Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Community

Humane Society of Greater Dayton To Expand

By

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.

Civic Innovation Lab Launches Crowd Funding Campaign

By

Just off of Courthouse Square is a small office that has been making some big things happen in the Dayton Region.  The Collaboratory serves as Dayton’s Civic Innovation Lab, the brainchild of Peter Benkendorf.

In order to grow the Dayton region’s economic and social capital, the Collaboratory provides the Collaborative Infrastructure—the physical space, portfolio of initiatives, engagement tools and support system—for people from across the region to come together to imagine and act upon new possibilities for themselves, each other and the community, with a particular interest in downtown.

Not unlike the Reference/Help Desk at the Library, people are constantly being directed or finding their way to The Collaboratory. They provide counsel and support in the following areas:

  • Visioning: help people think through where they are and where they want to go.
  • Planning: help develop action plans to realize the vision.
  • Connecting:  they help connect individuals with the right people and organizations to help them implement their plans and realize their vision.

 

In order to keep the Collaboratory running, they’ve launched a month-long crowd-funding campaign, with a goal of $50,000 to help support the development of its new initiatives, which include:

  • X FACTOR: Changing the Way the Community Sees Ex-Offenders
  • Dayton Regional Solar
  • Miami Valley Regional Healthcare
  • Legacy Poverty Project
  • Impact Dayton
  • Regional Purchasing Initiative
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies $1 Million Public Art Challenge
  • Retirepreneur
  • Go-Kart Track on top of the Transportation Center Parking Garage.

 

On-going initiatives include:

 

Past initiatives include:

  • Blue Sky Project
  • Ten Living Cities Symposium
  • Project 510
  • Dayton, Ohio: You Are Here!
  • Drum Dayton
  • TECH-ARTS Collaboration
  • Collaboration Accelerator (now housed at UD

 

To support the Collaboratory’s crowd funding campaign,
use the Facebook link which has no service fee deducted or through their web site using PayPal .

 

For more information, visit www.daytoncollaboratory.org

Little Art Theatre Welcomes Home Caricature Artist Tom Bachtell

By

The Little Art Theatre in Yellow Springs welcomes Yellow Springs’ own caricature artist Tom Bachtell as their third guest in the special Homecoming series.

Tom Bachtell’s distinctive drawings and caricatures appear each week in “The Talk of the Town” and other sections of The New Yorker, where he has been a regular contributor for 20-plus years. Tom’s work is seen in many other national and international publications, from Entertainment Weekly to Newsweek, Forbes to Bon Appetit, Town and Country to Mother Jones, as well as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York magazine, The New York Observer, London’s Evening Standard, and Poetry magazine. His ad campaigns range from the late Marshall Field’s department store to Lands’ End mail order to the chamber music series at The University of Chicago.

Trained as a pianist at the Cleveland Institute of Music and with a liberal arts degree from Case Western Reserve University, Tom is self-taught as an artist. Working primarily in brush and ink, Tom’s drawing style pays homage to many of the classic American illustrators and cartoonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He has drawn countless celebrities, artists, and politicians. Tom is the illustrator of When I Knew (HarperCollins), edited by Robert Trachtenberg, and a Lambda Literary Award finalist. He illustrated the cover of “Trump and Me,” by Mark Singer (Penguin Random House). He frequently portrays musicians, doing regular work with the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards (Kalamazoo, Michigan), the Risør International Chamber Music Festival in Norway, and Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. He recently created the official poster for “The Girl, The Grouch, & The Goat,” a new musical comedy by Jack Helbig and Mark Hollmann; a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for “Notorious RBG: A Portrait in Song,” a new release from Cedille Records; and a new Mahjong set.

Tom’s work has been exhibited in New York at the offices of The New Yorker; the invitational exhibitions Drawing the Candidates at The New York Times; Politics ’08 at the Society of Illustrators; Good Work at Nazareth College; and the Bedford Arts Center in Bedford, Virginia. In Chicago, he has exhibited at the historic Water Tower Gallery and The Cliff Dwellers. His illustrated talk, How I Learned to Stop Complaining and Start Drawing Mariah Carey: My Life As a Cartoonist, was commissioned as a Marquis Lecture at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has also been given at The Arts Club of Chicago. He has spoken about his work and education at the Kelvin Smith Library at Case Western Reserve University, and was recently inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.

Tom is also a pianist and swing dancer. He graduated from Yellow Springs High School in 1975.

 

Homecoming Series  Friday, April 13

7:00: Reception hosted by Wheat Penny Oven and Bar

7:45: Welcome and Introduction

8:00: Presentation with Q & A

 

Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

Tickets are $25 and are available at the box office and online. 

Calling All Pinball Wizards!

