama starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender

latest definitely not an affair for Mr. or Mrs. Smith

 

“The Smiths? You mean the rock band, right? Who else could you possibly be talking about, darling?” Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) prepares to get up close and personal with her husband – and fellow UK intelligence agent George (Michael Fassbender) in a scene from  director Steven Soderbergh’s BLACK BAG, a Focus Features release. Credit: Claudette Barius/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

CAST: 

George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender)

Kathryn St. Jean (Cate Blanchett)

Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgärd)

Freddie Smalls (Tom Burke) 

Stokes (Regé-Jean Page)

Dr. Vaughan (Naomie Harris)

Clarissa (Marisa Abela) 

Stieglitz (Pierce Brosnan)

Vadim Pavlichuk (Daniel Dow)

Andrei Kulikov (Orli Shuka) 

DIRECTOR: Steven Sodebergh 

WRITER: David Koepp

THE PLOT: George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) is a top intelligence agent in the UK. He is married to Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), a top spy in her own right. The definition of opposite attracting, the tightly wound George loves his seemingly carefree spouse. Given his nature and attention to detail, it is understandable why after he is alerted to a mole in the agency’s ranks, George becomes highly concerned once he starts noticing signs that point to Kathryn as being the culprit. Make no mistake, George loves his wife, but he is a man of principle and dedicated to his country; the man did surveillance on his own father, for goodness’ sake. 

So, as things begin to intensify and become a matter of international security, George has to determine who the mole is – even if it means putting his own marriage at risk.

THE REVIEW: Ever watch a movie that is well done in terms of what it wants to accomplish with taut direction and performances dedicated to bringing their characters to life … yet at the same time feels a bit pretentious and doesn’t make a strong enough impression where you will think about it months later? In the case of Black Bag, the latest aspiring to be dramatic thriller from writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh, that is exactly what you get in a 90-minute package.

Fassbender’s character’s OCD-level of attention to detail is interesting … Yet his portrayal of George, a man torn between trusting his instincts or his wife, isn’t at all turns. It’s more of a vehicle to keep the story moving forward rather than something that inherently makes you interested in him as a character. The same can be said for Blanchett’s fashionable and overly confident Kathryn, who’s too-cool-for-school – and certainly George – feel as well matched as Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at this point. While the film’s trailers and marketing may give the tease of a MR & MRS. SMITH situation, the one between Blanchett and Fassbender fails to have either the sexual energy of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s pairing nor the tension, character depth and intrigue of Amazon’s recent entry. 

It is Tom Burke’s portrayal as Freddie Smalls and Marisa Abela’s turn as Clarissa Dubose, however, that are the far more interesting co-workers/couple in the film that steal the show, Regé-Jean Page’s and Naomi Harris’ turns as a third couple/agency co-workers serve up more intriguing interplay with their obvious dislike of one another. Yes, they are possibly meant to be juxtaposed to George and Kathryn, but the fact they are more interesting to watch hinders the film’s overall enjoyability. There is no moment that showcases how much more interesting the other characters are than an extended interrogation scene, Abela getting the best lines – or perhaps, delivering them just that well – to steal the scene. 

Likewise, the red herrings meant to make the audience feel like they are one step ahead of George feel more like a prank on them once the film reaches its apex. Unfortunately, the overwrought complexity of the explanation to what is truly happening feels like it is complex for the sake of Koepp flexing his screenwriting muscle – there are FAR simpler ways all the characters could have arrived at their final destination (and ultimately, more enjoyable, too).

The best way to determine whether or not you’ll like BLACK BAG is to ask yourself a question: If you don’t like sushi and a friend took you to a restaurant where they make the best sushi in the city, are you going to say, ‘OK, I like this’ or will you simply get there only to realize while it’s well made, it’s just not something for you based on your previous experiences with sushi?” If the answer is the latter, you’ll be better served letting BLACK BAG might not be one you will cinematically fashion.

 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):

Restaurants That Offer Special Lenten Menus

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No meat during Lent on Fridays?

Maybe you thought Lent was just giving up one food like chocolate or, we hope not, coffee. But there are more rules surrounding food you eat during Lent than that, it’s just that it’s becoming less common to follow the fasting and abstinence rules associated with the time leading up to Easter. These fasting and abstinence practices are part of the Catholic celebration of Eastertide, with churchgoers foregoing meat and all foods containing “flesh meat” products on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday during Lent. Fish is not included in this and is allowed on Fridays, which is why you see so many fish frys between now and Easter.

