Community

Elsass Art Sale This Thursday To Benefit 4 Local Charities

May 8, 2018 By Bill Franz

Mike Elsass has started his outdoor painting season in a lot next to The Front Street Building Co., but when I caught up with him all he wanted to talk about was last year’s outdoor painting.

“Last year I painted once a week in the parking lot of the Life Enrichment Center,” Mike told me. “They are a faith-based organization that helps all kinds of people in this area. The building is at 425 Findlay Street, next to a large metal recycling center, which seemed like the right place for an artist like me who paints on weathered steel.”

“A group going through a sobriety program painted with me. They were working to reclaim their lives, so I tried to use as many reclaimed materials in the art as possible – like used sandpaper and steel shavings. Then I invited others to join us. We had civic leaders, other artists, and even my grandchildren grab a brush and make art that now hangs in the LEC conference room.”

“Some of that art will be on display, and for sale on May 10 at Infiniti of Dayton (299 Loop Road) from 5 to 8 pm. The money raised goes to LEC and three other great local organizations – Good Shepherd Ministries, United Rehabilitation Services and the Therapeutic Riding Institute.”

Mike told me he’s planning a larger effort at LEC this year. If you have any paint you don’t need, he’d love to have it. You could drop it off at the Life Enrichment Center parking lot any week day between 9 and 5. Just leave it by the yellow truck behind the building. If that doesn’t work, just message Mike’s facebook page and he’ll arrange a way to get it.

Parking Costs at the Dayton International Airport

May 7, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

Effective May 14, the Dayton International Airport garage parking rate will be $20 per day max, a $2 increase, or $3 per half hour, which is a $1 increase from the current rates. At this time there are no increases to Valet Parking, which has a daily maximum of $20.

“These changes will support the long-term goals of the airport while we continue to improve our service,” said Terry Slaybaugh, director of Dayton International Airport. “Once travelers experience how convenient parking on the airport property is, they’ll continue to think of the Dayton International Airport first every time they travel.”

Short Term parking is free for the first 30 minutes then $3 each additional half hour with a daily maximum of $24. The Long Term lot is $2 per hour, with a daily maximum of $14 and the Economy Lot is $4.95/day. Ride the DAYrider courtesy shuttle, which circulates daily, directly to the Terminal from both the long term and economy lots. In the Cell Phone Lot you can enjoy free parking and WiFi while you monitor flight information on the monitor, or wait for a call from arriving passengers. Vehicles may not be left unattended in this lot. which is a waiting lot is free.

DAYperks and DAYperks Corporate members will continue to automatically receive loyalty points when using the DAYperks card. Parking rates and lot locations are available at flydayton.com/parking-transport.

For more information about the DAYperks parking loyalty program, visit flydayton.com/dayperks.

The parking team at the airport offers free vehicle assistance including tire inflation, battery charging, windshield wiper repair, fuel for empty gas tanks and towing. Travelers who park at the airport can request this free service by calling 937-898-1555.

The new concierge service team will also be available to assist travelers in the terminal as needed. They have the most up-to-date information on terminal construction to ensure minimal disruption in the passenger experience.

Other Off-Site Parking Options

Located on National Road, just a short 4 minute shuttle ride away from the airport, Park-N-Go offers a self serve lot with 24 hour shuttle service for just $5.95/day or valet service for $10.90/day. The valet service will have your car warmed up and ready for your arrival back and if it’s snowed they’ll have your windows scraped as well. They also can arrange to have your car washed & waxed, oil changed or other repairs while its there. You can also check Groupon for frequent discount packages.

Located just minutes from Dayton International Airport , Thrifty Airport Parking offers a safe and secure parking lot, so you can enjoy peace of mind while you travel. It is a self-park service and is open 4:30am until 12:30am, 7 days a week. During these hours, they provide complimentary shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Reservations are required and rates quoted upon availability.

Red Lion Suites, about 10 minutes away on Miller Lane offers parking airport parking for $3.99/day with 24 hour shuttle service.

Crafting A Career: Sandy Mendelson

May 2, 2018 By Nancy Jones

Sandy Mendelson, President, Mendelson’s Liquidation Outlet

Although Sanford “Sandy” Mendelson started with few resources and only a high school education, he has developed successful businesses, closed or revamped businesses, and bought and sold real estate. I asked Sandy how he crafted his career. The highlights of his story follow.

In the beginning…

As a child growing up in Dayton, Sanford “Sandy” Mendelson “liked to do everything except read and write in school…I just loved building things, making things, tinkering with my hands. My dad had a scrapyard in 1955 and I started going to the yard and taking stuff apart, sorting stuff out and playing with junk and taking stuff home.”

During his high school years, “I was the handyman of the school, fixed everything… in charge of the stage crew…a lot of the things I was in charge of, because I was a go getter.”

In 1960 his father, Harry Mendelson, opened Mendelson’s Electronics on Linden Ave. in Dayton to sell surplus. “We were in the government surplus stuff, buying stuff from DESC (Defense Electronics Supply Center).” Sandy worked in the business, but by the time he graduated from high school in 1962, things were going sour. His dad’s employer went bankrupt and Mendelson’s Electronics was struggling.

What happened when Sandy’s dad died in 1963?

Three years after Harry Mendelson opened Mendelson’s Electronics, he died, leaving the family in dire straits. “We had $68 in the bank, no money at all, two homes, four kids,a mother sick with emphysema. It was a bad scene.”

The day before Harry died, “we went to look at some stuff for Max Isaacson, owner of Globe Industries. It was all Cessna 180 autopilots. He said, ‘I got to get them out of the building.’ The next day, my dad has a heart attack and passed away. Max comes to the house for sympathy for my family. He says, ‘Do you want this stuff?’ We had no money. Max says, ‘Take it. You sell, you pay me.’ So I took an ad in Flying Magazine. Cessna 180 autopilots had a ridiculous price. They flew out of here. So that was the guy that gave me the break, who started me. He gave me an opportunity to excel as a merchant and think how to make a living.”

How did Sandy’s mother influence him?

Shortly after his dad passed, Sandy and his mother, Ida Mendelson, discovered Harry had borrowed $10,000 from Winters Bank on a personal note. “We knew nothing about it.” When Sandy and his mother went to see the banker, “I said, ‘my dad did it, we’ll honor it in one year, no interest.’ The banker said, ‘No.’ My mother was a really, really tough lady. When she got in your face you knew you’d been chewed up.” Ida stood up to leave and the banker quickly backpedaled, agreeing to Sandy’s terms. “One year to that day, I walked in with $10,000 and paid the man back and I’ve never looked back since.”

“I used to bring all the boys over to play poker and my mom would say, ‘You know the rules. It’s for keepsies.’ And she would clean us all out. She had her little purse, put the money in there and zip it. ‘It’s keepsies!’ Then she’d open the refrigerator and feed us all. We’d come back the next week again and try to beat her.”

“I learned my hawking through her. She was a tough lady, but she knew how to make a deal; she was very smart.”

How did Sandy make his first big deal?

