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Instagram Miami County For Prizes

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Join in on the summer fun by participating in a hashtag project designed by the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau. For the next 16 weeks, the MCVCB will choose great Instagram post/photos to repost on their social media promoting Miami County. Every two weeks, a different category will be featured that will get folks out and about the Miami County area.

Here’s how it will work. First, participants will need a public Instagram profile and must use the following hashtags…#MiamiCountyandMe, #HomeGrownGreat, and one of our category hashtags that will change every two weeks. Category hashtags include:

#MiamiCountyFood (June 1-14), You could win a cooking class for four at Troy’s new Bed & Breakfast, the Charlotte

#MiamiCountyFamilies (June 15-28), Win a canoe trip for a family of four at Adventures on the Great Miami and Barefoot Canoes.

#MiamiCountyCoffee (June 29- July 12), Win a great coffee experience for six people with Joe Reiser, Owner of Winans

#MiamiCountyHistory (July 13-26), Winning this category will get your family 2019 family memberships at Brukner Nature Center, WACO Air Museum and Johnston Farm & Indian Agency

#MiamiCountyOutdoors (July 27 – August 9), A brand new Kayak from SmithFly
#MiamiCountyArt (August 10-23), Paint class for four with Wine & Design by Mary Frances Rodriguez

#MiamiCountyShopping (August 24 – September 6), Gift cards from local shops in Covington, Piqua, Tipp City, Troy & West Milton

#MiamiCountyBestOf (September 7 – 20). Staley Farm & Indian Creek Distillery tour with tasting for 6 people

The idea is to capture the best of Miami County that fits into one of these categories and post it to Instagram with the appropriate hashtags. And a great place to capture Miami County Food would be at the upcoming Troy Strawberry Festival. Then after the end of each two-week hashtag category, a panel of judges will select the winning image and award the winner a very unique prize related to that category. We hope folks will want to come out and capture the best Miami County has to offer by participating in this Instagram Hashtag Project that’s not just good, but Home Grown Great!

Please contact the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau at 937-339-1044 with any questions. Enjoy your summer!

House of Bread To Break Ground on Expansion

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The House of Bread, a community kitchen that serves free hot lunches 365 days a year to thousands of people in a city that has received national attention for food insecurity, is breaking ground on an expansion of its facilities that will help serve more families in need.

The addition to the building at 9 Orth Ave. will create a new dining room for families and children that will allow House of Bread’s youngest guests to eat in a welcoming, friendly environment. Adult guests will continue to enjoy lunch in the non-profit’s main dining room.

The building project will also include improvements to the kitchen, food storage and sorting areas, and entryway. Two new conference rooms will provide space for guests to meet with staff and outreach workers from area social service organizations.

House of Bread’s staff, many volunteers and board of trustees will celebrate the beginning of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, June 6 at 2 pm in front of the building at 9 Orth Ave. The public is invited to attend.

Melodie Bennett, Executive Director of House of Bread, said, “The challenges of food insecurity in our region are frustrating and heartbreaking. This expansion will ensure that people of all ages have a place where they are treated to a hot, healthy meal, and treated with respect.”

“We’re so happy and proud to finally get to work improving our building for our guests,” said Ron Rollins, chair of the board. “We know that we’ll meet new families and kids who are looking forward to a warm, nutritious meal who may not have come to dine with us before. House of Bread is one of the most important places where hunger and food insecurity are being fought in our community, and we’re pleased to be able to soon play a bigger part.”

The general contractor on the project will be Tri Tec Inc., a minority-owned firm based in Montgomery County. House of Bread has been working on the project up to this point with LWC Inc., an architectural firm headquartered in Dayton. The board has been working on an 18-month capital campaign to finance construction, which is ongoing.

To learn more about House of Bread and its work, or to volunteer to help serve lunch, or to donate to either its operations or the building campaign, visit houseofbread.org.

5 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day in the Miami Valley

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Memorial Day is primarily about honoring the citizens who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice, it’s also a great excuse to celebrate our nation and patriotism.  Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

Centerville Memorial Day Ceremony

9:00 am | Stubbs Ampitheater

 