Here’s a round up of menu’s created just for those of you who are honoring the no meat on Friday’s tradition.
If you know of others we should add to the list, either put in the comments below or drop us an email.

Archers Tavern

9496 Dayton Lebanon Pike, Centerville
2030 E DOROTHY LN, Kettering, 

Bullwinkles
19 N Main St, Miamisburg
George’s:
5216 N Dixie Dr, Dayton
Tuna salad plate, greek Salad, cod sandwich, Triple grilled cheese, waffles, meatless biscuits and gravy, and many more!

 

Hanks’s Local

2529 Patterson Rd, Dayton,
937-254-7527

 

Mulberry & Main

130 Main Street, Brookville

Bob Evans

Bob Evans’s Lent-friendly menu features wild-caught Alaska Cod, shrimp platters and more.

The restaurant said the menu is high-quality, natural, and sustainable. It will be offered daily at all locations and there will be kid’s portions available, to include the entire family.  The restaurant chain considers the annual recipes a core staple of its menu. It will offer a Fish Fry Platter for $12.99, a Fish Fry Sandwich for $12.49 and a Fried Shrimp Dinner for $14.19.

Rip Rap Roadhouse

6024 Rip Rap Rd, Dayton

Did You Rock Out To Z-93?

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If you belong to Generation X, or you’re a late-stage Baby Boomer and you lived in the Miami Valley in the 1980s and 90s, chances are, you did. Often. Z-93, otherwise known as WGTZ, was Dayton’s premier Top 40 radio station. If you wanted to hear the biggest pop music hits in America, you went to the 92.9 dial on your stereo. For many of us, Z-93 was the first time we ever heard Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, or Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”. Or even Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Hell, you might even hear a Tupac song. Z-93 was the place for pop smashes.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, check out these awesome Z-93 signs and pics. You can also listen to old WGTZ broadcasts via the links below.


Talk to us. Did you love Z-93? What was your favorite Z-93 experience? What songs/artists did they play that you loved? What did you love about the station?

 

How the Upcoming EPIC: ART MATTERS came to be!

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When it comes to Dayton Creatives, Rodney Veal is top of list. Along with a group of area artists, Veal has created EPIC,  “ART Matters, Dayton Art and Design Symposium” to be held on February 28, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at The Tank Theatre inside the historic Dayton Arcade.Renowned artists, architects, designers, city leaders, and creative visionaries will come together to explore opportunities for artists and the economic impact and importance art has at the intersections of innovation, culture, and community. Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr., will provide opening remarks, and closing remarks will be made by Dayton City Manager Shelley Dickstein. The keynote address “Empowering Creativity: Advancing Art and Design in Ohio” will be presented by Donna Collins, executive director of the Ohio Arts Council.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with Rodney Veal to get the lowdown on the event.

D9: Hi Rodney! Thanks for meeting me. Tell me how this event got its wings….and what exactly is the goal?

RV: Hi Josh! The Epic Committee came together just under a year ago, which we didn’t name ourselves right away. We all came together from a variety of professions, mostly creatives who had the crazy idea that we create events and activities to support the arts in a more organic and grassroots way. One of biggest goals was to help was to assist Dana L. Wiley galleries activate their spaces with events to help that convene artists and lovers of art.

D9: The spaces are beautiful in the gallery and the Arcade in general. I’m wondering why ‘Art Matters’ as the theme for the event?

RV: The theme for our upcoming Art and Design Symposium is “Art Matters” with a series individual presentations and group panel discussions that explore the various aspects of the arts and design world, from the Artistic Director of Dayton ballet, to architects and visual artists  and even a philanthropist. All of them speaking about their experiences and how the arts have shaped their careers and indeed lives.  The passion these individuals possess for their  chosen careers is astonishing and we hope that people who attend will be inspired by what they hear and witness that day.  Now more than ever the arts serve a powerful role in a fractured world and have the power to restore our collective humanity…. which would be another awesome outcome of the symposium.

D9: Definitely in a strange time relating to the Arts. Any work artists can create towards bridging the gap is so appreciated. What will people experience at the event?