“I was going by NCR and I see they’re scrapping stuff out. So I pulled up to the dumpster and asked ‘What’s going on here?’ ‘We’re changing our modes, we’re going from electro-mechanical to electronic cash registers.’ I was in the dumpster looking around, the guy says, ‘you can’t be in here. You got to go up and see the head of steel purchasing.’ I go see him and say, ‘I’d like to buy this material.’

He said, ‘You’ve got to scrap it out; it’s got to be destroyed.’ So I crossed my fingers and said, ‘Okay.’ I went ahead and gave them more money than they weregetting. I got some people really mad at me…because I took the deal from them. They’re throwing everything away; they don’t know if they need it for future use or nothing.”
“We took the exact box out of NCR, put it on a skid, numbered it, had the same rack in the other building, put the same part back in the same number order it was before. After that I had 300,000 different part numbers” and it was time to talk to NCR.

Sandy took his printout of all the parts with him. It was so long, he had to use a two-wheeler to transport it. “The guy went nuts. ‘You did what? You were supposed to destroy this stuff.’ What I did wasn’t exactly kosher, but I didn’t sell the parts to their competition; I did nothing with it. I said, ‘I know you need some parts back. I know you got problems with your service areas.’ They had 3,500 service departments around the world with no parts…they couldn’t make anymore, because all the machines – they tore them down and got rid of them. They were having serious problems.”

He sold the parts back to NCR on an as-needed basis at 65% of standard cost. “They were selling it for ten times what I sold it back to them. For 30 years, we were buying surplus inventory… and we’d ship within 24 hours anywhere in the world. They would pay the freight. That’s how I got wealthy, because of them. I bought all these buildings, because I needed more space for their deals. Ten years ago, NCR started changing. The old machines were gone and I did scrap everything. It was a very good relationship.”

Has Sandy’s business changed since that first big deal?

So many things I’ve done over the years.” Sandy started Mendelson’s Sporting Goods, which grew into four stores. “When General Surplus burned down, I started buying GI clothing from the bases. One thing led to another. I bought ten combat boots, and I bought a hundred combat boots, and I bought sweatshirts. We had skis, we had archery, clothing. We done very well for the first years, then Walmart came in and you can’t beat the big boys. Things were going real tough, so I had to close that up. I paid everybody off I owed. Someone said, ‘Go bankrupt.’ I don’t do that.”

Sandy continued to experiment with new ways to sell merchandise. Using the outlet stores in Reading, Pa. as a model, he opened The Mart Factory Outlet in 1982. The Mart offered sporting goods, housewares, clothing and appliances. “It started out doing real good. I would get 10% of the sales as the rent; we collected the money and paid the sales tax. Then that fell apart…so I put my own merchandise in here – Mendelson’s Liquidation Outlet. We’ve done okay ever since.”

In 1986 Jeffrey Stahl told Sandy he was frustrated with his employer, an electronics firm. “Jeffrey knew how to sell and I knew how to buy. So we opened a company called Parts Express International (PEI). I have a lot of product, but I don’t have the means to sell it right. Jeffrey is a very professional and ethical person who knew how to put a catalog together and work it. It’s 31 years later, and it’s worked extremely well. His tremendous retail entrepreneurship gave me the fortitude to stay in that business; he’s the bones and the body.”

Did Sandy open any other businesses?

“Another crazy Sandy idea…I needed to get my trucks off the parking lot. I had the whole lot filled full with trucks and they wanted that lot for baseball.” In 2001 Sandy bought the site with the old B&O Railroad freight terminal and parking for the trucks next to 2nd Street Public Market in Dayton. Based on the concept of the Springfield, Ohio Antique Center, he renovated the terminal as the Antique Mart in Webster Street Market with a deli and multiple consignment booths. He ordered “400 showcases and we filled them full of merchandise.”

“The first two years of the Antique Mart were phenomenal. Antiques were doing very well and then here comes eBay…and antiques go in the toilet and all my tenants started pulling out. So I said, ‘Well Sandy, let’s start selling showcases.’ I sold every showcase and actually I made some money on them. Sold them all and went ahead and decided to make a banquet center out of it.” Sandy executed his pivot by revamping the market as The Deli and Top of the Market, offering a deli-style restaurant on the first floor and event facilities on the second.

In 2000 Sandy had led the effort to raise $250,000 for the Get Well Fund for Dayton police officer, Mary Beall, paralyzed by a gunman in the course of duty. Ultimately, they raised over $300,000.

In 2005 John and Mary Beall’s daughter was planning to hold her wedding reception at the Top of the Market, but Sandy wasn’t happy with his crew there. “The day before the wedding, they walked out, so I put the Sandy call out, “I need help.’ I had so many chefs, so many waiters, people stood in line, ‘how can we help,’ because I help anyone who has a problem.”

Sandy’s observations:

The most important thing is “ your handshake. If your handshake’s good, you’ve got it made; if your hand is no good, nothing will work for you.”
“You have to have the green disease. If you don’t have the drive, you’re not going to make it.”
When faced with a problem, say, “Yes, we can. When you say ‘no’, you’re already on the defense.”
Find a mentor. “I want to start a thing called the Start-Up King where we would help people learn how to go into business. We need to get these people a chance to excel in retail. They’re all afraid to go into business, because no one shows them how.” For instance, “lady buys a beauty chair…and she takes it away. A month later, ‘Sandy, I’ve got a problem. I didn’t know I had to get a health permit.’”
Emphasize networking. “Share the intelligence of what you can do. Networking is a key. But most businesses don’t go to other businesses and talk to them. Canal Street Arcade and Deli opened behind me. ‘What are we doing? What can we do? How are you doing this thing? I’m having a problem with deliveries.’ That’s not stealing. If I’ve got good food and good parking, I’m going to get good business; it’s not a trade secret.”
“It’s been a great life!”

use MLO bldg — **Mendelson’s Liquidation Outlet**
340 E. First St.
Dayton, OH 45402

May 4th is Generation Dayton Day

May 1, 2018 By Lisa Grigsby

“Thousands of people in the Miami Valley don’t know where their next meal is coming from, according to a new report from the nonprofit group Feeding America.”

-Dayton Daily News; May 4, 2017

Food insecurity has hit the Miami Valley hard. This year, Generation Dayton, the chamber’s young professionals organization will focus their volunteer efforts on fighting this problem during the group’s biggest outreach day of the year. Generation Dayton Day gives young professional volunteers the opportunity to ‘Get out and Give back’ at area non-profits. After a day of giving back, participants will celebrate with an after-party which includes food, drinks, and raffle prizes for volunteers.

Nonprofit organizations Gen D will be serving:

House of Bread
Dayton Food Bank
Daybreak
Homefull
Ronald McDonald House
United Rehabilitation Services
East End
The Victory Project

The Food Drive:
Each volunteer should bring a canned food item to the Kroc Center in order to receive their Generation Dayton Day shirt. A special prize will be awarded to the one who brings in the MOST food items.

The After Party:
Those who are not able to participate in the volunteer activities are welcome to join the after-party, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm at Old Scratch Pizza. If you’re just joining us for the celebration, no registration is required.