South Park Memorial Day Walk in Woodland Cemetery

10:00 am | Woodlawn Historic Cemetery

Miamisburg Memorial Day Services and Parade

11:00 am | Downtown Miamisburg

Beavercreek Memorial Day Ceremony

2:00 pm | Veterans Memorial Park

Springboro Memorial Day Parade

2:00 pm | Downtown Springboro

Luminaries of Dayton: John C. Cline

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John Cline died from a stroke of paralysis in 1922 at 78 years of age. He had served his tenure of 53 years at Woodland Cemetery of Dayton, working at the cemetery from the age of nine. His parents, John and Teresa Cline, had arrived in this country from Switzerland in 1844, the year John was born. They moved to Dayton soon after arriving, but one year later John became an orphan after his father died of cholera and his mother died the same year. Mr. Cline was adopted by George Lane, the third sexton of Woodland Cemetery. When John was a boy of 12 years, Mr. Lane gave him his first employment as a gate attendant, opening and closing the gates, and perhaps it was there he learned reverence for the dead, as horses and buggies solemnly entered and exited the cemetery. At the age of 25, Mr. Cline took upon himself the job of Superintendent of Woodland Cemetery on May 14, 1869.  He attended 38,377 burials before his death in 1922. Many of the improvements of the cemetery were attributed entirely to the efforts of Mr. Cline, especially the original surveys of Woodland he did for John W. VanCleve, the founder of the cemetery. At the outbreak of the Civil War, John enlisted in the Union Army, serving three years with the First Ohio Volunteer Regiment.

John VanCleve successfully set up the cemetery, with paid Sextons and they were: Benjamin Hughes, (July 1, 1843 – July 1, 1848), William Myers (July 17, 1848 – March 1, 1853), George Lane (March 1, 1853 – Sept. 5, 1860), and being succeeded by his son, William W. Lane (Sept. 5, 1860 – June 14, 1869). A new position of Superintendent was filled by John Cline, his son Luther and his grandson John C. Cline. The Cline Family remained in the position of superintendent for well over 100 years.

John C. Cline died on August 22, 1922 and buried in Section 46 Lot 190.

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the University of Dayton Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum website.

Crafting a Career: Luke Dennis: Development Director, WYSO 91.3FM

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L Dennis Headshot2Do you love music and theater, and want to work in that world, but aren’t sure of your route? Luke Dennis started there and followed a winding path to his career at WYSO 91.3FM. I asked Luke how he crafted his career. The highlights of his story follow.

In the beginning…

As Luke Dennis was growing up in Wilmington, Ohio, his parents adopted a hands-off approach, allowing him to set his own course. He liked music. Starting in 6th grade, he played euphonium in the band and bass guitar in the jazz band and various rock bands. Currently, he plays in a local band, Lord Kimbo, with his best friend from elementary school, Mike Bisig.

Luke was in charge of his college search and visits. He visited just one school, Kenyon College, liked it, and applied early decision. After Kenyon accepted him, they sent him his financial aid package. In Luke’s hotheaded eighteen-year-old opinion, it was insufficient. Without consulting his parents, he told Kenyon, “I’m going to withdraw unless you increase my financial aid. They said, “Just do it”. “I dropped out of Kenyon before I even started and I had nowhere to go to college”. A friend’s stepfather knew the Dean of Admissions at Wittenberg University and suggested Luke visit. Within eight days, Luke was enrolled and attending orientation for new students. “One of many happy accidents I’ve had”.

“Without any reflection,” Luke declared a double major in music and theatre at Wittenberg. He quickly found mentors in each department and “it ended up being a great fit. I could act and direct in the theatre program and I ended up doing a vocal performance emphasis in the music department, which has helped me at WYSO”.

What path did Luke take after Wittenberg?

After graduating from Wittenberg, “I thought I might like to direct plays at a college”. To pursue that goal, Luke enrolled at Tufts University in Boston in a dual M.A./ Ph.D. program in theater history, literature and theory. “I didn’t do any research or think about it”.

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Luke & Sally

Luke had met his wife, Sally, in the Wittenberg Theatre program. Boston sounded good to her, too, so she moved with him and found a job teaching at Cambridge Montessori School.

While Luke studied at Tufts, he also worked three jobs, “so I wasn’t putting a lot of focus on my studies”. His jobs included:

  • Box office at the American Repertory Theater
  • Improv theater in Boston’s North End running the lighting and sound
  • Reading Room at The Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library– a public facing position working with researchers who were “researching cool interesting stuff”
  • Tufts graduate fellow – “I got paid to teach acting to undergraduates” which was “real validation of why I went to graduate school”

Although graduate school “felt like the right path for me… I couldn’t force myself to sit down and write”. “I liked going to class; I liked reading the plays a lot. But I certainly was not interested in publishing papers or going to conferences or writing a dissertation”.

Consequently, after three years at Tufts, Luke dropped out of the Ph.D. program and accepted a full-time position in the Reading Room at the Harvard Theatre Collection doing the same thing he’d been doing on a part-time basis. “I liked the ways that the past could inform the present”.

