Community

Book Fair Accepting Applications for 2017 Charity Partners

November 30, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Book Fair Foundation hosted it’s 2016 book sale just a couple of weeks ago and proceeds were donated to 3 local non-proftits- FilmDayton, K12 Gallery & TEJAS, Learning Tree Farm.

Now it’s time to find 3 new beneficiaries for the 2017 sale, which will be held the second week in November.

The application process could not be simpler— there’s no form or report or presentation. We simply need a letter from your group. Your letter should tell us something about the group’s mission, your role in our community, and how you envision a partnership with the Book Fair Foundation.

There are three requirements for application:

Your group must be a registered organization in the State of Ohio.
Your location must be within 25 miles of the city of Dayton
You must be a 501c3.

Letters must be received by December 31, 2016.

The board will meet early in January to talk about the applications we’ve received. Some of the things that we consider is what kind of “match” the applicant feels like for us— does this seem like a group whose mission is in concert with our own? We also look at the 990-N documents that each organization has filed. We work very hard to make the book fair a success. We’d like the gift we give to have significant impact on the organizations we choose.

Dayton Book Fair beneficiaries share equally in the net proceeds generated by the fair– and this year we will again choose three organizations.

If your group is chosen as a beneficiary, there are certain requirements you should be aware of.

We require 40 volunteer hours from your organization. It can be 40 people for one hour, 4 people for ten hours, one person for 40 hours— the volunteer hours can be at the sale, or during one of our two roundups or during the year at the Book Loft, or a combination of any of those. At least four of those forty hours must be fulfilled on the afternoon of November 13th,2017 the Monday following the sale.

Additionally, we expect that you will promote the 47th Annual Dayton Book Fair among your own volunteers, staff and fans– through newsletter, website, Facebook page, emails or tweets. We want the people who love your organization to help support you by supporting the Book Fair.

Letters of application should be sent to the Book Fair Foundation, 2181 Embury Park Rd, Dayton, OH 45414. You are also welcome to drop off your letter at our Embury Park Road office. (Look for the big red sign in the yard.) We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 to 3 and Wednesday 1 to 7.

We will announce the beneficiaries of the 2017 Dayton Book Fair on Monday, January 16th, 2017 on this site, on our Facebook page and on our telephone greeting.

And remember, if we don’t choose you this year, that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t choose you another year, so even if you are disappointed, be sure to apply again.

Dec. 3rd Bazaar to Feature Free Mimosa Tasting !

November 29, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

A great, local event !

Tired of your average bazaar? This one promises to be fun and fulfilling!

This Saturday, Dec. 3rd in Moraine, The Greater Dayton Apartment Association office is hosting a Holiday Bazaar!

All proceeds benefit their related charity, called The Rent Foundation, which helps keep families from being homeless, by paying their rent in times of unexpected hardship. Over the year, the Rent Foundation has helped hundreds of local families, and your support, will help them continue to help hundreds more.

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE SATURDAY, DEC. 3rd HOLIDAY BAZAAR:

—WHEN: This charitable event takes place Saturday December 3rd, 2016 from 10am – 3pm

Free Mimosa Tasting !

—WHERE: The event center located at 3155 Elbee Rd, suite 300, Moraine, OH 45439

****Please note the event center is on the 3rd floor, so use the elevator in the lobby!

—WHAT: They are offering a festive day of shopping. Some traditional booths mixed with some fun and funky local craft-vendors that you’re sure to LOVE! We are also offering a Mimosa Tasting for our shoppers 21 and up sponsored by a local business, called “My Catering Gal.” There will also be raffle prizes.

—WHAT ELSE: Baked Goods, Bourbon Balls, Snacks & Refreshments Available During the Show for Additional Purchase.

—COST: Admission at the door is $3.00. No charge for children under 12. All proceeds benefit GDAA Rent Foundation. Snacks and raffle tickets will also be for sale at the event. There will be a Coloring/Craft Table for Children.