Additional Information

Event Contact: Rachel Gensler

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

(937) 226-8278

Email: [email protected]

Luminaries of Dayton: Dr. Dagobert Anton Scheibenzuber

April 28, 2018 By Angie Hoschouer

Dr. Dagobert Anton Scheibenzuber was devoted to the practice of medicine and displayed considerable power in coping with the intricate problems that continually confronted him as a physician. He was born near the Danube in Austria on December 5, 1868. His father, Anton Scheibenzuber, was also a doctor and brought the family to Hamilton, Ohio in 1870. Anton moved his practice to Dayton after a few years and died in Dayton in 1891.

In 1886, Dagobert became a student at the University of Vienna, where his father had previously been a student. There he attended lectures for four years and spent six months studying his profession in Prague before moving back to the states. In 1891, he graduated from the Cincinnati School of Medicine & Surgery and practiced in Dayton. He was a Professor of Pathological Anatomy and Histology at the Cincinnati School.

Dr. Scheibenzuber was the first pathologist appointed at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton and served in that capacity for five years. He served as physician and surgeon for St. Joseph Orphans Home in Dayton and was Medical Examiner for the Cleveland Life Insurance Co.

Dr. Dagobert Anton Scheibenuzber died on February 25, 1936 at the age of 69.He is buried in Section 113 Lot 101. Anton Scheibenzuber died on August 11, 1891 at the age of 49. He is located on the family lot in Section 113.

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.

CTW Kicks Off Men at Work Campaign

April 25, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

Each week, our men will compete in a themed competition. The Role Model who secures the most votes each week will win an award:

Beginning April 30, 2018:
First Impressions Award
Beginning May 7, 2018:
Workplace Image Award
Beginning May 14, 2018:
Casually Cool Award

Voting will officially end at 11:59pm on Friday, May 18th. We will then tally the votes and announce the results at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Individual awards will be given to the winners of each weekly themed competition, and the individual who has the most overall votes will be crowned Clothes That Work’s “Ambassador of the Year.”

Meet the 2018 Role Models:

Where Makers Get Supplies and Get Inspired In Dayton

April 24, 2018 By Guest Contributor

MENDELSON’S LIQUIDATION OUTLET | SUPPORTING MAKERS IN DAYTON SINCE 1960.

Mendelson’s Liquidation Outlet, located in the heart of the Gem City, is “The first place to look for every last thing.” You might wonder how you pack full a half million square foot building. The answer is simple, Mendelson’s buys product overruns, excess inventor, product returns, seconds, and liquidated business assets from all over the world. It is not whether or not they have what you need but rather can you find it. Mendelson’s was founded in 1960 by Harry Mendelson as an electronics surplus store and has grown into a liquidation outlet offering a more diverse range of products.

HOW TO SHOP AT MENDELSON’S

Your first trip to Mendelson’s can be a little intimidating especially if you are the nerdy maker type. Don’t worry, you will be a better maker for it. For millennials like us you rarely get the opportunity to procure goods the way our parents and grandparents did. Haggling and handshakes have been replaced by Amazon and Walmart. Do yourself a favor and jump right into the Mendelson’s shopping experience!

To start, you dig through shelves of electrical components to find that perfect vintage gauge to finish off a project and you take it to the counter and you haggle. There is a mutual understanding, they know you would have a hard time finding such an amazing gem somewhere else and you know it may be 5 years before someone else wants to buy that part. Only fools don’t haggle at Mendelson’s. The rarer the item the more opportunity there is for a deal. Sandy Mendelson is a man of his word and values an old-fashioned handshake deal. The shopping experience mirrors this old-school philosophy many of us miss.

340 EAST 1ST STREET | A HISTORIC BUILDING

The seven-story building was built in 1916 with additions in 1929 & 1940. It is bordered by Race Street, First Street, and Second Street. General Motors built this 539,904 SQFT manufacturing facility, known as Delco Plant #2, to produce electric motors and generators. The building was built for heavy industrial use with 7 elevators including a freight elevator with a 30,000 lb capacity and one of the last manned elevators in the country. The top floor also has remnants of a foundry. Our favorite feature of the building is the 100ft tunnel that connects the basement of Plant #2 with the Delco Lofts building, GM Plant #1. While it’s use has long been discontinued, the thought of workers using this tunnel for many years is humbling. Someday if the current Mendelson’s building is ever turned into condos, gym, bars, community center it would be amazing to see this tunnel repurposed.

WHAT YOU CAN FIND AT MENDELSON’S

When someone asked where to get a certain part of a project we find ourselves constantly recommending they visit Mendelson’s. Many report back that Mendelson’s is the single greatest resource for inventors and makers while others are completely overwhelmed by adventure. We recommend you schedule your own visit.

Electrical: Motors, resistors, potentiometers, switches, buttons, legs, capacitors, wire, heat shrink, power supplies, plugs, bus bars, fuses, tubes, actuators, relays, industrial light fixtures, fans, limit switches, inverters, transformers, power strips, buzzers, alarms, microphones, timers, thermo switches, coils, amplifiers, micro switches, etc

Mechanical: Gears, bearings, linear guides, bolds, screws, nuts, carts, equipment, cable ties, clutches, pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders, springs, valves, magnets, pumps, gauges, chains, sprockets, etc.

Furniture: Banquet chairs, office chairs, kitchen equipment, tables, display cases, shelving, fixtures, hair salon chairs, office supplies, etc.

Just a short list of miscellaneous items: Mannequins, marble countertops, bowling pins, business signage, pizza boxes, NCR cash register parts, dishware, clocks, sporting goods, small engine parts, books, security cameras, furnaces, medical equipment, boots, gloves, etc.

TRUST US. THIS LIST DOES NOT EVEN SCRATCH THE SURFACE!

THANKS, SANDY!

A week prior to our visit we reached out to Sandy Mendelson, the owner, and he agreed to give us a full tour of a couple of his buildings in Dayton. We met first thing Saturday morning and were pleasantly surprised that Sandy could spend much of the day with us. While only 2 floors of Mendelson’s are open to the public Sandy declared that nothing is off limits so we hit every floor including the roof and the basement tunnel. Yes, I said tunnel. If you are visiting Mendelson’s and happen across Sandy, ask him to tell you a story. You will not be disappointed. The Mendelson Family is one of many reasons Dayton is the Gem City.

VISIT OR CONTACT MENDELSON’S

Address:
340 E 1st St, Dayton, OH 45402
Across from the Dayton Dragon’s Stadium
Facebook: FOLLOW
Instagram: FOLLOW
Website: VISIT
Phone: (937) 461-3525

This post originally appeared on the Everything Badass blog and is reprinted with permission.

We are Makers | Inventors | Engineers
HQ: Gem City AKA Dayton, Ohio
Redefining what’s Badass!
We share projects and product we love

Wagtown Wins International Animal Advocacy Award

April 23, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

BlogPaws, a subsidiary of Chewy.com, recently announced the winner for the first-ever BlogPaws Founders’ Award for excellence in animal advocacy. The victor is Dayton-area start-up, Wagtown, founded by Ohio native, Beth Miller. Wagtown, now leading several initiatives to bring grant dollars to communities available through large resource giants in the pet industry to enhance the region’s pet-lover appeal.