During that time, Luke and his wife also started a theater company, “actively producing about three shows a year at the Boston Center for the Arts with a focus on new plays. So I was in that world and that’s why the Theatre Collection interested me”.

Did Luke stay with the Harvard Theatre Collection?

After a year, Luke decided he needed more money. Knowing that he wanted to work with theater productions in Boston, he found a job as the Director of Education and Outreach for the Boston Lyric Opera. Opera had been Luke’s focus as graduate student, “so I just applied and basically talked my way into the job”.

opera singer
Opera Singer

The Boston Lyric Opera Company is a big company, with four main stage productions a year at the Schubert Theater, and a summer season of public performances on Boston Commons. “It was a fun job. I got to travel with their touring children’s opera”.

Three years later, Luke’s boss retired and the company wanted Luke to take on a much larger role. Luke and Sally had just had their first child, which changed things. “We felt very isolated having an infant – none of our friends had kids yet”. Luke and Sally decided, “We should raise our children around family”.

What did Luke and Sally do?

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Victoria Theater, Dayton, Ohio

Three months after their daughter was born, Luke and Sally moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Luke took a job as Education and Outreach Director at the Victoria Theater Association in Dayton.

The job wasn’t a good fit for Luke, however, so he only lasted for one and a half years. It did serve as a “stepping stone to become the Director of Muse Machine”.

How did Luke like Muse Machine?

Started in 1982, Muse Machine is an arts education program that works with Dayton area schools to connect students and teachers to the performing and visual arts.

Due to education’s increased emphasis on testing, arts education had changed since the Muse Machine began. Schools no longer had room in their schedules for arts appreciation programming. “I was there as a real driver of change, not just an administrator, but a creative program person – moving toward more of a residency model where artists are in the school for a prolonged period doing in depth curriculum based stuff with students”.

The funding landscape for nonprofits in the Dayton area had also changed. Major corporate supporters like NCR and Mead Corporation had drastically decreased their support as they reduced their presence in the region. Consequently, Luke had to sell the new program approach to the schools at the same time that he was reinventing the organization’s funding model.

Luke stayed for four years with Muse Machine. “I enjoyed it, but it took a toll on my family life. I did not have a good work/life balance and was letting it bleed into my personal life”. Work pressures made him want to “go back to a time when things were different”.

What did Luke do to relieve the pressure?

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Boston skyline

Luke learned that the Curator of the Harvard Theatre Collection had died suddenly.Remembering how much he had liked working there, he applied and persuaded his wife to move back to Boston. “I won’t have to work as much. I’ll make more money and our kids can grow up in the richness of the culture”.

“I thought it was going to be great, but it was terrible”.

Why was the job as Curator of The Harvard Theatre Collection terrible?

As the Curator, Luke was responsible for

  • Building the collection
  • Managing the funds and the purchases of materials
  • Discovering auctions of rare items around the world
  • Preparing materials on requested theater subjects for student use in the Reading Room

“The job was fun. I traveled a lot”. But Luke’s wife, Sally, was deeply unhappy. They had left “a very supportive network of close friends with kids the ages of our kids” and didn’t find anything similar in Boston. Consequently, Luke left Harvard after six months.

That sounds drastic! What happened next?

Luke and Neenah for March 2016 predrive letterLuke called Neenah Ellis, General Manager of WYSO 91.3FM, and told her, “I’m desperate to move back. I need a job, so if you hear of any opening, will you let me know”.

Luke & Neenah Ellis

In another happy accident, Neenah told him WYSO was searching for a Development Director. He applied for the  job, interviewed, got the job, resigned from Harvard, and moved back to Yellow Springs – all within 40 days.

WYSO 93.1FM is a public radio station, based in Yellow Springs, Ohio, which airs 24/7. Operated by Antioch College since 1958, WYSO is the only NPR News station in the Miami Valley. In addition to NPR programming, WYSO delivers:

  • local and state news
  • public affairs programming and news specials
  • Public Radio International
  • American Public Media
  • PRX
  • BBC (British Broadcasting Service)
  • the work of independent radio producers

Did Luke find happiness at WYSO?

“WYSO is a good fit”. Although his title is Development Director, he’s not just focused on dollars, because “programming drives fundraising”.

DPL Giant Check
WYSO receiving support from the DPL Foundation

He said, “I get to be creatively involved” as long as it relates to the mission. “I’m really more of community, outreach, partnerships AND fundraising. I get to go to all the meetings. I get to meet with funders, meet with producers. I got to help launch the area youth program”.