By

Do you enjoy playing pinball?  Do you have good eye-hand coordination ? Have you mastered ball control, the single flipper hit, and the flip trap?  Do you get sweaty hands and an adrenaline rush at the pull of the plunger?  Then you might be just the person to join the Canal Street Arcade and Deli Pinball League.

We asked Michelle “Sully” Sullivan to tell us about h0w the league got started and why she’s playing in the league and here’s what she had to say:

Sully and Tim at a recent league matchup

“Late last summer I fell in love with playing Pinball. As a person with epilepsy, pinball wasn’t something that I thought I could enjoy. The fear that the flashing lights that might trigger a seizure kept me away. I am now 20 years seizure free and decided to give it a try. A competition and terrific friendship began, with several other pinball enthusiast constantly trying to outscore one another. One competitor, is the owner of Canal Street Arcade and Deli. I approached Rob about starting a pinball league. The league was formed and the sponsorship of Tito’s was obtained. The best part about pinball is that anyone can play. The league is full of people from different backgrounds all coming to compete and socialize. The next league starts 04/16/2018! Come and unleash your Pinball Wizard!”

The initial pinball league players

The league is played on individual basis, no teammates required!  Fee is $30.00 this includes quarters, T-shirt, overall league winner prizes, and admin fees to keep it all organized. The spring  league starts play April 16th and runs through May 21st and players must be 21 years of age or older.

Official Rules:

  • Each individual will play 3 arcade games per night
  • Each game will be played as a 2 player game
  • All Arcade games vary and scoring is done weighted to make it more fair
  • League T-Shirts will be provided
  • Each night a prize winner will be drawn
  • May 13th Overall Winners will be awarded prizes

Late\Absence Policy:  Should an individual be late, please notify the league manager.  If you are unable to attend one night, make ups can be done on Sunday’s at 6PM prior to the start of the next league night.

 

So get signed up for the Canal Pinball League and have a flippin’ good time!

 

Spring Parade of Homes Tour

By

April is National New Homes Month and you can be a part of the excitement by participating in the  Home Builder’s Association of Dayton’s annual Spring Parade of Homes.

FREE and open to the public, the Spring Parade of Homes will take place the next two weekends: April 7-8 and April 14-15. The Parade homes will be open from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm each date.

It is a great time to purchase a new home and the Home Builders Association of Dayton’s Spring Parade of Homes will showcase many of the best new home options for buyers today. The Spring Parade is a great way to get a feel for the types of new homes available in the Dayton region and all of the homes are available for purchase if you find the perfect home. Plus, it is FREE for the public to visit each of the 20 homes.

Be inspired by the latest design trends, features, and amenities

From Clayton to Franklin and downtown Dayton to Xenia, plus all points in between, there are many styles of homes to view and amenities to consider. From ranch homes to townhomes, multi-level homes to empty nester homes, you will see a wide variety of what is possible – and popular – in home building today. The home prices range from $218,700 to $989,000; and if you do decide to purchase, you could move-in almost immediately.

The participating builders are Catalyst Homes, Charles Simms Development, Crosstowne Properties, Ellis Custom Homes, Inverness Homes, JM Dungan Custom Homes, Justin Doyle Homes, M/I Homes, Peebles Homes*, and Radian Custom Builders. *Please note that Home #9 built by Peebles Homes will not be open to the public on either Saturday.

Download: 2018 SPRING PARADE OF HOMES MAP

Even if you aren’t looking for a new home, visiting the parade, and seeing some of the newest features going in — everything from open interior architecture to eco-friendly windowpanes — will get your creative juices flowing, and be sure to leave you itching for a remodel!

To view more details on the homes, visit hbadayton.com

New Director of Planning and Community Development Starts May 7th

By

City Manager Shelley Dickstein has appointed Todd M. Kinskey, AICP, as director of planning and community development for the City of Dayton.
Kinskey is currently planning and development director for Hamilton County, Ohio, and was also executive director of the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.
In Dayton, Kinskey will manage a budget of approximately $2.8 million in general funds and $4.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant dollars and will supervise a staff of 58.
Kinskey brings over 20 years of experience in all facets of planning and community development to the City of Dayton. These experiences include master plan development, building and development processes, and local government. He also has a strong background in staff management, training, coaching and leadership.
“We are excited to have Todd’s experience and leadership caliber join our executive team. His comprehensive knowledge of planning and community development will be of great value as he leads the department forward,” Dickstein said.
Kinskey is known by his peers as a hands-on manager that promotes a culture of continuous improvement among employees.  His style and team building skills have empowered his team to find innovated solutions that improve customer experiences.
Kinskey holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning, cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati.