“This category acknowledges a person who embodies the spirit of BlogPaws and its founders. The founders created BlogPaws with a sense of purpose, passion, community, and giving back. Judged on purpose, achievement, and engagement, we were looking for passion and persistence, a sense of community, and engagement in animal welfare. This person reflects the spirit of BlogPaws,” stated officials from the BlogPaws organization.

Wagtown’s Beth Miller and Tom Everhart, have been actively working with community, state, and national leaders and champions for animals in the development of several exciting initiatives. “Our mission is to increase dog-friendliness in sustainable and vibrant ways. There are countless passionate organizations striving toward better lives for these furry extensions of our families. Following more than 400 in-person interviews and site visits all over the United States, we can say without hesitation that dog-friendliness yields communities that are safer, healthier, more welcoming, better economically, more humane and far more responsible about dog ownership.

Several projects are underway for launch this year that will increase walkability and raise awareness of dog-related legislation and infrastructure change. Additionally, a nationally-accredited PBS program to teach responsible dog ownership skills and keep kids safe around dogs, a children’s book, disaster relief programs, and several events to celebrate all of the positive effects on a community that come from investing time and energy into collaborating for dog-friendly localities.

Ms. Miller stated, “Thank you to Chewys,BlogPaws, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition for their support of expanding the niche of companion animal success. Most of all, thank you to all of you who believe that dog friendly is the future of more vibrant communities. Your support and help along this journey has been inspiring. So, this one’s for all of you…and your furry friends. Dogs make our communities better. It’s time to return the favor. Reach out to find out how you can get involved. This won’t happen without your help.” ?

About Wagtown

Wagtown, a nonprofit organization (pending) provides the blueprint, hands-on assistance, and recognition for legislative, infrastructure, education, and community engagement to become authentically dog friendly and benefit from the resulting increased economic vitality. With their proprietary algorithm to quantifiably identify a community’s success in the dog-friendly race, they provide the tools and consulting to help elevate expectations and celebrate positive and responsible collaboration. Follow the journey and learn more by following them on Facebook/Wagtown.org. To find out how you can donate or volunteer to join the movement, call 937-477-2403 or message at [email protected].

The Right Corner: How A Downtown Mainstay Suddenly Boomed!

April 20, 2018 By Joshua Stucky

You walk into 105 East Third Street and there is a conversation among a small family of friends about still having a ‘Christmas Tree up in my living room.’ Everyone laughs. The bartender, today it’s DanaThompson, a sweetheart of a guy who is beloved by his patrons, mixes another vodka tonic and smiles. ‘This is what we do. We share our secrets.’

The Right Corner is
having a renaissance.

Placed perfectly for the revitalization of Third Street, its booming.

‘We are a neighborhood bar. Truly. It’s interesting to see the change in our clientele over the years. Suddenly, everyone stops in. It’s great for us.’ Dana says.

‘It’s all about family here.’ says Amanda Kayne, one of Right Corner’s disciples and sometimes performers. ‘The word family is true. We all care about each other, and this is our place to keep in touch.’ As I talk with her, she laughs with the folks around and in the background Joan Jett blares out ‘Crimson and Clover’ from the jukebox. ‘I try to come here 7 days a week.’ she goes on, ‘I don’t want to miss anything or anyone.’

The Right Corner is rich in its history. In 1994, ‘Changes,’ another downtown hot spot, which sat across from Spaghetti Warehouse, was purchased by Reynolds and Reynolds. The owners, in turn, bought the space that would become the Corner. ‘We have a lot fo the former ‘Changes’ in here.’ says Dana. He points out a phone booth, a gorgeous wall relief, and then the stunner…’see these mirrors that make up our back wall….that was the dance-floor at ‘Changes.’

(What the……I remember in my youth dancing on that wall…uh ,that floor….and it lit up!!)

Its’ apparent that the Corner knows what works. Little has truly changed over the years….but the crowds are bigger. ‘In the last 3 years, we have seen a huge uptick. It’s been amazing. Especially Fridays.’ Dana goes on, as he mixes a Makers and 7….this time for me! They have an amazing Happy Hour….M-F 1p-8p, uh-huh, 1p-8p.

‘Many people are coming to realize the bar is more of a neighborhood bar. We like strays and straights.’ says Jay, a regular. ‘By far, this place has the friendliest atmosphere, no pretense, down-to-Earth clients, and the best bartenders.’ Certainly, the bartenders are the most experienced. Between the 3, there is 110 years of bartending. Dana quips, ‘Young people walk in and see an older bartender and they roll their eyes. Then I make them their favorite drink….it changes their tune real quick!’

Right Corner awaits Fire Blocks District

For many in the Fire Blocks District, it’s all about growth and a new entertainment area. For the Right Corner it’s ‘Something we look forward to, but we like who we are and what we are. Everything can change around us, we want to be the ‘Right Corner!’

Another frequent visitor, Robert, chimes in. ‘There is always someone to chat with here. I know for most of us, if we have friends from out of town, this is where we bring them. they love it! Its so respectful, even our mothers love it in here!’

Subtle and modest, the Corner has a much-loved patio that sits oddly in a parking lot. A pool table, popcorn machine and television are the entertainment…unless it’s a show night. ‘We have great drag shows, three to four times a year. Great stars like Amanda Kayne and Dana Sintell.’ says the bartender.

The Right Corner does one thing very well…it brings on the family vibe. They have monthly birthday parties for their fans. ‘We give cards and we make a special dinner for monthly birthdays. It’s important to make people feel cared for.’

Right Corner’s drinks are affordable and amazing!

Barbara has been a fan for a while. ‘My husband (who passed away last year) and I have been coming here for 23 years. I have always felt loved here. I love this place. So much so, they call me ‘Norm!’ Appropriate for a place many have called a ‘gay Cheers.’

As I finish my Makers, I begin to realize how much I love it here. It’s warm, and inviting. You see members of the WGI and stars from area theater in here. You sense that its special, a strange kind of Shangri-La.

Perhaps its Anthony who hits the nail on the head. (by the way, Thanks Anthony for buying my drink! That was way too kind!) He says it like this, ‘Not only is it a happy, friendly family, the Right Corner is community and civic minded. They care for anyone who walks in the door.’
Yep. A neighborhood bar…and they are neighborly!

The Right Corner is open 1pm to 2:30a 365 days a year.
Check out their Facebook Page!

Pecha Kucha Returns May 9th

April 18, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

From handwriting to co-housing, the 35th volume of Pecha Kucha will be held on Wednesday, May 9th a the Dayton Metro Library at 7:30pm. Doors open for seating at 7pm.

This PK will be hosted by the library’s own Megan Cooper, who will introduce eight speakers who will bring stories, expertise, and personal history to life in PK style, which means 20 slides shown for 20 seconds each.

Between sets of speakers, enjoy a PK networking break with beer, wine and other refreshments. As always, PK is free to attend and donations are welcome. Street parking surrounding the library will be free. The library’s underground parking garage will be closed.

From handwriting to co-housing you’ll learn and experience something new from each speaker:

Judd Plattenberg – Time Capsule in Lonaconing MD

Tim Kambitsch – Reimagining Works
Ann Bain – The Vital Importance of Handwriting

Mike Huff – AIA Student Design Competition

Ann Kim – Tran-Siberian Railroad Journey

Amy Kollar Anderson and Kate Huser Santucci – The Art of Collaboration (or How to Not Freak Out When You Change Another Artist’s Work)

D Ralph Young – World War II in the Pacific

Chip Williamson – Archi-sociology: Co-housing

Poster art by Amy Kollar Anderson and Kate Huser Santucci.