“WYSO is such a nexus of so many interests and ideas; it’s like a place of ideas and collaboration. In a theater company or opera company, we were hitting… barriers to participation such as the high expense of a ticket. I love that WYSO is free”.

Memorabilia
WYSO 91.3FM memorabilia

WYSO offers “so much programming: storytelling, news, journalism, programs that celebrate young people with youth radio. Those are some of the things that have made me want to go to work”. That’s obviously a big draw, because Luke is celebrating his five-year anniversary.

In describing the work culture at WYSO, Luke quoted Mother Theresa, “I can do things you cannot; you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things”. He has found that sort of collaboration at WYSO.

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WYSO out and about in the community

“Everybody works from their strength and does their part”.

 Luke’s observations:

  • Keeping searching. “If you want to be part of making something in the arts, there’s a place for you”
  • Find a positive environment and be positive yourself. “If you’re going to work in an industry where you work long hours and don’t get paid a lot, you should be surrounded by people who are just as dedicated as you are and glean just as much satisfaction”
  • Decide: “What do you like? What drives you? What are you excited about?”
  • Recognize your strengths. For a long time, Luke thought he didn’t have the right skill set, that he needed a project management background or MBA. Today his perspective is different. “What you’re good at is not a liability. It might be a liability in one setting, but it’s a gift and it’s a talent in another setting, so just get yourself in the right context, because everybody has their thing that they’re good at. Don’t just take the job because you can get it and then suffer with it, because it’s not actually utilizing your talents. Just find the thing that’s utilizing your talents”
  • “I like to experiment to see what will happen – that’s the story of my career”.

WYSO logo2

Memorial Day Deals & Discounts For The Military

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Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died in service to our country. While it’s obviously very worthwhile to thank all who have served, this day is not the same as Veterans Day which is in November.

That being said, there are plenty of freebies and deals available to active duty military as well as veterans. Some are this weekend only, others are year-round.

Ace Hardware: On May 26, participating Ace Hardware stores will be giving away a free 8″ x 12″ American flag to each customer (while supplies last).

Blue Star Museums:  2000 museums across the country are offering free family admission for active duty military families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Cabela’s: Active military, retired military, active reserves and VA-recipient men and women receive a 5% discount every day.

Cincinnati Zoo: Free admission to all members of the military on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veteran’s Day. The offer also allows military personnel to purchase up to six (6) half-price admission tickets for members of their immediate family.

Firebird’s Restaurant: Dine with a veteran or active duty service members on May 28 and receive their entree for FREE.

Foot Locker: If you are serving, or have served, in the US military, you may qualify for a 20% discount on your FootLocker.com purchase.

Golden Corral: Select locations are offering a FREE Memorial Day breakfast to veterans and active-duty military, please call your local restaurant for details.

Home Depot: A 10 percent discount is offered in-store to all military veterans on Memorial Day.

Hooters: On May 28, present a valid military ID at any Hooters location across the nation and score a FREE meal with the purchase of a drink

JCPenney: Receive a 5% discount during Memorial Day Weekend with a Military ID or proof of service required.

Kings Island:  Free admission on military appreciation days during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Lowe’s: On May 28th, get a 10% military discount to all those serving in the military, their families, and all veterans. Valid military ID, Veteran ID card or other proof of service required.

Michaels: Present your military ID card at the register to save 15% off your entire purchase every day.

Nike: Active, retired and reservist US military personnel and their families are eligible to receive a 10% Nike military discount on Nike.com and at US Nike retail stores (excluding Nike Company/Employee Stores).

Outback Steakhouse: From May 24 to May 28 all veterans and active military receive 20% off their entire check.

Sam’s Club: Active military, veterans, military personnel and military spouses get a $10 gift card when joining or renewing their membership through January 2019.

Sherwin-Williams: During the month of May, military and veterans save an additional 10% on Paints & Stains. Please show valid military issued ID.

Walgreens: All veterans and active military with a Walgreens Balance Rewards card will receive 20% off regular priced items.

Yankee Candle: Active and retired military personnel receive a 10% discount every day on every purchase.

Dave’s Juke Joint – It’s Happening Again!

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In 2016 Dave Chappelle hosted an amazing event in a barn, on a farm in Yellow Springs.  Inspired by music born in the juke joints of Americas Deep South, Chappelle’s modern day Juke Joint takes you on a trip thru his personal playlist which includes tunes ranging from Coltrane to Nirvana. This real music revival was part concert, part comedy, and all-out unpredictable.  In 2015 Chappelle hosted his Juke Joint in London, in 2016 besides the Yellow Springs event, there was also one in Minneapolis . In 2017 Dave’s Juke Joint popped up in New Orleans during NBA All Star weekend.

photo from DJ DNice’s instagram.