—LIST OF SOME OF THE VENDORS and LOCAL BUSINESS ON HAND

****Traveling Vineyard ****Usborne Books & More

****Plunder Design ****Lularoe

****Mary Kay ****She Blingz by Shonda

****Pure Romance ****Origami Owl

****Lillarose ****Pampered Chef

****Poetic Xchange ****Lipsense

****Scentsy ****Younique

****Wildtree ****Mama Aswan Butters & Oils

****Custom Burlap Wreaths by Babes & Burlap

****Stained Glass Home Accents ****LIVELOVEBEAD

****Hand Crafted Quilted Purses by Blue Line Design

****Custom Jewelry ****31

****Scent Hound Candles ****Home Accessories,

****Photography by Alison ****Hand-crafted Baby Items

****Unique & Delicious Vendors ****Desserts

****Butter Rum, Apricot Brandy & Harvey Wallbanger Cakes by Langford’s Gourmet Cookies!

A great opportunity to put a dent in your holiday shopping list !

From hand lotions to handcrafted items, this promises to be a blast. Please join us at the bazaar and know you are supporting a good cause as well. This is a “MUST SEE” event, don’t miss your opportunity to support local vendors and charities.

Dec 3rd from 10am -3pm

FULL DETAILS

A Day of Philanthropy- Giving Tuesday

November 28, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.

Created by a team of influencers in New York City who joined forces, collaborating across sectors, offering expertise and working tirelessly, to launch #GivingTuesday and have continued to shape, grow and strengthen the movement.

#GivingTuesday harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities; it provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents to address local challenges. It also brings together the collective power of a unique blend of partners— nonprofits, civic organizations, businesses and corporations, as well as families and individuals—to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness.

According to Whole Whale in 2015 about 700,000 donors in the US donated with an average gift of $137 , which was a 145% growth over 2014.

Locally The Yellow Springs Community Foundation is supporting efforts by offering up to $10,000 in matching funds for #YSGivingTuesday to the following organizations:

The 365 Project
The Antioch School
Antioch College
Antioch Writers’ Workshop
Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions
Chamber Music Yellow Springs
Glen Helen
John Bryan Community Pottery
Little Art Theatre
NAMI of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties
Tecumseh Land Trust
Yellow Springs Arts Council
Yellow Springs Home, Inc.
YS Kids Playhouse
Yellow Springs Schools
Yellow Springs Senior Center

In order for your donation to help organizations become eligible for matching funds, you must give online and you must donate on #GivingTuesday, November 29th. Visit www.ysgivingtuesday.com to make your gift!

The Dayton Foundation launched it’s #SpreadtheGood Campaign on November 21, asking nonprofit’s to solicit their supporters to vote for their nonprofit’s photo, by clicking the heart image in the right-hand corner. The three organizations with the most votes on their photos by #GivingTuesday will receive this year’s #SpreadtheGood Grants (first place – a one-time $2,000 grant; second place – a one-time $1,000 grant; or third place – a one-time $500 grant). Voting will end at noon on November 29, #GivingTuesday. You may vote up to ten times per day, allowing you to support multiple organization or divide your votes among many.

Mystery Monday – November 28, 2016

November 28, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 42 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 41’s Mystery Photo is: The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill. I took this photo on December 29, 2015.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Juline of Kettering. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below. We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 tickets to The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 42:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

SVG Motors Grand Opening Block Party

November 25, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Ohio State-Michigan. Just the mention of the two storied programs evokes visions of some of the most memorable games in college football history. The heated rivalry has reached a new exciting chapter rivaling the years of Woody Hayes versus Bo Schembechler now that Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh are the field generals, and the winner of this Saturday’s clash will likely reach the playoffs while the loser will settle for a bowl game. The SVG Motors Grand Opening Block Party will embrace the featured attraction by showing the big game on a big screen TV and introduce fans for former Ohio State players James Cotton, Kato Mitchell and Jeff Greene.