7th Annual Crafty Con Kicks Off Tonight

By

The Yellow Cab Tavern will present its annual Craft Convention, CraftyCon, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, April 6th, 2018 in conjunction with Downtown Dayton’s First Friday festivities. The event will be held at the Yellow CabTavern, 700 E. Fourth Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402. The 7th annual CraftyCon will feature wares from over 30 local artisan vendors, demos, a food truck, craft beer and more. This event is a benefit to raise funds for 13th annual Sideshow. Admission is free and open to the public.

Sideshow is an arts experience featuring work by 40+ local artists and more than 50+ Dayton bands and performers. Sideshow 13 will be held May 25th and 26th at the Yellow Cab building. Focused on local participants, Sideshow is a celebration of the art and culture found in the Dayton region. Admission is free.

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

For more information about CraftyCon www.daytonsideshow.org/craftycon.html or on Dayton Crafty-Con’s Facebook fan page. For more information on Sideshow please visit www.daytonsideshow.org.

 

Local Entrepreneur Finalist for International Pet Advocacy Award

By

BlogPaws, a subsidiary of Chewy.com, has announced the finalists for the first-ever BlogPaws Founders Award for excellence in animal advocacy. Among them is Dayton-area start-up, Wagtown, founded by Daytonian Beth Miller. Wagtown, now leading several initiatives to pursue grant dollars 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, substantial secondary research, and countless 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,” stated Miller.

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, 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.

 

About Wagtown: Wagtown, a nonprofit organization* 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 their page. To find out how you can donate or volunteer to join the movement, call 937-477-2403 or message at [email protected]. [*pending]

WiBN Announce 2018 25 Women To Watch

By

Women in Business Networking (WiBN) is a group of diverse women in business who encourage one another’s professional growth and success.  For 10 years, WiBN has been honoring women making a difference, in and around the Miami Valley, for what they do and how they do it. Created by Jeanne Porter in 2008 WiBN, became a  program of the  Better Business Bureau in 2014. WiBN provides forums for building relationships so women will achieve career and personal success through education, resources and recognition.

Every year since 2009, WiBN has announced its Top 25 Women to Watch: Influential Women of the Miami Valley awards.These awards recognize women in the Miami Valley who are exceptional in their roles and respected in their fields, who are causing more than just a ripple in the public arena and in their communities and who “light a spark” or make an impression.

Here are the 2018 Women To Watch:

 

Pictures above are:

Lisa Balster, Kim Bramlage, Jennifer Buckwalter, Angelia Erbaugh, Valerie Smiley, Lori Kershner, Tina Koumoutsos, Beth Langefels, Alexis Larsen, Susan Lopez, Kate McEwen, Courtney Moore, Ann Morrissey, Darybel Ortiz, Crystal Phillips- Everett, Tonya Roberds, Jeannine Sheppard, Tracy Sibbing, Amy Strozier, Lora Van Lear, Emily von Stuckrad-Smolinski, Kate Vriner, Sarah Williams and  Laura Woeste.

 

There will be a Top 25 Women to Watch Introduction of 2018 Honorees and Reunion held on April 25th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Country Club of the North.  All classes of Top 25 Women to Watch Honorees (2009-2017) are invited to gather together for this reunion and meet the new honorees. You will get the chance to network with past alumni and hear their experiences while enjoying appetizers and beverages.  The event is free for 2018 honorees and $5 for all else.   You can register online for the event.

10 Must Attend Miami Valley April Fundraisers

By

Dayton long ago earned a reputation for being a city that gives back. According to the history of the Dayton Foundation, NCR founder and Chairman John H. Patterson championed innovative projects for the betterment of the community. Joining him in his enthusiasm was his sister-in-law, Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell, and nephew, Robert Patterson, son of John Patterson’s brother, Capt. Robert Patterson, all active community leaders in their own right. A leading businesswoman, Julia Patterson Carnell helped establish the Dayton Art Institute by donating works of art, a mansion that served as the museum’s first home and $2 million towards the construction in 1930 of its current facility.

Robert Patterson was a senior executive at NCR and a leader in community affairs. He helped to found the local Boy Scouts and the Dayton Rotary Club and was active with the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce and Miami Valley Hospital.

Today there are over 4000 nonprofits in the region, and to continue the legacy of taking care of our community, there are hundreds of fundraising events to support them. To see our complete list of charitable events for 2018 check our DMM calendar.

Here are MostMetro’s list of the top April events we think you should be aware of:

\

 

Latinos Amigos 5th annual Gala

Wright State University
April 6 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Wright State University and the Office of Latino, Asian, Native American Affairs (LANA) hosts it’s 5th annual Latinos Amigos Gala Wright State Nutter Center to raise support for Latino students at Wright State University!