And now it’s happening again this Sunday and Monday in Yellow Springs.   Chappelle doesn’t exactly promote the Juke Joint, but rather seems to leave it to his Band with No Name leader, Frederic Yonnet, who, with other band members, post about the event on Instagram. Tickets will be  sold online only, and attendees have to agree to  relinquish their cell phones before entering the event.  According to the Instagram announcements,  tickets will go on sale tonight at 6pm at his website.

In 2016 the  all-star guest list included  Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Bradley Cooper, David Blaine, John Legend, Donnel Rawlings, Cipha Sounds.  Tickets that year were $75 each day for general admission, VIP was $100. There was a $10 parking fee.

Free Admission to 2000 Museums for Miltary Families This Summer

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This summer in is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as Active Duty and Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members.  Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card, DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

In Ohio that means 51 museums in Ohio will open their doors to military and their families as part of the ninth annual Blue Star Museums program, including:

“Ohio’s museums have once again embraced the NEA’s Blue Star Museums initiative. Each year, more and more museums are participating and sharing in the appreciation we have for military members and their families who sacrifice so much for all of us. It makes me ‘Ohio proud’ to see so many museums saying ‘thank you’ to our military members and their families,” says Ohio Arts Council Executive Director Donna S. Collins.

 

A full list of participating museums nationwide is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

Sideshow 13 – An Artistic Extravaganza

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The annual music and art extravaganza Sideshow is being held again at Yellow Cab Tavern  (700 E 4th St, Dayton Ohio) this weekend on May 25th from 5pm‐1am and May 26th from 3pm‐1am. Admission is free! All ages are welcome too.

Sideshow is celebrating its 13th anniversary of creating a free show of Art and Music that all ages can enjoy. Sideshow is run entirely by volunteers and uses fundraisers and donations to offset the cost of hosting a show featuring more than 100 local artists and musicians.

This event will be the biggest Sideshow yet with sculpture, painting, music, performers, wrestling, dancers, comedy, food trucks, local brews, photography and much more. It will also feature a special Kid’s Sideshow portion. Over the years this has become an event that draws creators from all backgrounds, all levels of skill and all media. Fostering an open creative environment that will grow talent of all kinds has been the organizer’s goal from the start.

Yellow Cab Tavern is a community art space and music venue in Dayton, Ohio in the Motor Car District near the Oregon District. Formerly, home to a taxi business for more than 40 years, they now host a variety of events – art shows, live music, food truck rallies and much more.

Music Schedule:

Friday Main Stage
7:00pm-7:40pm John Dubuc and the Guilty Pleasures
7:40pm-8:20pm NOVAGOLD
8:20pm-9:00pm The Repeating Arms
9:00pm-9:40pm The Zygotes
9:40pm-10:20pm Nasty Bingo
10:20pm-11:00pm The New Old Fashioned
11:00pm-11:40pm Bribing Senators
11:40pm-12:20am Todd the Fox
12:20am-1:00am Dip Spit vs. Duderus

Friday Acoustic Stage
7:00pm-7:40pm Max B Greene
7:40pm-8:20pm Mandy Jewell
8:20pm-9:00pm Doug Nichols
9:00pm-9:40pm Steve Makofka
9:40pm-10:20pm Sam Stone
10:20pm-11:00pm Rich Reuter
11:00pm-11:40pm McGuff and the Dumpster Fires
11:40pm-12:20am Ryan Jones
12:20am-1:00am The Typical Johnsons

Saturday Main Stage
5:00pm-5:40pm Evil Eye Gypsy
5:40pm-6:20pm The Vibe
6:20pm-7:00pm Lord Kimbo/Flam Feeva
7:00pm-7:40pm Enzo
7:40pm-8:20pm Thank The Maker
8:20pm-9:00pm Neo American Pioneers
9:00pm-9:40pm The 1984 Draft
9:40pm-10:00pm Scarecrow Sideshow
10:20pm-11:00pm Stella’s Demise
11:00pm-11:40pm Dark Backward
11:40pm-12:20am Burn the Dead
12:20am-1:00am Far From Eden

