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

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Free Tax Preparation Offered

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Taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC) can have tax returns prepared and filed free by IRS-trained volunteers throughout the tax season at sites and special events presented by the local VITA Coalition.
EITC and CTC are two of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs, helping lift millions of workers and children out of poverty each year. The tax credits are more valuable than ever, ranging from $510 for workers with no dependents to $6,318 for some families. Eligible taxpayers must file a federal income tax return in order to claim the credits.
Events at the Montgomery County Job Center, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd.:
  • Super Refund Saturday, February 3, 9 am to 2 pm (presented by KeyBank).
  • Empowerment Saturday, March 10, 9 am to 2 pm (presented by Fifth Third Bank).
For additional information on free tax preparation locations through April 17, call United Way HelpLink at 937-913-2000 or go to daytonohio.gov/eitc.

The Merry Makover For The Rikes Holiday Windows

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The Rike’s Department Store displays are in the Schuster Center’s Wintergarden through Jan 4.

The windows date back to 1943 when NCR put five scenes from “A Christmas Carol” in the windows of its New York offices. They were moved to Rike’s Department store in Dayton at Second and Main in 1945. That site is now home to the Schuster Center.

Now, every year from the day after Thanksgiving until the turn of the new year, you can visit them in the Schuster Center Wintergarden.  After January 4, the windows need to be refurbished

The setup, teardown, and visits by more than 8,000 people every year have taken their toll.

The goal is to raise $63,000 to replace the current boxes, purchase an additional one for recently donated elves, and refresh the holiday décor.

If you’d like to contribute to keeping these windows a part of Dayton’s holiday celebration go to https://victoriatheatre.com/support/how-to-give/ read about “The Merry Makeover.”

Free Cab Rides Over Christmas & New Years Weekends

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Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr. is pleased to announce that with continued support from Heidelberg Distributing Company and AAA Miami Valley, the ArriveSafe program will be providing free cab rides home for Montgomery County residents over the upcoming Christmas and New Years holiday weekends.

Since Prosecutor Heck began the ArriveSafe Program in December 2007, over 6,100 free cabs rides have been provided to Montgomery County residents.

This year in Montgomery County, there have been just nine alcohol-related fatal traffic crashes, a significant reduction from 2016, when there were 20.

Prosecutor Heck added, “Nine alcohol-related traffic fatalities is still too many, especially since each and every one of those fatalities were completely avoidable – if only the driver has made the smart decision and chose to get home safely, by having a designated driver, using a taxi, or a ride-sharing service such as Uber or Lyft.”

ArriveSafe will be offering free cab rides home for Montgomery County residents from 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2017 through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 26, 2017, and from 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 29, 2017 through 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Prosecutor Heck added, “You decide – do you want to go home safely in the back of a cab for free, or go to jail, handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, which may cost you thousands of dollars? A simple decision.”

Local talent on display at the 5th Annual WinterFolk Festival

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Although it’s considered “off” season for music festivals, wintertime ones are some of my favorites! We’ve all got cabin fever, and just need to get out of the house and have fun! One of the most highly anticipated of those winter festivals is right around the corner: The 5th annual WinterFolk Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on Sat, Jan 13th.

It’s a spectacular night of  music, art, food, & fun for all ages. This includes a non-stop line-up of best roots and folk musicians from the tri-state area, including beloved acts The Repeating Arms, Tod Weidner, David Payne, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Kyleen Downes, The Goldberrys, OldNews, Bloody Tambourine, and several more!

It’s also about this time of year, I’m missing food trucks. Come hungry and catch the Drunken Waffle serving food on-site, along with Yellow Cab Tavern’s craft brews and cocktails. This year’s event has expanded, with even more artisans and vendors selling handmade goods. It’s an all around perfect night out!

How did this event come about? Well, it was inspired by a love of music, of course, and also the venue itself, Yellow Cab Tavern. In its infancy, WinterFolk organizers could see the potential in YCT, starting the festival as a fundraiser, which led to the venue’s recent upgrades. This type of collaboration is sign of a true music community! Make sure you stop on out to support these wonderful folks!

 

How to Go?

Where: The ‘Old’ Yellow Cab Building (700 E Fourth St. Dayton, Ohio 45402) is located at the corner of Fourth St and Walnut just outside Dayton’s historic Oregon District. Plenty of FREE parking is available on and off street at the event.

Time / Cost: Doors will open at 7pm and the first performance will start promptly at 8pm. Tickets available exclusively at the door for $10, children 12 & under are free.

Luminaries of Dayton: Frederick and David Rike

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Frederick Rike (1867-1947) was President of the Rike-Kumler Department Store Company in Dayton. He began at Rike’s as a salesman and a buyer of notions, handkerchiefs, hosiery and gloves. He eventually worked his way up to the post of President, which he held for 40 years, seldom missing a day at work in the store. It was Frederick Rike who moved the store to the corner of Second and Main Streets that it anchored for so long. He was active during the recovery efforts from the 1913 Flood and served on the charter commission which reorganized Dayton’s government under the city manager format. He had worked for the establishment of the Miami Valley Conservancy District, and served as president of the Dayton Boy Scouts and Community Chest.

Frederick Rike died on November 19, 1947 and is located in Section 37 Lot 1226.

David L. Rike (1904—1982) carried his family’s legendary Dayton department store into the 20th century. Rike’s Department Store, a long and storied Dayton institution, was founded by David’s grandfather in 1853. David’s father, Frederick, inherited the family business and upon his death in 1947, David was elected president. In 1965, he became board chairman and chief executive officer.