Find out more »

 

 

Spring for the Heart

American Legion Post 707
April 6 @ 6:00 pm – April 7 @ 12:00 am    $25.00
Enjoy a great night of music and dancing featuring Shadowlife and Danielle from Talk of the Town Entertainment. Take a chance in Casino Style Games. Participate in the Silent Auction, Raffles, 50/50 drawings, and more! All while raising awareness about heart conditions in youth and young adults.
Find out more »

Black and White Party 2018

Springfield Museum of Art
April 13 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm     $45

Our fifth annual dance party! This year on a new night (Friday) and a new time (7-11pm) and in a new location (the Black Box Gallery). What’s the same? Last year’s DJ, DJ Chill, is back by popular demand. And photographer Andrew Grimm will once again document the event. If you’ve never been before, maybe this is your year to discover one of our most fun nights!

Find out more »

 

Luminaries of Dayton: Nathan M. Stanley

By

Dayton Daily News, March 18, 1942
Funeral For N. M. Stanley To Be Friday

Funeral services for Nathan Myer Stanley, 76, of 1719 Radcliff rd., founder of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., whose death occurred late Tuesday night, will be held at the Boyer mortuary, 609 Riverview av., at 10 a.m. Friday. Officiating at the services will be Dr. Phil Porter, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and Dr. C. Lee Scott, minister of First Unitarian church. Friends may call at the mortuary after 4 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. Stanley had been ill for more than a year but his death was immediately due to a heart attack. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of the Univis Lens Co. Mr. Stanley was active in the Dayton Philharmonic association, was a member of the First Unitarian church and of the Dayton Bicycle club and Dayton City club. He is survived by his wife, Minnie J. Stanley; two sons, George F. Stanley, president of the Stanley Manufacturing Co., and Myer Hewson Stanley, secretary-treasurer of the Univis Lens Co.; five granddaughters; one grandson and one sister, Mrs. Eve Weiner.

Born in Exeter, England, Mr. Stanley as a youth became connected with the optical business, which his family followed in Exeter. When he was 18 years old, Mr. Stanley went to Canada with a cousin, Barnet Laurence, who was a wholesale optician in Montreal. During his early years, Mr. Stanley traveled the United States as a representative of the Laurence Company. On a visit to Dayton, Mr. Stanley was convinced by John Breen, then proprietor of the railroad station restaurant, that Dayton had fine prospects as a city.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Stanley opened up an optical department in the H. D. Carnell drug store at Third and Main streets. He followed this venture by opening up more optical stores and eventually becoming engaged in the wholesale optical business. Experimenting with glues in order to paste metal letters on glass doors, Mr. Stanley discovered processes that resulted in the establishment of the Stanley Manufacturing Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley visited England during World War I and there Mr. Stanley learned of a new type of bifocal lens. He purchased the American rights for the lens. In 1926, he started the Univis Lens Co., located in one room in the Third National bank building. The Univis Lens Co. had a plant on the old McCook Field site. The company was recognized as one of the nation’s principle manufacturers of high-grade bifocal lenses. This company and the Stanley Manufacturing Co., both monuments to the creative energies of Mr. Stanley, at one time employed 600 workers.

Nathan M. Stanley died on March 17, 1942. He is located in Section 121 Lot 262.

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: Lisa Wagner

By

Lisa Wagner, Executive Director, Levitt Pavilion Dayton

Wagner head2

In the beginning…

Lisa Wagner enjoyed her childhood with her extended family in Allentown, Pa. “I spent my leisure time with my cousins and they were like siblings”. She had freedom to play and roam the city, but “there was a lot of accountability. I couldn’t get away with anything”.

Everything changed at the end of 7th grade when Lisa’s nuclear family moved away to Dayton so her father could take a job with NCR. Lisa played volleyball, basketball and softball in 8th grade, but when she started high school, “I became intimidated about not fitting in”. Nonetheless, “I seemed to be able to fluidly move between all these sub classes of The Breakfast Club”.

What did Lisa do after high school?

Lisa wanted to go to Ohio Northern University to study law, but her father insisted she attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to major in business. Lisa had other ideas. “I hated business and wanted to teach secondary math and went into the education department”.

When Lisa’s parents subsequently divorced, Lisa needed financing for her education. At that time, she had a summer job with Key Bank and they offered her a full-time job in loan operations. The offer included tuition reimbursement, enabling Lisa to continue part-time education classes at Wright State University. Time, however, became an obstacle. “I kept getting promoted and taking on more responsibility at the bank and I didn’t know how to do both”.

Did Lisa stay in banking?