RV:  There will not be massive showing of artworks, but there will be an opportunity to hear from some of the most amazing artist and creatives who live in the Miami Valley. They will speak powerfully and from the heart about the personal impact the arts have and will continue to have on our world.  And there will be even five person panel discussions about creating and painting spaces for creativity to thrive and flourish.

D9: Now that sounds cool!! And again, who are we likely to rub shoulders with at this event?

RV: We have people from all walks of life, artists , dancers, photographers, architects, interior designers. we are excited that the Executive Director of the Ohio Arts Council , Donna Collins will be our Keynote speaker for the day.  Donna will share with us the state of the arts in our state. There is a lot to celebrate and be inspired by and we hope our panelists speakers will  do just that.

D9: What a great choice for keynote!! So, I have to ask…why the name EPIC?

RV: The EPIC  name is really an acronym for our core tenet, to educate, promote, inspire and connect; and we took a chance believing anyone can make a change and do something really quite amazing!  Considering that none of us has ever planned a event of this size is a  game-changer, but we dared to dream and we feel pretty cool about what we are doing in service of our love for the arts!

D9: Best to you Rodney….excited to be there!

And you can too: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-matters-dayton-art-and-design-symposium-tickets-1144784283609

DATE & TIME: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-matters-dayton-art-and-design-symposium-tickets-1144784283609

February 28 @ 9:00 am – 5:30 pm

COST: $20 – $65

Local NonProfit Offers Free Laundry Facilities

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Have a Gay Day is offering free laundry facilities to those in our community who need to do a load of wash completely free.

This facility serves as a convenient and accessible space for members of the community to do their laundry. To ensure a smooth and efficient process, we have implemented an appointment system, allowing individuals to schedule their laundry sessions.

One of the key highlights of this initiative is that the laundry service will be completely free of cost. We understand that laundry expenses can be a burden for some community members, and we want to alleviate that stress by providing this essential service without any charges. Each person will have the opportunity to do two loads of laundry during their scheduled appointment.

If you’re in the Dayton Ohio area and you need to do a load or two of laundry please sign up on our website for our free community laundry service https://haveagayday.org/community-laundry-room/

In addition to the free laundry service, Have A Gay Day is also committed to gathering personal care items specifically for the laundry. These items will include laundry supplies such as detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. By providing these necessary supplies, we aim to ensure that everyone who uses our service has access to a well-equipped laundry experience.

We are thrilled to be able to offer this Community Laundry Room as a resource for our community. It’s our hope that this initiative will not only provide a practical solution to laundry needs but also foster a sense of support and unity within our community.

Note:  This service is designed to help someone with essentials.  Like washing clothing to be able to get to work or to school or to make it through an emergency situation.  This is not designed to do a whole household of laundry.  This service is designed for clothing, not bedding, heavy coats, pet toys, or any items that are not wearable day to day garments.

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Laundry Rules

No more than 12 pounds of laundry per load / please weigh

Please Check Your Pockets!

Detergent must be rated for a High Efficiency Washer please ask the front desk for a complimentary bottle.

Do not use powders, scent boosters

Please check washers and dryers before using them. We are not responsible for clothes damaged due to articles left by those before you.

Don’t overload the machines. Overloading machines with clothes as well as using too much detergent can damage the machines.

Be Clean. Keep the laundry room neat and clean of any spilled detergent or any mess. Keep clothes off the floor. Check to make sure you have all of your items before leaving.

Make sure you clean the lint trap after every use.

When leaving make sure the washer and dryer doors are kept open.

Be respectful.

If you need any help using the machines please ask.

Laundry Appointments are Once a Month.

Q@A

Question: Do I need to bring my own detergent?
Answer: No, we will provide detergent. 

Question:  If I have someone bringing me can we each do a single load of laundry?
Answer:  Your appointment allows you the use of two stackable washer and dryers.  You may use them as you wish within the rules set.  If you have a friend or family member that you wish to share your appointment with you may, but it will not add to the time of your appointment. 

Question: What if I’m running late for my appointment?
Answer: We allow for 10 minutes to arrive beyond your appointment.  If you’re not able to make it in time or no-show you will need to wait until the next month to re-schedule.  Please remember laundry appointments are only once per month at this time. 

Have A Gay Day Inc
1902 Needmore Road
Dayton OH. 45414