As Rike’s expanded and progressed and flourished under David’s tenure, he maintained a staunch humanitarian mindset, even creating a special employee fund for families experiencing financial distress. In turn, he always encouraged his employees to give back to the Dayton community.

A graduate of both the Princeton School of Business Administration and Harvard School of Business Administration, Rike used this business acumen for the betterment of the Dayton region. His dedication to Rike’s historic Second and Main location exemplified his love and belief in downtown Dayton.

David L. Rike was born on October 24, 1904 in Xenia, Ohio and died on January 16, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio. He was married to Margaret Craighead Shaw. He is located in Section 37 Lot 1226.

Visitors take in the holiday window displays at Rike’s department store in 1945, the first year they were on display in Dayton after being relocated from the NCR offices in New York City. Photo courtesy of the NCR Archive at the Montgomery County Historical Society
Photo taken 12-20-1945

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 UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.

Scholarships for Students with Passion For The Arts

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Culture Works is now accepting applications for the 2018 Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship–open to Dayton Region high school seniors and college students with a passion for the arts.

The Culture Works Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship was established in 1993 in honor of Mr. Roberts, who was Chairman of the Dayton Performing Arts Fund (now Culture Works) at the time of his death. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1994, $392,600 from the Leonard P. Roberts Scholarship Fund has been provided to 186 students to assist them in their educational pursuits.
Culture Works is pleased to offer scholarships to students who demonstrate participation in and patronage of the arts. Candidates must be graduating high school seniors living in the Dayton Region (Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble or Warren County) or college students at any level who live in and attend college in the Dayton Region. Priority will be given to students majoring in arts disciplines, business, and engineering; however, all majors may apply. Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 – $4,000.

 

Scholarship Criteria:
• Plan to be a full-time student for the entire upcoming academic year
• Demonstrate participation in the arts
• Demonstrate financial need
• Have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
How to Apply:
The 2018 scholarship application is available through The Dayton Foundation’s ScholarshipCONNECT. Students will need to create a user account on the ScholarshipCONNECT website and complete the general application in order to apply. The deadline for applications is March 9, 2018. Applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications in the spring.

VTA President Ken Neufeld Announces Retirement

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Victoria Theatre Association Board of Trustees Chairman, Martha Shaker, announced the retirement of VTA President and CEO, Ken Neufeld at a meeting held this morning. Neufeld will officially retire on Aug. 31, 2018, following the Association’s Annual Meeting. VTA is the owner and operator of the Victoria Theatre, the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, the Metropolitan Arts Center (home to The LOFT Theatre), and the Arts Garage. A national search for VTA’s next President & CEO will begin shortly.

 

At the meeting, Shaker thanked Neufeld for nearly a decade of leadership and fiscal responsibility, then spoke regarding the high points of his tenure.

 

“We thank Ken for his unyielding leadership and dedication to the VTA and this community,” said Shaker. “Clearly, the arts community is in a better place today because of Ken’s vision and passion for the arts. The improvements and innovation in our programming, our latest fundraising campaign as well as improvements to our physical plant, can all be credited to Ken’s leadership. We are sad to see Ken and his wife, Lesley, leave us but wish them the very best in retirement. “

 

“President and CEO, Ken Neufeld has expanded the VTA’s programming to feature a broad range of performances for diverse audiences that have attracted thousands of new patrons to VTA venues and downtown Dayton,” Shaker continued. “He has guided significant growth of VTA’s Education & Engagement initiatives, and has put in place new marketing, sales and technology initiatives. He instituted the Next Stage Campaign, which has raised more than $13 million, including $10 million for the VTA’s endowment and $3 million designated for infrastructure improvements in the Association’s facilities. Neufeld has also been an active participant in a number of Dayton organizations, including the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and the strategic planning committee of Culture Works.”

 

After meeting with VTA Trustees, Neufeld shared his news with VTA staff, where staff thanked him for his tenure and leadership and wished him well in his future endeavors.

 

Neufeld’s thoughts regarding his decision.

 

“My decision to retire, was not easy, but the time is right. The organization is in great shape and ready for new ideas and leadership,” said Neufeld. “I will miss working at VTA and all the people in this wonderful community, but it is time for us to explore other opportunities. Lesley and I look forward to returning to Canada’s West Coast after almost 20 years of absence.”

 

Regarding his time at VTA.

 

“My time at VTA has been the most rewarding of any of the forty years I have worked in the arts,” said Neufeld. “I am enormously grateful to the VTA Board of Trustees, all of our managers and staff, our donors and sponsors, and our dedicated VTA volunteers for their support, guidance, teamwork, and generosity. When I began in June of 2009, it didn’t take long for me to observe that Dayton, and the Miami Valley are special. This is a vibrant arts community with generous supporters and highly engaged, enthusiastic audiences. Our facilities at the Victoria and the Schuster Center are world class. It has been a privilege and honor to work here. My wife and I have enjoyed living in Dayton immensely.”

 

VTA’s Board of Trustees will conduct a national search for Neufeld’s successor as soon as possible.

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Victoria Theatre Association is one of Dayton’s premier arts organizations, presenting the Premier Health Broadway Series, the Morris Furniture Company Family Series, the Cool Films Series, Projects Unlimited Star Attractions, National Geographic Live Series, sponsored by Subaru of American and Wagner Subaru and The Discovery Series, which features curriculum-enhanced live theatre productions for school children. In addition to the performances it presents, Victoria Theatre Association also manages the historic Victoria Theatre, the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, and the Metropolitan Arts Center, which houses The Loft Theatre. Victoria Theatre Association receives funding from a variety of diverse public, corporate, individual and private sources, including the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District and the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts helped fund this program or organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

 

The C word … cancer

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The C word … cancer

a guest post by Rick Cartwright

On September 21, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Hearing the words, ‘cancer’ felt so terminal. Teresa and I were shocked, terrified and overwhelmed. So let me step back a few weeks before continuing.