In 1989 Key Bank moved its loan operations to Cleveland. They offered to move her, too, but Lisa declined, because she and her husband decided to stay in Dayton to raise their children.

use Christophers
Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering, Kettering, Ohio

While Lisa was at home with her two children, a church friend opened Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering. As the catering portion expanded, he asked Lisa to join him. Since extra money was attractive, Lisa agreed help with that portion of the business.

In order to ensure she could fulfill her arrangements with catering customers, Lisa enrolled in the culinary arts program at Sinclair Community College. “I would sell it and then I would cook it. I’d load it up in the car; I’d go out and we’d serve it and then bring it all back and we’d clean it up”.

Eventually, Christopher’s catering got so busy, Lisa didn’t have time for school. “Christopher’s was nights and weekends and that’s when the classes were”.

use decoration-2697945_1280

Lisa learned the catering business requires a proactive mindset. “You always have to be anticipating worst case scenarios” in order to provide solutions on the spot. “I always had to know where the nearest grocery store was in case I forgot something”.

use catering-2778755_1280

Did Lisa stay in catering?

After ten years of catering, “my body really started to break down, so I took a break”. In 2002, however, “the economy caught up to our family in a real way”. It was time to go back to work.

IMG_2338
Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton, Ohio

In 2003 the Schuster Performing Arts Center was under construction. Lisa saw a posting for a job there in event operations. She applied, and due to her catering experience, was hired by the Victoria Theater Association (VTA), which owns and operates the Schuster Center.

How did Lisa’s life change as she settled in with VTA?

In addition to its theaters, the Schuster includes a full service restaurant and bar, Citilites. Prior to the 2003 opening, “I was very involved in hiring all the service staff – Citilites and the catering staff”.

img_2423.jpg
Citilites Restaurant at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, Dayton, Ohio

Once the Schuster Center opened, Lisa became “the execution element”, managing all the details for events held onsite, including the flow, layout and setup, decoration, service style, etc. “I went from kind of working very part-time to working almost 70 hours a week. And we did not have a kitchen in that building until September of 2003 and we probably did close to $1,000,000 worth of catering prior to that”.

How did Lisa move from event operations to ticketing?

VTA surprised Lisa when they asked her to become the Director of their ticketing operation, Ticket Center Stage, and address the issues between Ticket Center Stage and its licensees, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, and Human Race Theatre Company.

Lisa’s reaction was, “What? I’ve never sold a ticket in my life!” The VTA assured her, “you’re really good with customers and you manage people really well”.

IMG_2426
Schuster Performing Arts Center Box Office

Nonetheless, she had a steep learning curve. “I spent probably the first month shadowing ticket agents. I sat in the box offices and listened and then I got on the phone and learned how to sell tickets over the phone”.

Lisa observed that the culture within the department did not promote collaboration and needed to change. In order to do that, “I spent a lot of time working on team building; I spent a lot of time asking for input. No matter what level you were within this little organization, I valued what they had to say. I spent a lot of time in the trenches with them”.

As Lisa worked to purge the negative dynamic, she also quickly identified two superstars. These two young woman “were very out of the box thinkers”, willing to approach problems from fresh angles. Working with them led to some of Lisa’s favorite moments: “seeing people that I have developed blossom and really enjoy their success”.

How did Lisa’s responsibilities grow?

In 2009 the CEO and President of the VTA, Dione Kennedy left to head another organization. During the subsequent management reorganization, the interim CEO and the new CEO and President of the VTA, Ken Neufeld, decided it made sense to have a person with culinary experience oversee the food and beverage team. Consequently, VTA created the Vice President of Ticketing and Hospitality position, and asked Lisa to fill it. There is no equivalent position across the country, because in other preforming arts centers “the food and beverage team is not an internal team”.

Lisa and VTA leadership believed the food and beverage operation was a brand connection, making quality control imperative. Regardless of whether catering is provided internally or by outsiders, if it is botched up, “people see it as a reflection of your venue”.

IMG_2345
Schuster Performing Arts Center

Periodically, Lisa asked her boss, Ken Neufeld, President and CEO, for additional challenges. As a result, he eventually added the audience services experience team to her portfolio. Managing that team fit into her hospitality focus, since the team manages the lobbies during a show, supervises the volunteer ushers, and solves any customer problems which arise before a show begins. Lisa led the team to give “the very best experience to the patron from the moment they walked in the door. And that was fun”.

How did Lisa grow into her career?

Lisa met with Ken Neufeld on a regular basis for wide-ranging conversations. “I was allowed to ask anything about the organization, the Board, anything”. Additionally, Ken encouraged her to consider further education. First, Lisa enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania – Executive Program for Arts and Culture Strategy, which featured virtual programs on strategic leadership, finance, fundraising, governance, and marketing.