Iconic WWII Aircraft Fly Into Vectren Dayton Air Show

April 17, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

Vectren Dayton Air Show officials announced today that the B-17 Movie Memphis Belle and Tuskegee Airmen P-51 Mustang Red Tail with its Rise Above theater will appear at the 2018 Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger on June 23rd and 24th at the Dayton International Airport.

On May 17th, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton will open its exhibit of the magnificent B-17F Memphis Belle, the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. This date is exactly 75 years after its crew finished their last mission in the war against Nazi Germany on May 17, 1943.

The B-17G Movie Memphis Belle that will appear at the 2018 show was the star of the 1990 Warner Brother film, Memphis Belle. The film was a fictionalization of the 1943 documentary Memphis Belle, about the 25th and last mission of the American Boeing B-17 Memphis Belle Flying Fortress bomber. The Movie Memphis Belle will commemorate this milestone and take spectators back in history giving them a chance to both see this iconic WWII heavy bomber fly and view it on display up close and personal in this anniversary year.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron has selected Dayton for an appearance of its Tuskegee P-51 Mustang aircraft and Rise Above Theater production. CAF’s mission is to educate audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen – America’s first black military pilots. These airmen became legendary because their strength of character, courage and ability to triumph over adversity served to inspire others to RISE ABOVE obstacles in their own lives and achieve their goals. The CAF presentation will include a flight and display of the P-51 Mustang Red Tail aircraft Tuskegee Airmen flew. The Rise Above theater is a 30-seat panoramic film presentation of the Tuskegee Airmen’s story.

“We are honored to add these two historical WWII attractions to the show”, stated Scott Buchanan, Chairman of the USATS Board of Trustees. “They both played a major role in our country’s history and we’re thrilled to have them join our incredible 2018 show lineup.” Buchanan added.

The B-17 Movie Memphis Belle and Tuskegee P-51 Mustang will join previously announced attractions, the world-renowned U.S. Navy Blue Angels, TORA! TORA! TORA!, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and U.S. Army Golden Knights. That’s not all, air show legend Sean D. Tucker, Jack Link’s Jet Waco, female aerobatic superstar Vicky Benzing and Cincinnati’s own Redline Airshows Aerobatic Team will perform in 2018 too. Air show officials plan to announce other attractions over the next couple of months.

2018 Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger tickets including the popular Pavilion and Blue Sky Chalet are now on sale at the show’s website, www.daytonairshow.com. Customers can enjoy print-at-home or print- to-mobile options available for website purchases.

Beginning May 14th, customers can conveniently purchase discount general admission tickets at area Kroger stores. This Kroger exclusive offers $3 off adult and children tickets at over 100 Kroger stores in the Dayton- Cincinnati region. Kroger discount tickets are good for either Saturday or Sunday admission. Visit the show’s website for further information.

Crafting a Career: Brent Johnson

April 16, 2018 By Nancy Jones

Brent Johnson, Owner, Square One Salon & Day Spa

Brent Johnson combined the business and customer service skills he learned in retail and occupational therapy to build his salon business. Today, he and his partners own and operate six Square One Salons in Dayton and Columbus.

In the beginning…

Brent Johnson has been fascinated by business since childhood. As soon as he turned 16, he got a job in a restaurant and discovered, “I loved working”. In his last year or two of high school, he attended school for a half day and worked half a day. “I always wanted my own business, so the more I could learn, the more I could be exposed to the public, the better my confidence would become, the more I could connect with people”.

Brent’s first two managers taught him to “really listen to and be a problem solver for guests. Really listen to people and find out what they want and go deeper than their answer. Don’t be afraid to step out of your box a little bit and do whatever it takes”.

What did Brent do after high school?

After graduation, Brent quickly moved from a job as a floor manager at a store in the Dayton Mall to become the assistant manager of Benetton at Town and Country Shopping Center, and then the manager of Benetton at the Dayton Mall. The promotions enabled him to move from his parents’ house in Carlisle, Ohio to his first apartment in Dayton’s downtown Oregon District.

Brent recognized, however, that the promotions were both “a gift and a trap”. The increased money was great at the time, but it wasn’t enough to live on forever. Consequently, he enrolled at Sinclair Community College for “one class a quarter”. At that rate, he thought, “by the time I’m 86, I might actually have a degree”.

Although Brent dreamed of owning a business, he was unsure of his direction. “The financial world was sort of in crisis and I got scared I was going to be 50 years old and working in the Macy’s Young Men’s department, selling Levis”. At the time, he was a Visual Merchandiser for Macy’s and loved the creative aspect. Consequently, he decided to pursue the goal of a Masters degree in art therapy. His first step was the 2-year degree program in Occupational Therapy at Sinclair. “Art therapy was in the safe world of the medical field where I would actually have an income and health insurance”.

Upon graduation with his Associate’s degree, Brent immediately took a job at Maria Joseph Nursing & Rehabilitation Centerfocused on geriatric patients. After three years, he moved to the rehab services at Grandview Medical Center and continued working with similar patients.

How did Brent move from being an occupational therapist to owning a salon?

Brent never lost his dream to open his own business. When two friends, Nick and Doug, and his roommate, now husband, Josh, raised the idea of opening a hair salon, Brent was ready.

During their early planning, Nick left for Chicago. The three remaining partners each added different dimensions to the project. Doug, a hair stylist, had years of salon experience. Josh, a schoolteacher, had a Master’s degree in learning styles and a degree in massage, which inspired them to plan spa services in the salon. Brent said, “I don’t bring anything to the table other than a lot of retail experience, visual merchandising and customer service. And I love people”.

How did Brent and his partners go from a dream to a successful salon?

At first, all Brent and his partners could do was dream. In 1998 a friend told them the Cannery Building in downtown Dayton was being renovated to include retail and residential units. The project planners “were motivated to talk to anybody, because the bank wanted to see retail commitments”. The bank required a business plan, however, and Brent and his partners had no idea how to write one.

When they sought help at SCORE, the mentor “thought we wanted to open a salon like a place to go smoke cigars” and admonished them for failing to wear a suit to their meeting. “It really lit a fire under us”. The partners realized they needed “to act like we know what we’re talking about”.

Then Brent broke his leg. His injury drastically reduced his hours at Grandview, because his job, which included showing patients how to move safely, was “hard to do when I was non-weight bearing on my left leg and in a wheelchair myself”. With time on his hands, Brent started drafting their business plan using a friend’s business plan as a template. It “had nothing to do with my world, but at least I saw a Table of Contents”.

They needed a down payment of $10,000 in order to borrow $100,000, but all they had was $300 and nothing to sell. The partners each raised $3,300 from family and friends, and the bank made the loan.