Saturday Acoustic Stage
5:00pm-5:40pm Achilles Tenderloin
5:40pm-6:20pm Debbie DeCasio
6:20pm-7:00pm Moringa Moon
7:00pm-7:40pm Chris Ball
7:40pm-8:20pm Boo Lee Crosser
8:20pm-9:00pm Vincent Holiday
9:00pm-9:40pm Dan Sebree
9:40pm-10:00pm XL247
10:20pm-11:00pm Sharon Lane
11:00pm-11:40pm Dayton Poetry Slam
11:40pm-12:20am Dayton Poetry Slam
12:20am-1:00am Kevin Milner

Visual Artists Featured:
Bradley the Dark
Cherry Fullam
Chris Corn
Christina Lewis
Christine Gaffney
Coco Birdi
David Kenworthy
Elysia Pritchett
Gary Mitchell
Grant Nikanowicz
Hannah Jones
Heather Lea Reid
Jackie Wagner
Jen Dyke
Jenny J. Ink
Jess Fecke
Jess Gilbert
Joe Augustin
Josh Arnold
Kara McCray
Lauren Wantz
Mal Thokey
Marishah Paddock
Matthew Reynolds
Megan Fiely
Melanie Dufresne
Michelle Carr
Mikee Huber
Nashonba Hostina
Phil Preston
Reilly Stasienko
Ron Rollins
Samantha Farkas
Sarah Mackenzie
Seth Ratliff
Summer Rose Fig
Tara Moore
Tiffany Hunter
Tom Gilliam
Travis Waller
Wendy Wagener-Harris
Whitney Marie

Free Kings Island Admission For Military Personnel

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Kings Island prides itself on providing world-class thrills, fun and entertainment for guests of all ages. The 364-acre amusement and water park is also proud of the brave men and women who serve in the U.S. military.

Kings Island will pay tribute to members of the military by offering free admission on military appreciation days during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The deal is available May 25-28.

Military who qualify for the free admission ticket include active military, retired military, National Guard, veterans with honorable or medical discharge and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps with government issued ID.

A valid military ID must be presented at Kings Island to take advantage of this offer.

Qualifying military personnel can also purchase discount tickets at a special price of $34/ticket for up to six family members at the park.

Luminaries of Dayton: Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth

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Lorenzo L. Langstroth (1810 – 1895)
Father of American Beekeeping

Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth was born December 25, 1810, in Philadelphia. He became pastor of the South Congregational Church in Andover, Massachusetts in May of 1836 and was a teacher at Yale University. In 1852, he moved to Oxford, Ohio and took up the work of bee keeping for which he is best known. The world of insects held a fascination for Lorenzo from a very early age but the one that turned out to be his life-long ambition was the bee. It was while visiting the home of one of his church members, who was a keeper of bees, that his interest in bee keeping was once again revived. Mr. Langstroth tried his hand at beekeeping and quickly became dissatisfied with the primitive methods of harvesting the honey. He read the latest books of his time, but their methods were crude, resulting in the death of a large amount of the bee population, so in order to attain the honey he constructed a beehive which contained a baseboard where the bees entered. What was the main difference between his beehive and the rest?

Patent No. 9,300 Bee Hive L. L. Langstroth 1852

Before Mr. Lanstroth’s invention, the bees attached their combs to the walls of the hive and the only way to get the comb out was to cut them out, which spoiled the comb and wasted much honey.

Mr. Langstroth’s hive housed a removable frame, a place to store the excess honey and a roof. He left a 3/8″ space between the hive wall and the frames in which the combs were built. The bees did not build across the space, leaving the comb frames free to be easily removed by the bee keeper.

His book, “Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee” written in 1853, was reprinted, revised and translated into various languages before and after his death. Though his invention was used throughout the world, he made little money because of infringements of his copyright, Patent No. 9300. He did not have the financial resources for attorney fees, court costs, etc. Mr. Langstroth lived in the East End of Dayton in 1894 with his daughter, Anna L. Cowan. Lorenzo Langstroth passed away at the podium while addressing the Wayne Avenue Presbyterian Church on October 6, 1895 at the age of 84. Mr. Langstroth is located in Section 103 lot 2634 at Woodland Cemetery. Cemetery records reflect the name on the file card was Longstroth but someone had later hand written the name Langstroth and added “Bee Man”.

Lorenzo L. Langstroth Monument at Woodland Cemetery

The following is the inscription on the front of Mr. Langstroth’s monument:

Inscribed to the memory of Rev. L.L Langstroth, “Father of American beekeeping,” by his affectionate beneficiaries who, in the remembrance of the service rendered by his persistent and painstaking observations and experiments with the honey bee, his improvements in the hive, and the literary ability shown in the first scientific and popular book on the subject of beekeeping in the United States, gratefully erect this monument.