In 2015, Lisa participated in the National Arts Strategies Senior Management Institute.  One of the Institute sessions was a thought-provoking career visioning process, which explored, “This is what I do now. Is this what I’m passionate about? What would I want to do?”

Lisa realized that “being connected to impact was really important to me”, but that much of what she was currently doing was more operational and “one off from the impact”.

Why did Lisa leave the Victoria Theatre Association for the Levitt Pavilion Dayton?

Lisa loved working with the VTA, but when she attended a community meeting about the Levitt Pavilion project, it intrigued her. “It ignited something inside of me”.

Members of the Dayton community organized the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion to develop neglected green space in downtown Dayton into a community-gathering place with access to the performing arts for all. In 2017 the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion was awarded a grant from the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundationto develop the Levitt Pavilion Dayton.

Lisa recognized that she had influenced VTA, but the concepts of impact and legacy sparked her. “I felt like this was a really great opportunity to be on the ground floor of this amazing community asset”.

TheLawnAerialView
Artist rendering of the Levitt Pavilion Dayton

Consequently, she applied to be the new organization’s first Executive Director. “I was terrified of leaving a well-oiled machine, a $16 million organization to a start-up, but there was something really exciting about being part of the Levitt legacy”.

The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, now serving as the Board of the new nonprofit organization, Levitt Pavilion Dayton, selected Lisa to become the first Executive Director.

The Levitt Pavilions’ premise is that free, high quality outdoor concerts will increase participation with the arts. “I know for a fact there are people that think they can’t afford an arts experience. If we give you a free concert, we’ve taken away that obstacle”. Beginning in the summer of 2018, Levitt Pavilion Dayton will present free concerts on the Pavilion’s lawn featuring high caliber and diverse local, national and international musicians.

New_Stage_Night_final
Artist rendering of the Levitt Pavilion Dayton stage

By increasing participation with the arts, the Levitt Pavilion Dayton will provide a place for residents “to come and connect. Not only connect to music, which I feel is one of the most beautiful universal languages in the world, but then also” to each other as they listen on the lawn. Lisa envisions “diverse socioeconomic generational people all sitting on the same lawn, experiencing a common experience” and sharing conversation. “’Hey, I forgot my mustard, would you pass me the mustard?’ All of a sudden I don’t care where you live, I don’t care what you do, you’re my neighbor now”.

How has Lisa’s work changed now that she’s leading the Levitt Pavilion Dayton?

levitt180313-3512_preview
Levitt Pavilion Dayton job site; photo by Andy Snow

As the Executive Director, “I’m coming into a universe where now I have to be challenged in areas that I may not be as familiar with, such as a construction project or other nuances of a start up.

In order to open the Levitt Pavilion Dayton in time for the 2018 summer season, Lisa is working with the Board to build the new organization. Together they are engaging in big picture activities like strategic planning, mapping the organizational structure, hiring new staff members, programming and defining the customer experience, to ensure that everyone is invited, everyone feels welcomed and when the lawn is activated that audience members feel connected.

Lisa’s observations:

  • Be true to what feeds you
  • Be open to new experiences
  • Be open to new skill sets. “Don’t fear what you don’t know. Embrace it”
  • Recognize that “you’re not the smartest person in the room, that everyone around you offers you something that can either be put in your tool box for later or that can help develop you”
  • Network, network, network. “Make meaningful relationships, be honest, be humble, be authentic, be accountable”
  • Ask a lot of questions or for help. It’s better to admit you don’t know and do some research

Lisa believes her journey has prepared her for this new phase of her life. “Now I have the skill sets and I have the fundamental pieces of where I can do something, but it was the impact and the legacy piece and the passion of wanting to be part of a different conversation – it just felt like the timing was kind of all falling into place”.

IMG_2436

Address3

 

Last Call For Artists To Create Wine Label

By

2017 Winner Ari Azzopardi

Les Vins Georges Duboeuf is a family-owned winery in the heart of the Beaujolais region of France with a rich history of collaborating with artists to create iconic labels for Beaujolais Nouveau, a young fresh wine released every year on the third Thursday of November (November 15, 2018).

For many years, the wine was released every year with a different artist-designed label and the annual reveal of the label and design was almost as exciting as the wine itself. The different label designs reflected the fact that every year, Beaujolais Nouveau is a new and different wine – each bottling a unique expression of that vintage and a preview of what is to come.

It is in this spirit that in 2017, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf held the first annual Nouveau Artist Label Contest. They have decided to continue the tradition and are again inviting artists from all over the U.S. to submit their own design that captures the joyous and exuberant qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau – all of the things that make it the perfect wine to share with friends, family, and loved ones – and a celebration unto itself.