The partners used $20,000 to buy equipment, start a payroll and pay accounting and legal fees. They used the remaining $80,000 to refurbish the space. In November 1999,

SQ1 Dayton exterior — Square One Salon & Day Spa, Dayton

Brent, Josh and Doug opened Square One Salon with seven employees. “We had 8 styling stations, a massage room and a facial room and a bathroom and a break room and a laundry room… We thought it was important to do it all”.

Brent quit his hospital job to work full-time at the salon. At that time, he didn’t “know the difference between a facial or a highlight”, so he concentrated on customer service and the interior design.

In order afford a pay cut to help the salon’s cash flow, Brent gave up his health insurance and his car and walked to work for two years. He did home health care in the evenings or on weekends to earn supplemental cash.

Square One entered into a contract with Aveda to carry their products exclusively. In return, Aveda provided free education, a free back bar, and business guidance based on Aveda’s analytics. Early on, Brent adopted their benchmarks to measure the salon’s success:

Don’t pay more than 6% for rent
Don’t let your payroll for stylists go over 45%
Make sure your managers and front desk personnel margins don’t run over 8%

What did Brent and his partners do after opening the first salon?

After several years, Brent and his partners opened Therapy Café, a bar/restaurant, also in the Cannery Building. They quickly learned it was a drastically different type of business. “It was a potential killer of everything we had…we had to take out a $400,000 loan and it’s hard to make that up on $2 coffees and $9 martinis”. They also learned owning a bar/restaurant isn’t a party. “You have to stay up late, but you can’t drink”. To Brent’s relief, after four years they sold Therapy Café without going bankrupt.

“We learned some valuable lessons…what I call our adult college:

Stick with what you know; do what you do well
Just because you do one thing well, doesn’t mean you’ll do everything well
Just because it looks like easy money, doesn’t mean it is
Nothing is free”

Thereafter, Brent and his partners focused solely on the salon. They knew, however, their space constraints limited their team’s potential to “spread their wings”. “We had people who had been with us for 8-9 years”, and they risked losing stylists to the lure of “opening their own business” by renting a chair in a loft or salon. “They’re in charge of booking their own appointments; coming in when they want to”, which works for some, but not all.

use Sq1 Centerville front corner street — Square One Salon & Day Spa, Centerville

Square One’s solution was to open a second location in order to give employees opportunities for advancement. Brent found an old building with reasonable rent in downtown Centerville, Ohio. “We’re all about going into historic buildings and renovating that building”. After intense negotiations, Brent and the owner agreed to a five-year lease with the first six months free for the necessary renovations. Square One put $275,000 into the building to complete the 5,200 square foot salon.

How did Brent go from two salons to six?

“Seven years ago, we got really scared again”. Businesses were leaving Dayton and Brent and his partners worried that “all of our eggs are in one basket”. The opportunity to buy two salons in the Aveda network in the Columbus, Ohio area – downtown and New Albany – coincided with Doug’s desire to move there. Brent, Josh and Doug opted to buy them.

Square One Salon & Day Spa, Columbus; Source: http://www.squareonesalon.com/columbus-gallery.php

Opening the new salons was “a struggle, because their culture was so completely different than ours”. In order establish the quality and customer service expected in a Square One salon, Brent made a lot of trips to Columbus.

Use SQ1 New Albany collage — Square One Salon & Day Spa, New Albany; Source: http://www.squareonesalon.com/new-albany-gallery.php

Two years ago, they opened two more salons after a longtime Dayton employee warned Brent he intended to open his own salon. He said, “I want financial security; I want to own a business and be my own boss; and I want to have creative control”. Brent sat down with Josh and Doug to devise a strategy to motivate the employee to stay.

They decided to offer to sell shares of stock to certain employees. Brent, Josh and Doug retained ownership of 51% of the stock and offered 49% to qualified employees. The criteria for eligibility were:

use SQ1 Brown St front — Square One Salon & Day Spa, Brown St, Dayton

Longevity – at least 10 years of employment with Square One
Full-time (30 hour/week)
Hold a leadership role

They offered shares to seven people and five accepted, including the employee in question. Sale of the shares paid for the build-out at two more locations: Brown Street in Dayton and Oak Creek in Centerville, Ohio.

Square One Salon & Day Spa, Owners 2017 (Photo by The Carr Photography; source: http://www.squareonesalon.com)

Brent said that with the new shareholders, “I’m really motivated to make sure my employees are happy; so are they. They’re really motivated to make sure they have the education they need to provide great services; so am I. We’re all motivated to keep it looking great; we’re all motivated to make the client happy; we’re all motivated to be sure our benchmarks” are met.

What is Brent’s business philosophy?

Brent’s philosophy is simple: “It matters. Everything matters from the condition of the stairway to the cleanliness of the break room to the treatment of everyone who walks through the door”. No matter whether it’s a client or the UPS driver, everyone should be treated with respect and courtesy.

Treatment of employees also matters. Brent’s emphasis on respect and listening has led to a “95% retention rate with our stylists”. In difficult situations, Brent asks himself “three questions: is it good for the business? Is it good for the client? Is it good for the employee?” He initiates a conversation to understand the situation, discover the employee’s goals, and emphasize his expectations.

Brent believes in creating a balanced team of people with different strengths. “You need to have people who are good at doing books or managing people in addition to people who are good at doing hair”. If everyone was similar, “no one wants to do the books, because everyone sucks at doing the books, but we’re all really great at doing highlights”.

Use Sq1 Dayton interior collage — Square One Salon & Day Spa, Third St, Dayton; Source: http://www.squareonesalon.com/dayton-gallery.php

To give employees opportunities to advance, Square One offers training in both job skills and leadership and management development. Unlike many other salons, Brent distinguishes between managers and stylists in order to benefit from the strengths of each. With training, stylists may advance as teachers and leaders “along with their career behind the chair”.

In addition, the partners demonstrate they care about their employees by providing full-time employees with health insurance and a 401(K) savings plan.

What is Brent’s advice for customer service?

“Never shy away from asking a guest if they had a great experience. If you sense that they’re telling you it was great and it wasn’t,” dig deeper. “I want to know before they walk out the door”.

Brent’s process for resolving client issues is:

Thank the guest: “Thank you for making me aware”
Apologize
If the solution isn’t obvious, ask, “How can we make this better?” “Most of the time, people just want to be heard”
Thank them again

“Once you do that and you own it, people just de-escalate really fast”.

Brent’s observations:

Sq1 Centerville back door — Square One Salon & Spa, Centerville

“I’ve never quit one job without having another one in place”
“Just because it’s a great idea, doesn’t mean it’s a great idea for you”
“You don’t have to have a business degree; you can learn it. It doesn’t have to be taught in a classroom; practical knowledge – for example, Therapy Café – is so valuable”
“Don’t try to do everything, because you just can’t master all of it”
“Work-life balance is really important; make sure you get your family time in”
Brent’s dad taught him, “if you agree to dig a ditch, you make it the best ditch, not a half-assed ditch…when you agree to do it, you do it to the best of your ability, no question”

“I love business and I love my salon, but it’s not the salon business that I love. I don’t love hair, I don’t love creating makeup and hair. I love it when it’s beautiful and I love that my client’s happy and I love watching the artist be creative and be proud of what they do”.

use Sq1 Brown st back — **Square One Salon & Spa**
www.squareonesalon.com
Phone: 937.461.2222
Email: [email protected]

2018 DAYTON REGION’S WALK OF FAME HONOREES ANNOUNCED

April 16, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame has just announced their 2018 honorees. Wright Dunbar, Inc. sponsors the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame, and the memorial stones are on West Third Street in the Wright Dunbar Historic Business District between Broadway and Shannon and along Williams Street.