The back of his monument reads:
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,
that they may rest from their labors, and their
work do follow them.”

Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

 

‘Get Out’ Star Thrown Out of Popeyes, Threatened With Police Call After Staff Error

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Los Angeles – Get Out star Lil Rel Howery, star of Fox’s upcoming Rel, slated to premiere this fall, shared a live Instagram account of being booted from a Popeyes Chicken location in Hollywood around 3 a.m. Saturday morning over a dispute following an order mistake made by Popeyes staff.

Footage can be viewed at Howery’s Instagram page.

Howery placed, according to footage, a $12 order, for which he displayed the receipt on camera. When the live feed began, the comedian was in a dispute with staff, saying his order was placed into another customer’s bag after a staff member assumed they were together. Howery asked for the food he paid for, and was refused. After he insisted, the staff told him to “come back tomorrow” to receive his order. He demanded his money back instead, and was told he was “trespassing” and ordered to leave.

Howery remained in the restaurant and demanded a refund, while management threatened to call the police.

“Call them!” he replied.

“Call the f**kin’ police – please! If you f**k me up, it’s gonna be a news story,” he said. “I didn’t do s**t wrong! You didn’t give me my f**kin’ food!”

When staff attempted to calm him, he shouted, “Y’all not black in America!”

“She told me to leave and come back tomorrow,” he yelled in outrage.

The Instagram story video was viewed around the world as dawn broke on the East Coast.

Howery finally agreed to leave when a young, black, female employee offered to pay him $12 from her pocket, concerned LAPD would be called in and escalate the situation. The comedian and actor declined her offer and left, citing fear of repercussions for the employee.

Howery had words for the fast food chicken chain.

“Popeyes, can I warn y’all right now? I have a f**kin’ TV show.”

He implied that the scenario might be portrayed in an episode of his sitcom this fall.

“This is a f**kin’ episode. You gave my food away. Give me my money back!”

Around 3:30 a.m. Pacific time, Howery returned to Instagram Story with more thoughts on the matter.

Prior to his breakout role in Academy Award winning horror film Get Out, Howery starred as the younger brother of fellow comedian Jerrod Carmichael on NBC’s short lived The Carmichael Show.

Carmichael serves as an executive producer of Rel, a multi-camera sitcom recently ordered to series by Fox.

Walk The Walk- Taste The Trucks Friday in Wright Dunbar

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Five of Dayton’s veteran food trucks have joined together to present Taste The Trucks this Friday night as part of Wright Dunbar Inc’s annual Walk the Walk event.

West Third Street between Shannon and Broadway Streets will be shut down from 5-9pm so you can Taste The Trucks.  G’s Cue BBQ, HungerPaynes, McNasty’s, PA’s Pork, and The Wicked ‘Wich will be set up and ready to serve you. Each of the trucks will be presenting a brand new food item and you can try all five for just $20.  There will also be a vegetarian selection at each truck.  You can pre-purchase your truck ticket book online and avoid any lines, and speaking of lines, since each truck is just presenting one item, the service will be extremely quick, eliminating the long lines often found at other food truck gatherings. Tables and chairs will be set up, but you are encourage to bring your own lawn chairs and kick back and enjoy the live music presented by Premium Blend.

Walk the Walk refers to Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame, which highlights 170 of Dayton’s  outstanding and enduring personal or professional contributions to the community, nation and the world.  Visit the place where three exceptional men, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and Paul Laurence Dunbar called home.  We’ll be celebrating the 2018 honoree’s, who will be added to the Walk on September 27th at an induction luncheon to be held at the Sincalir Conference Center.

The 2018 honorees are:  Hannah Beachler, Major General George R. Crook, Dr. Richard A. DeWall, Robert C. Koepnick, Police Sergeant Lucius J. Rice and Policewoman Dora Burton Rice, and Julia Reichert.

Begin your visit at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, where KIDS LOT will have a children’s activity center set up, inviting the youngster to create dream catchers, space shuttles, and even their own Dayton Walk of Fame square.  There will also be a chance to pilot their own plane virtually, courtesy of Dayton’s Air Camp.

Making A Difference in Dayton: Officer Dyan Thomas

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When I heard that some Dayton police officers were armed with stuffed animals I had to know more.

I called Officer Dyan Thomas. In 2009 she became the first female assigned to patrol duties as a Dayton police motorcycle officer. Dyan rode up to me, dismounted, opened one of her saddlebags and pulled out her stuffed bunny


“I am a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church” Dyan explained. “The church asked what they could do to support the Dayton police and we came up with the idea of stuffed animals. They donated lots of stuffed animals, and then others did the same. There are now enough for every police motorcycle and cruiser.”