This year, they are inviting professional artists to submit label designs that reflect the fresh, youthful, and vibrant qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau. The wine itself is bright, juicy, and fruit-forward. With more than a million bottles sold every year, Beaujolais Nouveau is a wine for and about celebrating. It is the first wine of the harvest, a harbinger of the holiday season and a reason to get together with friends and family.

Submission Details:

All submissions must be either uploaded via the submission form on our website or emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Nouveau Label Contest”.

Submissions should be submitted along with a high-res head shot and must be submitted in one of the following formats: PDF, JPG, EPS, AI, TIFF, PSD, PNG

Artists must carefully review and agree to the terms and conditions on our website before submitting. Please note that the winning piece of artwork will become property of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf and the artist submitting the work must have it in their possession; it cannot be a piece of artwork that has been previously sold or is otherwise unavailable.

Submissions must be original pieces of artwork that reflect the qualities of Beaujolais Nouveau – bright, celebratory, fresh. All submissions must have elements that relate to the themes of celebration, harvest, festivity, and vibrancy

Submission finalist from 2017

Submissions do not have to contain any text or label information – these will be added by our designer.

Multiple submissions are allowed as long as they are all received by March 30th, 11:59 PM EST.

 

Visitors to the site can vote and comment on the submissions they like best and a final selection of 10 will be chosen by a panel, with consideration of input from visitors to the website.

The final 10 will be posted to the Georges Duboeuf social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) for voting from consumers April 16-27, 2018.

A vote is considered a like, a comment, or a share across Facebook and/or Instagram and artists are encouraged to post to their social media channels as well to maximize votes!

The artist who created the label that receives the most votes within this period will receive a $3,500 grant and will have their artwork turned into a label that will be printed on more than a million bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau along with a credit on the back label. To see last year’s winning lable, please click here.

Runners-up will have the opportunity to have their label designs presented for additional Nouveau Label opportunities, and if selected, will receive a grant ranging from $500-$1,500.

CareSource Names Next CEO

By

Today CareSource is naming Erhardt Preitauer as its next CEO. Preitauer will succeed founding CEO Pamela Morris, who will retire in May 2018.

Preitauer is currently with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. He is the CEO of Horizon NJ Health which is the state’s largest Medicaid plan with more than $6B in revenue and 1 million members. Preitauer has an impressive resume that includes leadership positions with multiple national insurers.  He received his BS in Finance and Economics from the University of Nevada-Reno and his MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from Penn State University.

Preitauer will join CareSource on May 1. Pam Morris will work directly with Preitauer for several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

“After an extensive nationwide search, we are extremely pleased with the caliber of candidate we found in Erhardt Preitauer,” said Kevin Brown, Chairperson, CareSource

Management Group Board. “He has an impressive background in leading government sponsored health plans and he has a proven history with mission-driven organizations with a holistic focus on the member. Pam has been a true visionary in the health insurance industry, and I am confident Erhardt is the right person to lead CareSource forward.”

Morris has served as the President and CEO of CareSource since its inception nearly 29 years ago. In October 2017 she announced her planned retirement. A social entrepreneur, Morris pioneered Ohio’s first mandatory Medicaid managed care program and built Dayton Area Health Plan. Under her leadership, CareSource has grown to become one of the nation’s largest Medicaid Managed Care plans, serving more than 2 million members in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia and West Virginia.

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit nationally recognized as an industry leader in providing member-centric health care coverage. Founded in 1989, CareSource administers one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans. Today, CareSource offers individuals and families comprehensive health and life services including Marketplace and Medicare Advantage plans.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, CareSource serves nearly 2 million members in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia and Georgia. CareSource understands the challenges consumers face navigating the health system and works to put health care in reach for those it serves.

Dayton Pays Tribute to Franco

By Leave a Comment

Restaurant Entrance

Dayton has lost a friend.  Franco Germano, the restaurateur who started an iconic Italian eatery in Dayton 41 years ago, passed away this past weekend.  The 73 year old had bravely battled cancer over the past couple of years.  He never let up, he never quit.  He even visited his hometown in Italy recently.  Franco was a one-of-a-kind with a personality as big as his work ambition.

Dayton is paying tribute to Franco today, Wednesday March 28th, we will toast Franco and all are invited.  The event will be held at 5pm at FRANCO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 824 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402

Click here to see Franco’s obituary and funeral arrangements scheduled for April 2nd and 3rd, 2018.

The Big Ragu last visited with Franco at a retirement party for his longtime bartender/server Rick Busch.  It was quite a Food Adventure.  We got to sit and spend a couple of hours talking with Franco, and we were grateful.  If you have ever had a conversation with Franco, then you know what we mean when we say it was priceless.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the LIFE OF FRANCO GERMANO:

— Franco was best known for his “Franco’s Italian Restaurant” which he opened in 1976.  It has been an anchor in the Oregon District ever since.