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Annual physicals are no fun. My annual physical has been in July for several years. It would start with a blood test, and then a visit with the doctor a couple weeks later. July 2017 was no different. At the appropriate time during the physical, the doctor became by best buddy, but this time was different. He had a very serious and preplexed look on his face. He said, “Your prostate has a different texture and does not feel the same”.

That alone may not have been reason for concern, but he noticed that my PSA results had jumped from the normal 1.6 – 1.8 to 3.6. We talked about waiting for a few months, or taking additional steps immediately. In the end, he suggested I see a urologist right away.

It took nearly a month. I meet with a urologist in August. He took my history and then did an exam. He said it was nothing to worry about yet, but that it was not normal. He said it could be a calcium deposit, but he would do an ultrasound and then if necessary a biopsy at our next visit.

The following month, the ultrasound was schedule. The process was not painful, but it was no walk in the park either. Things when well, until I heard him talking … it was not normal, and I new it wasn’t normal when he gave me an injection in the prostate. The biopsy was painful, at least that shot was pure pain. He proceeded to take twelve slices, and I was so glad to be finished with that. He told me many times that my prostate was not enlarged at all, and did not look like the prostate of a 59 year old dude. I kept thinking, just take the whole thing, now please … this hurts.

A week later, September 21, we met with him for the results of the biopsy. Cancer .. that was a punch in the gut. He said, “it’s a very aggressive form of prostate cancer, and you could have weeks or years to live”. My Gleason Score was 7/8. I am sure I was sheet white, and feeling like death had just trumped my hand. A year earlier, my father had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and he passed away on January 23, 2017 .. it was so close, and the word, ‘cancer’ resonated over and over. Not long ago I also lost an uncle to PC, and another had been treated successfully. I was very aware that PC could be a killer, and I didn’t want to be the next victim.

The urologist scheduled an additional test for October 30, and also scheduled a full body bone scan for October 9 at Kettering hospital, and then we parted ways. We were left to deal with the angst alone.

By the way, don’t ask me to explain the Gleason Score in any detail. The scores range from 2 to 10. You add two numbers together, and get a score for each side of the prostate. 8, 9 and 10 are considered an aggressive form of the cancer. That 8 looked very scary, and I was totally freaked out.

Five weeks .. wait 5 weeks for more testing. Who is going to help me with this cancer, and why this test? As it turns out, the doctor, the urologist, was leaving for vacation, and his office was even shutting down for a couple weeks. My mind was on overdrive at this point. I can’t wait .. what do I do?

Once at home, I called my family doctor. After all, he stared this sequence of events with that exam in his office. The most important call of my treatment was that phone call. The scheduler that answer the phone was so patient and kind. I told her I had just been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. She said, “My husband had prostate cancer”. She shared their story. I am not going to share those details, but her kindness and the reassurance helped so much. It was not that she listened .. it was that she engaged with me. She is not paid to do that. She is paid to schedule doctor visits. We talked a long time, and I am so grateful for her patients and attitude.

I met with the family doctor the next day. As it turns out, the nurse that I met with prior to the doctor seeing me was the wife of a prostate cancer survivor. She was also very kind and openly shared their story. My doctor and his staff were amazing all through this. I had a great visit with the doctor, and started to decide on a plan.

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I posted the following words on Facebook soon after I received the news: “Well, this is not the news you want to share with friends. Today I heard those dreaded words … “It’s cancer” .. yes, those words. Yes, the timing is really bad.“

I have been very transparent on social media through this process. The outpouring of love and support has made a big difference. It was in all of that support that I found the strength to move forward and to own my health care.

While my urologist was out, I decided I wanted to see someone at OSU, The James. I considered many alternatives, but I wanted help from someone that worked with prostate cancer every day, and that understood the latest research. I started reading as much as I could find. To me, very early in the process, it seemed that a radical prostatectomy was the right option for me.

I talked to so many people that had survived PC, but a dear friend that had it in his early 50’s reached out to me by email. Those email conversations were the most important. I owe my friend Chris for his understanding, patience and kindness. Thank you, my friend. You made a difference.

I still had this problem .. my urologist was out of town, and my records were in his office. It didn’t matter that I wanted to see someone at OSU, I was stuck. I left a message at their office, then called OSU. They were kind, but they needed my records in order to proceed. I was stuck until someone returned to the urologist office. Once they did, I immediately arranged to pickup my records, and dismissed them from my medica care. My family doctor transfered the records to OSU, and a few days later I had an appointment.

Everything about treatment seemed to come slowly. From the time I first knew there was an issue, to the time I was diagnosed, to the time I saw a surgeon .. it all took so much time. I had read that prostate cancer is a ‘slow’ cancer, but it was inside me, and I was frustrated more often than not.

Then there is the depression. There are some really negative people in this world. I remember a conversation I had with someone at work … so much negative energy. He was just trying to help me see the facts, and understand this was not going to be easy. At that point in time, I needed positive energy. I decided to avoid anyone that could not contribute to positive thoughts.

I had a full body bone scan and a PET Scan on October 9th at Kettering hospital. Other than a long day, this was painless. When it was finished, I had to get the high resolution images on CD to take to OSU, but other than that, it was done. I walked out with two CD’s, and a thankful heart. Something actually was moving forward.