“Imagine any type of incident involving a family with a young child – things like a traffic accident or a domestic dispute of some kind. The adults are upset, which causes the child to be upset and even to cry, which causes the adults to be even more upset. When the police officer hands a stuffed animal to a child, the child is distracted. The child stops crying and focuses on the new toy. That relaxes the adults, and everything settles down.”

I think Dayton is lucky to have Officer Dyan Thomas on the job.

 

Start Your Summer at Block Party in the ‘Burg

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If you’re looking for a way to enjoy the warm weather this weekend, may I recommend the first Block Party in the ‘Burg on Saturday, May 19th from 9am to 8pm at Star City Brewing Company in Miamisburg. There you’ll find great beer, live music, local vendors, food trucks and fun!

This event dovetails with Miamisburg’s Spring Fling, which kicks off with a parade at 9:45am. Starting at 9am, you can get a great parking spot to watch the festivities at Star City Brewing. They will have Ohio Hunger Force One and Shantz Express food trucks set up and running bright and early!

At noon, they’re kicking off live music in the field adjacent to the brewery. The music will continue throughout the day till 8pm. That’s right – 8 hours of non stop local original music! These are really cool bands too (see schedule below). Lucky Star Brewery and Star City Brewing Company will have beer for sale in the field, along a great selection of local vendors selling one-of-a-kind items and treats (see vendor list below)

Entry is free! So bring your lawn chair or a blanket, and plan on spending the whole day! A portion of the day’s proceeds will be donated towards the Miamisburg Viking Boosters.

Music Schedule

12-2pm Rich Reuter & Friends (featuring members of Great Northern String Band)
2-4pm Slippery Creek
4-6pm Cherry Lee & The Hot Rod Hounds
6-8pm The New Old-Fashioned

The New Old-Fashioned is among the bands performing at the first annual Block Party in the ‘Burg on May 19, 2018. PHOTO BY JENNIFER TAYLOR.


On-site Vendors:

Tina’s Sweet Treats (A Gluten Free Bakery)
Barefoot Girl Soap Company LLC
JoshuaRed Design
The WoodenSchu, LLC
Heather’s Goodies
Twisted River Coffee Roaster LLC
Hidden Gemstones
Damsel In Defense
Color Street
Kreations by Debby
Pure Haven’s Live Toxic-Free with Liz Engel
BurgApparel
Perfectly Posh
Statements by Alex
…and more to be announced! If interested, please submit online athttps://daytonfun.wufoo.com/forms/m2dhjet0g8hnd4/

 

You Could Be The New Owner of Cardboard Crowns

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Cardboard Crowns Owner Ben Adams just announced that the Miamisburg business on Springboro Pike which has been open for 6 months,  will be closing down at the end of the month.  Here’s the update he sent out:

“It saddens me to inform all of you that Cardboard Crowns, in it’s current form and under its current ownership, will be ceasing operations by the end of this month.  Sunday, May 27th is the last day that I plan on having the cafe open.

There are numerous decisions that led to this point, all of which I bear personal responsibility for.  The short and sweet of it is that the cafe, in its current form, is not profitable and I am personally unwilling to continue to fund the business’s losses.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and encouragement as I launched and operated this venture, and I apologize that I wasn’t able to sustain operations of the business indefinitely.  Everyone involved in this project, from the volunteers who helped bring the cafe to life, to the employees who have kept things running smoothly during our run, to the Kickstarter backers who have reached out to me with encouraging words have been absolutely phenomenal.

What’s Next?  

The best possible outcome for the cafe would be to find a buyer for it who would be willing to continue operations. While the business in it’s current format has not proven to be profitable I am relatively certain that a dedicated entrepreneur or team of entrepreneurs who would be willing and able to run the cafe themselves, without drawing a salary while the business gets built up and established would be able to get the cafe to the point where it can be a successful and sustainable business.  I will be reaching out to several individuals in regard to this and also sharing the fact that the business is available for purchase with the media so we can hopefully get that publicized. If you know of anyone who may be interested please send them my way.

In the event that a buyer cannot be located, the cafe’s assets will be liquidated.  If that ends up happening I’ll post an additional update here with details on the sale of the cafe’s contents.

Including today we have 12 operating days left before the doors close.  I would encourage you to come out, play some games, have some drinks and enjoy the space while we can.”

If you’d like to contact Ben, you can email him here.