Franco with 2 of his grandchildren

— Franco Germano was born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960’s.  After a stint in the United States army, he began washing dishes at a local restaurant.  But he had dreams of one day opening his own place, with his own family recipes.

—Franco’s hometown was Duronia, Italy.  He had a huge aerial photo of his hometown on the wall of his restaurant which he referred to often.

— The native Italian was a very active member in various parts of the Dayton sports community.  His passion for playing soccer led him from adult leagues  to helping coach at Carroll High School.  Franco was also a football fan and was known for his passion for the Cincinnati Bengals and legendary tailgate parties.  He supported his favorite  local sports teams like the Dayton Dragons and UD Flyers Basketball as well.

—His restaurant is known for his “World Famous Spaghetti Dish,” which is an olive oil based mushroom sauce tossed in pasta.  Manicotti, Lasagna, and Calamari are other favorites on the menu.

Wed March 28th, 2018 5pm Francos restaurant will celebrate

SIDE NOTE FROM THE BIG RAGU:
Being a fellow Italian it was always fun seeing Franco.  I met him first in 2000, but had only started talking to him in the past few years.  He treated me like he knew me his whole existence.  We would talk about our family roots in Italy.  Franco would ask me questions about my heritage and I would ask him questions about Italy.  If we weren’t talking food or family, we always talked Bengals, Flyers Mens Basketball and local golf courses.  We also chatted about other local Italians we knew and the circles where most Italians hung out.  Franco was always very happy to hear how much we enjoyed his food.  I loved watching him cook on Living Dayton, and we talked about cooking recipes frequently.  He usually had a joke or a phrase during the conversation that was a memorable piece of advice.  It was fascinating to hear his life stories and I tried to learn from his experiences.  Our humble blog pays homage to a Dayton legend.  Thank you Franco, for over 4 decades of dedication.  We will miss you.

Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK HERE.

Enjoy our gallery below of great memories of Franco’s.

Franco’s World Famous Spaghetti

The Front of the legendary Franco’s

Italian Beer- Cheers to Franco’s accomplishments!

Another Italian Beer – here is the Franco! Salut!

Cheese Ravioli

Hometown Photo

Pasta and hot pepper flakes

Seating in the bar area

Calamari and toast

Dessert

Opened Oct 26 1976, over 4 decades of success!

Manicotti at Franco’s

 

 

Male Revue Mania

By

Hey ladies- if you like men in uniforms, cowboys, firemen, and guys who can move, then the male revue is the show for you.  But don’t expect the costumes to stay on for long- at they quickly strip the layers down to next to nothing, slicked with baby oil and gyrating muscles, as women scream, laugh and stuff singles in their g-strings. These  male dance revues are a great way to celebrate ladies’ night, a birthday, a bachelorette party, or a divorce, and these three upcoming events are ready to give you  a well-deserved night out.   So grab the gals, load up on the single and get ready for a night of hard abs, cute faces, sexy moves, and stripping dudes!

Friday, March 30th 8pm at Oddbody’s
The STUDS OF STEEL 

Doors open for seating at 7pm.  This show is 18 and over. Purchase tickets online.

Watch your favorite fantasies come to life through visual story lines, state-of-the-art lighting, sound design, theatrical performances and next-generation special effects that captivate the senses and inspire a unique and fun level of fan interaction. Studs of Steel Live is designed with the desires of contemporary women in mind, featuring a talented line-up of stunning studs sure to appeal to a variety of tastes.

VIP Stage Seating $30
100 seats are being reserved in front of the stage for this event. Only patrons with the VIP tickets will be allowed entry into this section for prime viewing of the show.

General Admission $20
These are general admission tickets, any remaining seating in the venue will be on a first come and first serve basis. These tickets will NOT have access to the VIP seating section in front of the stage.

DMM Tip:  Checkout the Groupon deal here.

Wednesday, April 4th 8pm at Wiley’s Comedy Club

Fifty Shades of Men Presents American Dream Men Tour

This show is 18 and over with a Two-item minimum purchase per person required.

When the music comes on, the sexy studs of the Dream Men Tour whip off their shirts and send audiences into a frenzy. The high-energy show pulses with excitement and abs as the dancers—many of them former Chippendales—pluck members of the crowd out of their seats for a little one-on-one attention.

VIP Seating $25

General Admission $20

DMM Tip:  Checkout the Groupon deal here.

 

 

 

Saturday, May 5th 9pm

Body Kings Pre-Mother’s Day Male Review

at Deja Vu Hall 4321 Salem Ave
doors open at 7pm.  Call Ryan for tickets 937-248-7370

General Admission $25 Table of 6 for $120