I didn’t expect to hear anything from this test until I met with the surgeon at OSU. As it turns out, they sent the results to me, at home. When I came home from work on Wednesday, October 18, I had a letter waiting for me. I guess that since I had fired the urologist, and since he was the one that ordered those test, they just sent them to me. NO CANCER IN THE BONES .. that’s my version of the results. They did spend most of the letter talking about my bones, and various issues relating to aging. This was the 1st time in my life that I was happy about being told I was getting old. That was a turning point, and the best news of 2017 yet.

On October 26, I visited with the surgeon at Ohio State. He was so very detailed. He gave me all the stats, talked through all of the options, and was so very good at helping me with questions. They took blood samples, and we scheduled the surgery for November 7.

Radiation was an option that was discussed. Clearly, that would avoid surgery, but 8 weeks, 5 days a week of radiation was not attractive. There are many options with radiation, but in the end, I went with surgery. I felt that for us, for me .. the best solution was to remove the prostate.

Given my Gleason Score was so high, the doctor told me he would do some extra cleanup in the pelvic floor. That would include the removal of the nearby lymph nodes. He said that would add about 20 to 30 minutes to the procedure, but it improves my odds for the long-term.

So the date was set for November 7. Report time: 5:00A. The good news … we have a date, and a plan.

That went well for a few days, then I received a call from the hospital. They said the robot was not available and my surgery would be delayed. They were talking late December, unless I wanted to have it done one November 22. That’s the day before thanksgiving, and my 60th birthday. I didn’t even give it a second thought … ‘let’s do it’. I love thanksgiving, but I need this cancer removed from my body.

Did I mention that my surgery was going to be robotic? The surgeon told me that robotic surgery lowers blood loss, reduces the risk of infection, and recovery is much faster .. that all sounds good. They call it da Vinci Surgery.  Compared to the surgery that was common years ago to remove the prostate, this is amazing.  Read more here:

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About three days before the surgery, the surgeon called me and told me that after a review by the team at OSU, they had downgraded my cancer. Recall my Gleason Score was 7/8. He said they had determined the correct score was 6/7. That may sound insignificant, but that meant I had a much better outlook for the future, and that my overall risk was reduced. I did a little happy dance right there in my office. This did not change the strategy for the surgery, but sure felt better.

One of the reasons I chose to go to OSU, was my opinion that I wanted to be treated by someone that did this surgery frequently, and was very involved in prostrate cancer every day. This revised diagnostic confirmed by believe. I’m not suggesting you have to have your surgery done at OSU, but I do suggest finding someone that does this frequently and at a hospital that specializes in cancer.

Through all of this I was trying to stay focused and get some work done. In retrospect, I was not nearly as effective as I was hoping. I was working, but my mind was often on the surgery. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus. Now the time was extended, and the effort to focus more difficult.

My family was very supportive during this time. One son and his wife agreed to accompany us to OSU. I was concerned about Teresa having to do this alone, and they agreed to come along. We planned to drive over the night before the surgery and spend the night at a local Marriott. I had a report time of 5:15A, so this really helped. My oldest son agreed to watch the dogs. That was significant .. the dogs fare like babies sometimes.

The day of the surgery came quickly. I arrived at they hospital at 5:00 .. and things happened quickly. Everyone was so kind, did their jobs so professionally. I was in the PreOp room by 7:00, and the next thing I new I was awake in recovery.

My surgery was schedule for 4 hours. It took 6. The extra time was required because they took lymph nodes as part of the strategy to treat my aggressive cancer. The doctor met with Teresa and said it looked like there was no cancer outside the prostate, but pathology would test the removed material and we would be given an update in a couple weeks.

Nov 22, just before surgery

 

I didn’t have much pain. The front of my stomach / chest felt like it was just hanging on my body. I was up walking that evening, maybe 5 or so hours post surgery. To be honest, the cathidor was more of an issue that the IV or the incisions. When I was able to finally look, I could see 7 incisions. One was still connected for drainage. They superglued them closed so I had no stitches.

Early Thanksgiving morning, they started to become concerned that I was not generating enough urine. As it turns out I was very dehydrated. Once they increased my fluid intake (via IV mostly), the output increased. By noon, I was ready to be discharged, and head home.

So what did they do during my surgery. First, and most important, they removed my prostate. He had told me he was taking the prostate and was not going to be able to preserve the nerves. When he actually was doing the surgery, he saved the nerves. This is good for the future. More on that later. For now, picture this: the nerves are attached to the prostate on the outside surface. To save them, the robot had to peal them off the prostate and then reattached them inside (somewhere).  They will take some time to start working again. I am grateful for the attempt to save them.  He also took 37 lymph nodes.

Just after surgery

It was so good to come home. I was not in pain, but getting up and down was not easy. Teresa had to help me when I got in the wrong position. I could not sleep on my side, my preferred sleeping position. I sleep on the couch or recliner for the first 7 days.

I started walking right away. At 1st, it was .5 to 1 mile a day. I’m on the 3rd week now, and I’m at 3.5 to 4.5 miles a day. I can’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. I return to work soon, and then plan to retire at the end of 2017. That was already in the plan, and I’m continuing with that plan.

A couple of comments about the side effects of radical prostatectomy. The side effects of the surgery and of radiation are about the same. The 1st is urinary incontinence. This is tough, and takes time. I am not doing to bad, but I’m still not ‘normal’ yet. Some guys never get back to normal. I am hopeful.