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.

HANNAH BEACHLER, (1971- ) Groundbreaking media production designer

Hannah Beachler grew up in Centerville, Ohio, majored in fashion design as an undergraduate at the University of Cincinnati and then went back to school at Wright State University in 2005 to earn a B.F.A. from WSU’s Motion Pictures Program. She began working on films as a set dresser in small movies and horror films. Her talent and attention to detail quickly brought her assignments as a production designer. She won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Film for Fruitvale Station and the Audience Award for the Best Film at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. In 2017 she was nominated for an Emmy and won the Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a video for Beyoncé. Her most recent success came as the first-ever female black production designer for a Marvel film. That film, Black Panther, is breaking box office records and is one of the most talked about films of the season. She returns home to spend time at WSU talking to students about her career and mentoring many young filmmakers.

MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE R. CROOK, (1828-1890) Leader in the U.S. military and civil rights activist

George R. Crook was born and raised near Taylorsville, now a part of Huber Heights, Ohio. He graduated from West Point in 1892. He is recognized as a major figure in U.S. military and civil rights history. He had an active career in the Civil War capped by his Division causing General Robert E. Lee to surrender at Appomattox. He was an important commander in the Indian Wars that followed the Civil War. While serving as the Commander of the Department of the Platte in 1879, Crook arranged to have himself sued on behalf of the Ponca tribe. The case resulted in a major civil rights victory when Chief Standing Bear was recognized as a person under the law and therefore Native Americans were entitled to equal protection under U.S. law. Sioux Chief Red Cloud remarked after Crook’s passing that, “He, at least, never lied to us. His works gave us hope.”

DR. RICHARD A. DEWALL, (1926-2016) Pioneer heart surgeon

Dr. Richard DeWall came to Dayton in 1966 and spent 50 years of his life here. He is credited with inventing the first workable, portable heart-lung machine. Dr. Doug Talbott recruited him to Dayton, and Mrs. Virginia Kettering invited him to initiate an open-heart surgery program at Kettering Hospital, where he performed the first successful open-heart surgery in the area. He established the general surgery residency-training program, serving as its director from 1970-1976 and also acted as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health. The winner of many national and local awards, his proudest accomplishment was his role in the founding of Wright State University School of Medicine because he wrote the original proposal for what would become the medical school. He also helped establish the Wright State School of Medicine Foundation. He said, “With the bubble oxygenator (the name of his invention), you are dealing with maybe several hundred patients a year. With a medical school, when you get it expanded, you’re dealing with thousands.”

ROBERT C. KEOPNICK (1907-1997) Nationally known sculptor, talented teacher

Robert C. Keopnick, a native Daytonian, was born in 1907 and lived virtually all of his life in the Dayton Region. He was a sculptor of national reputation and maintained a studio in Lebanon, Ohio until shortly before his death. He was a prolific, versatile sculptor who worked in wood, bronze, stone, aluminum, and terra cotta. He studied with Carl Miles, the noted Swedish sculptor. He headed the sculpture department at the Dayton Art Institute for almost 30 years, with the exception of a five-year period during World War II when he worked for the Aeromedical Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, helping to design gloves and oxygen masks that made it possible for pilots to fly at ever increasing altitudes. His works are displayed in many states, and he has exhibited in distinguished museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Academy of Design, and the Dayton Art Institute. At least 17 of his major works are displayed in Dayton. He once remarked that, to his amazement, “I really marked up this world.”

POLICE SERGEANT LUCIUS J. RICE AND POLICEWOMAN DORA BURTON RICE (1876-1939; 1882-1940) Long serving pioneer Police officer and community activist Policewoman

In 1896, when he was 20, Sgt. Lucius Rice moved from North Carolina to Dayton where he met his future wife Dora, a first cousin of the renowned poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. He served in the Ohio National Guard, distinguishing himself at Lake Erie in 1908 and winning government marksmanship medals. After being honorably discharged from the military, he was appointed to the Dayton Police Department. He became the second African-American man to serve on the Dayton police force and was one of the longest serving Dayton Police officers of the 20^th century, serving more than 30 years. He was the first African-American lawman to be appointed a plainclothes detective. He was the first African-American in Dayton to become a police supervisor when he was promoted to sergeant in 1916. During his career, he served with distinction and sacrifice, often working 12-hour days, wounded twice, and then tragically lost his life in the line of duty in 1939.

Dora Rice first played the role of homemaker until her children were older when she became a community activist in her church, serving Wesleyan Methodist Church as treasurer for 20 years and as church organist for over 22 years. Then she chose to join her husband in law enforcement. In 1929 she was appointed to the Dayton Bureau of Policewomen, becoming the first African-American policewoman in Dayton. She served for 10 years before resigning for poor health and died six months after her husband was killed. Sgt. Rice is remembered by the Dayton Police History Foundation as a local legend and his wife as a civic activist and Dayton Police Woman.

JULIA REICHERT (1946- ) Pioneering independent filmmaker and educator

Julia Reichert, a graduate of Antioch, has been called the godmother of the American independent film movement. She is a three-time Oscar nominee. Her film Growing up Female was the first feature document of the modern Women’s Movement. Recently it was chosen for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. One of her films (with Steven Bognar) premiered at Sundance and won the Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filming. She writes, directs, and produces. She is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and a member of the advisory board of the Independent Feature Project. She is the co-founder of the New Day Films, a 42-year old social issue film distribution co-op, author of Doing it Yourself, the first book on self-distribution in independent film, a professor of motion pictures at Wright State University and a grandmother.

The honorees will be celebrated at a luncheon on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Sinclair College Conference Center. Tickets for the luncheon are available on the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame website, www.daytonwalkoffame.citymax.com. Also, take advantage of the opportunity to honor your favorite Walk of Fame member during the May 18th Walk the Walk event; for just $150 you will be recognized as a fan, supporter, family member, organization, or company that pays tribute to a particular Walk of Fame member. Since 1996, over 170 outstanding individuals and groups and their contributions to the Miami Valley have been memorialized at the September event and with granite stones on West Third Street in Dayton.

Luminaries of Dayton: Charles Russell Greene

April 16, 2018 By Angie Hoschouer

Charles Russell Greene was born in Newport, Rhode Island on December 21, 1785. His family moved to Marietta, Ohio in 1788 with the Ohio Company. Mr. Greene’s sister married Daniel C. Cooper, who influenced Charles to settle in Dayton in 1806. Charles entered into partnership with Cooper and soon after had a store on his own. In 1822, he was appointed to succeed Benjamin Van Cleve as Clerk of Montgomery County, Court of Common Pleas, holding that office until his death. He was one of the first to serve on the Board of Directors of Dayton’s first bank. His position as Dayton’s first fire warden was what led to his death.