The second common issue is erectile dysfunction. Again, some men recover in a few months to a year to 18 months. Some don’t. Time will tell.

That can all be depressing, but I am alive. The doctors primary goal is to preserve life. I have talked to men that struggle with these outcomes. I get it .. but I also am extremely thankful to be alive.

That’s my story. I am happy to talk with anyone that wishes to discuss PC and the surgery option. I am grateful to everyone involved in my journey. Those that supported me emotionally with kind notes and calls, the doctors and staff, and especially my family.  When it’s all said and done, it’s about those you love. For me, that’s my wife and my family, and great friends. ❤️❤️

And now to continue the healing process.

~ Rick

©2017 Rick Cartwright

RICK CARTWRIGHT  
 This story was originally posted on Rick’s Reflections and is re-posted with Rick’spermission.

The Shopping Bag Hosts Holiday Toy Donation Drive

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FLOC (For Love Of Children) and The Shopping Bag are teaming up to make Christmas one to remember for underprivileged children throughout the Miami Valley . The Shopping Bag will be a drop off location for new toys to benefit FLOC’s annual Christmas for Kids program.

“ The FLOC toy shelves are very barren this year, but the need has increased ”. Said Beth Mann , President of the Board of Directors .

“The partners hip with The Shopping Bag and the good people of the Miami Valley will guarantee a very Merry Christmas for the hundreds of families we serve.” She added.

From Friday December 15, through Friday December 22 , drop off a new, unwrapped toy to The Shopping Ba g and receive a gift card to The Shopping Bag per family donation . In addition, The Shopping Bag will also match all toy donations.

Toys will be handed over to FLOC on December 22 in time for Christmas.

“When made aware FLOC was in need of toys this close to the holidays , we jumped at the chance to help because the holidays are more about giving than receiving . Hearing children would possibly not have a gift under the tree, our team said this couldn’t be and we had to step into action. ’ Said Lauren Murphy – Zahora , President of The Shopping Bag.

“ The Shopping Bag appreciates the opportunity to do our part in making Christmas extra special this holiday season for children throughout the Miami Valley .” Lauren added.

Drop new unwrapped toys at The Shopping Bag, located at  3109 Far Hills Ave. in Kettering during these hours:  Tues – Friday 1-7pm, Saturday Noon – 6pm

Luminaries of Dayton: Mitchell “Booty”Wood

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Mitchell “Booty” Wood studied trombone at Dunbar High School. After graduation he joined the Lionel Hampton Band and later played with Duke Ellington and Count Basie. By his count, he traveled more than 2 million miles on the road playing jazz in Sweden, Japan, South America, Mexico and France. In each band he held the position of first trombone and won high praise from the band leaders and their enraptured audiences. After his travels, Booty returned home to Dayton and Dunbar High School and Central State University to teach jazz, using it as a vehicle to promote the benefits of constant practice, discipline, and the joy of music.

Mitchell “Booty” Wood died on June 10, 1987. He is located in Section 300 Lot 40.

 

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.

Children Celebrate the Season at the Sugar Plum Tea

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Downtown there are many treasured holiday events that delight children: the stunning window displays, the Tike Shoppe, and of course, Dayton Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” performance at the Schuster Center. 

Before the Sunday matinee performance, the Dayton Ballet’s volunteer organization, The Dayton Ballet Barre, hosts their annual Sugar Plum Tea, at the gorgeous Dayton Woman’s Club on Sunday December 17th.  It’s a delightful Christmas tradition that’s a perfect way to make The Nutcracker holiday tradition that much more special!

The afternoon starts off with a beautiful tea service, along with sandwiches, fruit, and delicious desserts. Parents are encouraged to get holiday photos of their little ones with the Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Fairy by the gorgeous Christmas tree inside the parlor. One of the Dayton Ballet teachers, along with two of the Dayton Ballet II dancers, give the children a dance lesson, followed by a reading the story of the Nutcracker.

Got a little one who is too little to sit still for the entire Nutcracker performance? This is a great intro event into the performing arts, and give them a taste of this beloved holiday tradition. Tickets are $15 for each child and adult and available from Ticket Center Stage or in limited quantities at the door. Tickets to The Nutcracker performance are sold separately.

How to Go?

The Dayton Ballet Barre’s Sugar Plum Tea

at The Dayton Woman’s Club: 225 NORTH LUDLOW STREET DAYTON, OH 45402

Sunday December 17th 12:30pm-2pm (The Nutcracker performance starts at 2:30pm)

 

Tickets $15 for both children and adults. This is a fundraiser for The Dayton Ballet Barre!

2017 TEDxDayton Speaker Videos

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Dayton’s 5th edition of TEDx was held this past October, featuring  21 individuals who presented on this year’s theme—CURRENT. “’Current’ evokes energy, movement, and the pursuit of knowledge, and it also holds great significance for the history and landscape of our community,” said TEDxDayton Co-chair Diane Farrell. “Every year, we look for a theme that carries layers of meaning. We want the audience to come into the experience with their own ideas and their wheels already turning, and then we want them to encounter something unexpected.

Each of this years speakers were captured on tape and we present those video’s here for you:

Bring Back Shop Class | Daniel Badger

The Director of the Packard Museum in Dayton, Daniel advocates for skilled trades to be something “strived for”, rather than “settled for”. Dan has a passion for building and restoring cars and airplanes and loves sharing that passion with others. He firmly believes that hands-on exposure to trade skills is an incredibly important component in a well-rounded education. In his role as director at America’s Packard Museum in Dayton, he works with local schools and youth organizations to give students hands-on experience repairing and restoring antique cars. Dan also consults for local manufacturers to assist in integrating 3D printing technologies into their development and prototyping workflows.

The Power of Silence | Neal Gittleman

The Conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra talks about the importance of silence – in music, as well as in our lives. Neal Gittleman has been a professional conductor for 35 years. This is his 23rd season as conductor of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. His passion is music and bringing that music to life through history as well as sound. For decades, he has been talking to his concert audiences to give greater understanding of the music he loves. Speaking in front of an audience at TEDxDayton, however, is a first for Neal! Hopefully, the music will carry him along.

Trey Stone and The Ringers | Trey Stone

Trey Stone is very proud to add TEDxDayton to his long list of accomplishments in the music and entertainment world. For 15 years, Trey served as music director at The Second City, the famed comedy institution in Chicago. There, he collaborated with many of the nation’s top names in comedy, theater, television and film. He currently leads his own group, Trey Stone and the Ringers, and is a founding member of the tango ensemble Tiempo Perdido. Trey also tours nationally and internationally with Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy and is music director at Dayton’s Black Box Improv Theater.

Finding Confidence in Conflict | Kwame Christian

Director of the American negotiation Institute, Kwame teaches us about an alternative way to resolve conflict. Kwame Christian is a business lawyer and the director of the American Negotiation Institute. In this role, he serves as a negotiation consultant for attorneys and for companies closing large business deals. He also conducts live training sessions for organizations. Kwame hosts the podcast “Negotiate Anything,” where he interviews successful professionals and shares powerful persuasion techniques.

Meeting in the Middle | Julie L. Williams & Steven Kniffley

Two people from wildly different backgrounds challenge each other–and you–to examine biases, to share personal traumas and triumphs, and to take responsibility. Dr. Julie Williams is a professor in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University. As a professor of clinical psychology and member of the disability community, she teaches and encourages her doctoral psychology students and colleagues to locate themselves at the source of suffering in society. Julie is known for saying two things to the difficult dialogues around privilege, power and oppression: “speak your truths” and “lean in.”

Dr. Steven Kniffley is an assistant professor at Wright State University in the School of Professional Psychology. He is also a board-certified licensed child psychologist in the State of Ohio. Steven’s area of expertise is research and clinical work with Black males. Specifically, his work focuses on understanding and developing culturally appropriate interventions for Black male psychopathology as well as barriers to academic success for this population. Steven has written four books on Black male mental health, Black males and the criminal justice system, and academic achievement.

Exercise Through Cancer Care | Karen Wonders

If you received a life-altering cancer diagnosis, would your first action be to hit the gym? Karen shares why exercise should become a key part of cancer treatment plans despite the barriers that make it a challenge.
Dr. Karen Wonders is the founder and director of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance and professor of exercise physiology at Wright State University. Her passion is to make exercise part of the standard of care for those battling cancer. Through Maple Tree, Karen provides free exercise training, nutrition counseling, and emotional support to hundreds of cancer survivors every month at five locations across the Miami Valley. She was named one of the Dayton Business Journal’s 2017 40 under 40, and Maple Tree has been awarded “Best in Dayton” for health and fitness four years in a row. Karen is married to her college sweetheart, Andrew, and they have seven (yes, seven!) children.

The Ripple Effect of Addiction | Brennan Harlow

We often hear about the effects of substance abuse on the individual, but what about the impact it has on those around the individual. A Junior at Chaminade-Julienne, Brennan shares his personal story about that ripple effect.  Brennan  is a junior at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School. He is on the varsity swim team and plays tennis. Brennan is also heavily involved in performing arts at school. He loves singing in his a cappella group, Phoenix, and does improvisational acting. After high school, he hopes to become an electrical engineer and has dreams of working for Apple. Brennan is driven by his love for his family and community, and he hopes that by sharing his story he can make an impact in the greater Dayton area. Brennan’s talk is adapted from his popular TEDxYouth@ Dayton performance, given earlier this year.

Pianist | Jonathan Luo

Jonathan  is a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Mason Middle School. He began his musical studies at the age of 6 at Leung Studios and still studies with Dr. Benita Leung. Despite his young age, Jonathan has already been recognized with many top prizes. His first-place accolades include the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, The Nathaniel Patch Elementary Division and overall Grand Prize Winner, OMTA Graves Piano Competition (in both solo and duet), 88-Tri-State Concerto Competition, Dayton Public Radio Young Talent Search (in which he was the youngest winner), OMTA Buckeye State Winner, and The International Young Artist Piano Competition in Washington, D.C. Jonathan was also one of two featured young artists at the 2017 WDPR Catch a Rising Star Gala in Dayton.

 

The Woman You Become | Rosalind Jackson

An OB/GYN for over 18 years, “Dr. Roz” explains that menopause is more than night-sweats and hot flashes. Dr. Roz Jackson promotes wellness for women at Total Health & Wellness OBGYN LLC. She has practiced women’s healthcare for more than 18 years. She is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. She completed her medical training at Wright State School of Medicine, her residency at Miami Valley Hospital and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and her undergraduate courses at Tennessee State University. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton Humanitarian Award for 2014. Dr. Roz was named one of Dayton’s Top 25 Women to Watch in 2015.

Just Your Average Mohamed | Mohamed Al-Hamdani

As an Iraqi-American, Mohamed challenges the listener to recognize that Muslims have been a part of American history since the country’s inception. At 10 years old, Mohamed Al-Hamdani came to Dayton as a refugee with his family. After graduating from Wright State University, Mohamed worked with the Department of Defense as a cultural advisor to the Marines, where he developed and implemented cultural immersion training for Marines prior to their deployment to Iraq. He is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law and a member of the Ohio Bar. He works at CareSource, a managed-care organization in Dayton. As a Dayton Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award recipient in 2016, Mohamed has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants and refugees.