Mr. Greene had ordered Matthew Thompson into the line to pass water buckets during a fire. The man refused and Mr. Greene used his authority to force him to comply. The next day Mr. Thompson made complaint and had Mr. Greene summoned before the Squire. During Mr. Green’s inquiry, Mr. Thompson, while under the influence of alcohol, struck Charles on the head, which resulted in his death.

Charles Russell Greene died on September 10, 1833. He was one of those that was removed from the Old Fifth Street Cemetery and re-interred at Woodland on December 11, 1844.

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery Celebrates GeekFest!

April 15, 2018 By Dayton Most Metro

On Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21, 2018, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will host the fourth annual GeekFest celebration. Friday festivities run from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. while Saturday’s GeekFest Family Day activities run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The popular, eagerly-anticipated annual event brings together a robust turnout of very unique people who proudly refer to themselves as “geeks” and “nerds.”

GeekFest nation is populated by gamers, Trekkies, steampunkers, cosplayers, and nerds! This diverse group will enjoy an evening of panels, programs, tournaments, costume contests, board games, hands-on experiments, demos, and refreshing edibles.

“GeekFest is an extraordinary event where you can come as yourself and let your geek hang out,” said Erika Asher, Manager of Special Events at the Boonshoft Museum. She continued, ”We can celebrate all of our nerdy sides while trying our wands at wizarding school, going for the gold at the cosplay contests, trying our luck in the arcade and table top gaming rooms, and much more!”

Featured Guests & Partners

Meet illustrator Nate Lovett, who has worked on projects ranging from Paw Patrol and Bravest Warriors to GI Joe and Mr. Potato Head. Kids of all ages can participate in short workshops where they can learn to draw Paw Patrol characters.

Come face-to-face with members of the Ohio 501st as they make their presence known throughout the day! Whether your allegiance is to the dark side or you are drawn to the force, you’ll be sure to see some familiar faces!

The Real Ohio Ghostbusters will be on-hand for photo opps and give-aways to support the Museum.

Saturday Only: Josh Montgomery, with his replica R2D2

FRIDAY Event Highlights*

Wand-Making – No aspiring wizard can channel their magic without a wand! Create your own at this make-it station.
Costume Contest – Judging will take place throughout the evening. Please refer to guidelines on the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery webpage at boonshoftmuseum.org for cosplay!
Tabletop Gaming – Get your game on in this area that will have multiple rounds of fan favorites happening throughout the evening.
Scavenger Hunt – This NEW themed scavenger hunt will take players from one end of the building to the other.
Arcade – Hosted by DK Effect, Gaming Adventures, and Doug’s Electronics Repair.
Beat the Geek – Show off all your geek sides at one of the trivia sessions.
Orc and Pie – The 5 minute D&D experience is back by popular demand!
Monster Attack! – A great activity for kids.

SATURDAY GeekFest Family Day Event Highlights

Costume Contest – Judging will take place throughout the evening. Please refer to guidelines on the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery webpage at boonshoftmuseum.org for cosplay!

Tabletop Gaming – Get your game on in this area that will have multiple rounds of fan favorites happening throughout the evening.
Scavenger Hunt – This NEW themed scavenger hunt will take players from one end of the building to the other.
Arcade – Hosted by DK Effect, Gaming Adventures, and Doug’s Electronics Repair.
Monster Attack! – A great activity for kids.

A variety of vendors will be present, with options ranging from custom chain mail to lightsabers! “Thanks to our local vendors we can snag our one-of-a-kind pieces that will make every geek green with envy,” Asher said. Courtland’s Mobile Grill (Food Truck) will have food available for purchase outside the Museum and Maggie Moo’s will have ice cream and treats inside, also available for purchase.

Admission to Friday’s GeekFest celebration is $20 for geeks of all ages. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Doors open at 6:00 for those who purchase tickets online. Doors open at 6:30 for day-of-ticket sales. Regular admission applies on Saturday. All proceeds from general admission support year-round astronomy education at the Museum. All ages welcome; under 17 not admitted without a parent.

Humane Society of Greater Dayton To Expand

April 10, 2018 By Lisa Grigsby

Today, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton officially purchased land at 2673 Austin Blvd. in Miamisburg, near Austin Landing to build a new adoption center.

“This new facility will be a wonderful gathering spot for our community. We are excited to add a location that will be a place for all families to come and visit regardless if they are looking to adopt or just want to enjoy the amenities we will provide there,” said Brian Weltge, President and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. “After many years of research and listening to the needs of our community, we have determined this high-traffic area will be a perfect location for our adoption center. We are excited for this next chapter in our organization’s 116-year history in serving the Miami Valley and look forward to helping to save even more lives through this expansion.”

The Humane Society of Greater Dayton purchased the land from the Miami Township Community Improvement Corporation for $572,000. This includes 3.8 acres of land as well as an approximately 10,000-square-foot structure, which they plan to repurpose to fit their needs. A large portion of the funding for this purchase came from estates that were set aside to support the organization’s growth initiative.

“The sale of this property to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton gives the township another avenue to provide quality services to the citizens in our community,” said Miami Township Board of Trustees President John Morris. “A piece of land that was once used for storage will now be a bustling place where we can all come together to help celebrate the bond between people and pets.”

Prior to building the new adoption center, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton plans to expand their current facility at 1661 Nicholas Road in Dayton to include a high-volume spay/neuter clinic, which in a few years time will be able to spay/neuter an estimated 20,000 animals each year. With their current facility, they are capped off around 4,000 surgeries annually. In addition, they also plan to build a needs-based, full-service animal hospital to act as a resource for those who have pets, but may need some assistance. At their current facility they are also building a structure to better house animals that come to our facility through cruelty and neglect investigations.

“We want to transform animal welfare in the Greater Dayton area with our vision for the future,” said Weltge. “We are thankful for the partnership we have created with the Miami Township Board of Trustees to purchase this land and look forward to this new site being a go-to spot to help all of the animal lovers in our community.”

In addition to the land purchased for the new facility, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton is partnering with Miami Township to address the stray cat problem plaguing their community. We will be offering a Community Cat Initiative where residents of Miami Township can rent humane traps from the shelter. These un-owned cats are then humanely trapped and brought to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton where they will be spayed/neutered and eartipped, an international symbol of a stray cat who has been altered. This will help lower the number of community cats reproducing in the township and provide a humane solution to residents.

The Humane Society of Greater Dayton is dedicated to building a community in which all animals are valued and free from suffering and family life is enhanced through the relationships with pets. Founded 116 years ago, it is the largest no-kill animal welfare agency in the Miami Valley. It focuses on pet adoptions, eliminating pet overpopulation, providing education and ensuring the humane treatment of all types of animals. For more information about the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, call (937) 268-PETS (7387) or visit www.hsdayton.org.

Charles Baerman	Shawn Bauman	Ben Bergman
Kevin Cornell	Ken DeMange	Aliou Diouf
Justin Howard	Jacob Hynes	Brent Johnson
AJ Kessler	Rob Krause	Tom Maher
Sean Mitchell	John North	Stephen Offord
Peter Qumsiyeh	Josh Schierloh	Shelby Shackelford
Bill Slowden	Chris Southern	Josh Stuckey
Jonathan Thompson	Bill Twiss	Rodney Veal