Generation Z: Making a Difference Their Way | Corey Seemiller

As a college professor, Corey noticed a change in her newest college students–Generation Z. Her research has led her to uncover how this generation challenges the norms of our current society, and what promises that might hold for the future. Corey Seemiller is an educator, researcher and author on issues related to leadership and civic engagement. Corey received her Ph.D. in higher education and serves as a faculty member in the Department of Leadership Studies in Education and Organizations at Wright State University. She has worked in higher education for more than 20 years, fueling her passion for developing the leadership capacity of college students.

Your Second Adolescence | Kathleen Druffner

It’s been said that seniors go through a “second childhood”, but instead, what if they go through a “second adolescence”? Kathy Druffner is the owner of Druffner Professional Organizing. She is a 1989 graduate of the University of Dayton with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. Kathy has always been fascinated by human behavior and how participants can experience the same event and have vastly different recollections and interpretations. She has found that the simple act of listening can foster mutual respect, dispel misconceptions, and bridge gaps of disagreement.

The Freedom of Forgiveness | Kenneth Goodrum

The Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards at Central State University advocates for forgiveness, if only for yourself. Ken Goodrum was raised in Cleveland, and is the assistant director of student conduct and community standards at Central State University in Wilberforce. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Central State and spent half of his life as an advocate for students, especially students who will be the first to go to college in their families – or “first generation” college students. Ken’s devotion to students has allowed him to serve in different capacities, such as corrections officer, football coach, residence hall coordinator, and with programs, such as Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search. Ken is married and has four sons.

 

A Literate Life | Bridget Shingleton

Do you realize how many written words you process each day? Bridget shows us how often we take literacy for granted and how the power to read can change a life.
As a graduate of the University of Dayton in 2011 and 2016, Bridget Shingleton has had the joy of teaching students of many ages, ability levels, and native languages. She taught
creative writing at Stivers School for the Arts for two years before teaching English as a Second Language at an after-school academy in South Korea for one year. Following that, Bridget taught her way through a master’s degree in English at UD, while coaching student writing in The Write Place. Today, she manages marketing and communications for the Brunner Literacy Center. Bridget believes in literacy’s power to improve lives.

 

Everyone Provides Kinship Care | Adrian McLemore

Adrian has the unique perspective of growing up in the foster care system and later providing kinship care to his niece and nephew. He shares his experiences with both systems and explains why he believes kinship care is the better option.  Adrian’s true passion is serving children and families. Having emancipated from foster care at the age of 18, Adrian has dedicated his life to serving others. He is the co-founder of numerous organizations, initiatives and programs dedicated to improving the lives of children and families across Ohio and throughout the country. Adrian attended Wright State University and holds a degree in political science.

Start Here | Crystal Michelle Perkins

Crystal Michelle Perkins finds inspiration in the void left within herself from never performing the first dance she ever choreographed. That feeling of non-completion has become her motivation and starting point to continue creating more dances, including this beautifully choreographed performance. Crystal Michelle Perkins is a choreographer from Dayton. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Dance at Ohio State University. She also serves as rehearsal director for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC).

 

Trusting Automation….or Not | Bond R. “Dick” Hattershire

Technology is changing at a rapid pace, but can it evolve with a characteristic humans crave: trust? Dick Hattershire is a part-time consultant to Leidos, a large science and technology company. He is retired Air Force with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology (clinical orientation) with experience in research and development, including human factors experimentation, and he is co-author on two Air Force technical reports.

 

Kindness You Can Hold in Your Hand | Olive Wager

In a world filled with texts, tweets, and likes, Olive knows the power of something a little more personal: a handwritten card. Through her stories, she shares the tremendous impact you can have on someone’s life for just the price of a postage stamp. Olive Wagar, owner of Organized by Olive LLC, helps overwhelmed people discover the less cluttered side of life. She writes a weekly blog at www.organizedbyolive.com. Olive volunteers her time in church ministries for women and children. She enjoys sending cards, playing classic games, listening to piano music and visiting libraries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3DQCg5zTNI

Memory Door to Art | Terry Welker

Terry explains how his own fond memories of rain led him to create one of his most recognizable sculptures and he gives us permission to use our own memories to experience art on our own terms. Terry Welker is a sculptor/architect and distinguished Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He creates lightweight, suspended and kinetic sculptures that come from his passion for architecture, poetic space and meaningful places. Influenced largely by modern sculptors like Calder and Bertoia, Terry works to extend visual languages by animating form, space and surface with motion. His goal is to find shared identification of memorable forms, associations, multiple meanings, and the simple enjoyment of being lost in the moment.

Healthcare is a Verb | Joe D’Silva

The inventor of technologies that provide personalized medication products, Joe encourages us to stop talking about “healthcare”, and start talking about “care of health” Joe D’Silva is the founder and CEO of Patients’ & Consumers’ Pharma. Based in Dayton, P&C Pharma invents technologies that provide personalized medication products. The company’s first invention produces liquid oral medication products for patients with swallowing disorders. Joe is trained as a pharmacist and physical chemist, worked in pharmaceutical R&D, and believes that scientists should make life better for all.

First Responder Corps | Steve Schwartz

What happens when you call 911 in a developing nation? Steve proposes we look back on our own history to ensure everyone around the world has access to dependable emergency services. Steve Schwartz is chief executive officer of Lion Group Inc., a 118-year-old global family business that is based in Dayton and is a leader in its three business sectors: first-responder protective equipment, fire-training equipment, and equipment lifecycle management. Steve earned progressively greater responsibilities as a fourth-generation family owner since he started his career in 1989. During his tenure, he has led the company’s development of many innovations and has led it into international markets, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures.

Enjoy an Evening of Celtic Music & Dance!

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Colleen Raney performs in Dayton for the first time at the Celtic Concert on December 10th at Stivers High School

For all the Celtic lovers out there, an upcoming event featuring Celtic music and dance, is just for you! The evening starts off with a performance by Celtic Academy of Irish Dance followed by local musical favorites Dulahan, followed by headliner and acclaimed Irish singer, Colleen Raney.  This show is being presented at Centennial Hall inside Stivers School for the Arts in downtown Dayton, and will benefit We Care Arts. This is a family friendly evening that’s sure to entertain Celtic lovers of all ages!

Colleen Raney has been referred to as “among the best in her genre” (Irish Music Magazine) and “one of America’s best traditional singers” (Tradconnect) . Her ability to convey her love of Irish music makes every performance a captivating experience! Colleen is making her first visit to the Dayton area and will perform here with her band, which includes: Hanz Araki on flute and vocals, Bethany Waickman on guitar and Ryan Davidson on upright bass and vocals. In addition to singing, Colleen also plays guitar and bodhran.

Dulahan‘s music pays homage to traditional and contemporary Celtic with 3 and 4 part harmonies and subtle hints of Roots/Americana. The Celtic Academy of Irish Dance is one of Dayton’s fine Irish Dance schools. Many of the students compete at the local, national and international levels, and they are a joy to watch!

Sunni Russo, the organizer of this concert, loved the variety of new music that Cityfolk brought to the Dayton area. She discovered many artists and musical styles she would not have known about otherwise.  In that tradition, she wanted to bring an artist, Colleen Raney, who has not played in Dayton before.

The Celtic Academy of Irish Dance performs at the Celtic Concert held on December 10, 2017 at Stivers High School

December 10th, 2017
Show from 7-10pm
Stivers High School
Tickets are just $25 and on sale now! 
For more info or if they prefer not to order online:
Tickets will also be available at the door.
The show will benefit We Care Arts, a great local charity! Check them out at www.wecarearts.org

Holiday Decorating Award to Honor Homes and Businesses

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Does your Dayton home or business sparkle with style during the holidays?

The Dayton City Beautiful Award is proud to announce a special holiday edition, an opportunity to nominate and showcase beautiful and imaginative holiday decorating throughout the city. Residential, commercial and institutional properties may compete for the awards, which will recognize exterior decorating only. Anyone may nominate properties located within the Dayton city limits.

Creativity, holiday spirit, suitability for neighborhood surroundings or buildings/sites, and other factors may be considered. Five awards will be presented, and nominations are encouraged from all of Dayton’s land use zones (west, southeast, northeast, north central and downtown).

Nominations must include at least one photo and may be submitted to daytonohio.gov/citybeautiful or the Department of Planning and Community Development, 6th floor, 101 W. Third St., Dayton OH 45401. The deadline for submission is 5 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Award winners will be recognized by the City Commission and in City of Dayton publications. The Dayton City Beautiful Award has recognized dozens of property owners, residents and community volunteers in 2017. The program was relaunched this year after more than 25 years of inactivity.

Luminaries of Dayton: Jeraldyne Blunden

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Jeraldyne Blunden was the founder and artistic director of the esteemed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the world’s largest repository of reconstructed dance works by African American choreographers. Ms. Blunden also founded Jeraldyne’s School of Dance. The school has given many Miami Valley youth the opportunity to learn about modern dance and pursue a dancing career.

Ms. Blunden received significant recognition for her work, including a 1998 Dance Magazine Award, an Individual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellows Award. In 1997, she was named one of five Dance Women: Living Legends, “for keeping dance alive.”

Jeraldyne Blunden died on November 2, 1999. She is located in Section 146 in the Woodland Mausoleum.

 

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

12th Annual Santa Pub Crawl Benefits Toys for Tots

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The volunteers with The Gem City Podcast invite you to the 12th Annual Santa Pub Crawl, benefiting US Marine’s Toys for Tots campaign! This is always a fun time to gather with friends, don your most festive holiday gear, and give back to kids in our community. We want to make sure every child has a gift for the holidays this year, and annually this event gathers 1000 toys for Dayton area children!

This year’s event is on Saturday December 9, 2017 from 5pm – Midnight. You don’t have to arrive right at 5pm to participate – join in whenever you are able! Be sure to register at either Dublin Pub or Oregon Express by 8:30pm. Admission: Bring $10 or a toy of equal value (not in wrapping paper, please)

You will receive a card to get marked at each participating bar. Have your card filled out by 10pm and you are eligible for door prizes! Those fabulous door prizes are given out at 10pm at Blind Bob’s, where there will also be prizes for costumes!

How to Go?

5pm-8:30pm Registration at Oregon Express or Dublin Pub.

Addt’l participating bars include: Trolley Stop, Newcombs, Ned Peppers-Hole in the Wall, and Tumbleweed

10pm Costume contest at Blind Bob’s: Best Dressed Male, Female, Best Couple, Best Group – Plus Door Prizes!

Admission: Bring $10 or a toy of equal value (not in wrapping paper, please)

BIG thanks to our sponsors: Heidelberg / Budweiser, Buckeye Vodka, Dayton Most Metro, Folio DesignHaus