Cotton was part of the Buckeyes’ Big Ten championship and Sugar Bowl winning season in 1998 before spending time in the NFL and CFL. Mitchell and Greene were part of Ohio State’s national title in 2015. All three will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans, and watch the rivalry. Before the game, there will be a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. to recognize the opening of the SVG Super Center. At 11:30, the Department of Ohio Military Order of the Purple Heart Honor Guard will present the colors and perform the National Anthem.

Since it was launched by Steve VanGorder in 2014, SVG Motors has grown from a small lot in Vandalia to a thriving company that includes SVG Chevrolet in Greenville and SVG Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Eaton. This month, VanGorder and his team will debut the SVG Super Center in the former Moorman Pontiac location where Needmore Road meets Shoup Mill Road in Dayton. The SVG Motors Grand Opening Block Party on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the SVG Super Center represents the culmination of a month-long grand opening celebration.

“Rather than have a typical auto dealership grand opening event, we wanted to throw a block party where we could treat our guests to a fun and different experience watching the Ohio State-Michigan game and also get a chance to see the new SVG Super Center,” VanGorder said. “What better way to watch the big game than with a large group of Ohio State fans and former Ohio State players who are part of the program’s rich tradition.”

The Ohio State-Michigan game is part of the block party highlights.

Vincent M. Ward, a Dayton native who is veteran actor best known for his role in Season 3 of The Walking Dead, will be in attendance to sign autographs and pose for photos.
Dayton’s Clayton Murphy, who earned a bronze medal in 800-Meter Run at the 2016 Olympics, will sign autographs and pose for photos as well.

The SVG jingle has gained popularity from the company’s entertaining commercials, and the SVG Motors Weekly TV show that airs on Fox 45. Dayton-based funk music artists Brandon Harvey and Flash Melvin will perform the renowned jingle.

Dayton radio personality Kim Faris from B94.5 and the Frye Guy from 99.1 will be on hand for live remotes.

The event will also have Christmas tree giveaways, free oil change prizes and other perks. El Meson and 1776 Grille will serve menu items from their food trucks.
The SVG Motors Grand Opening Block Party is free and open to the public. The SVG Super Center is located at 400 Shoup Mill Road in Dayton. For more information, visit www.svgmotors.com or their Faceboook page.

The 44th Annual Grande Illumination and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights

November 24, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

The holiday season kicks off in Dayton with the annual Grande Illumination, presented by DP&L, and Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights. This year marks 44 years celebrating the Dayton Holiday Festival. Activities planned include the NEW LIVE REINDEER display, live musical entertainment, carnival rides and games, holiday crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, the Tike’s Shoppe and a gingerbread house contest. Admission and all activities are free of charge.
NEW! Live Reindeer
Friday, November 25, 4-9 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Come meet our North Pole ambassadors! Two of Santa’s reindeer will be available to meet on Courthouse Square. Don’t miss your chance to take your picture on Santa’s sleigh!

Magic Glasses
For a fun and special added touch, we’ll be handing out free “magic glasses,” courtesy of CareSource. Grab a pair on Courthouse Square before watching the tree lighting and parade to see the holiday lights in a whole new way!

But the tree lighting and parade aren’t the only highlights that night! A full evening of fun holiday entertainment and activities is planned from 4 to 9 pm, including:

Live Main Stage Entertainment
We have plenty of entertainment on the Courthouse Square Main Stage leading up to the lighting ceremony. Here’s the lineup:

4:00-4:20 pm – Dancing Divas
4:40-5:00 pm – Miami Valley Music Men
5:10-5:30 pm – Berachah Valley
5:40-6:05 pm – Young Professionals Choral Collective
6:20-6:55 pm – Alexis Gomez Trio
7:10-7:45 pm – Dayton Celebration Chorus

The Grande Illumination tree lighting

People gather round the tree as the countdown ends and the more than 100,000 lights are turned on for the first time during the Grande Illumination & Dayton Children's Parade Spectacular in Lights which begins the 39th Annual Dayton Holiday Festival in Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, Friday, November 25, 2011.

Photo credit: MediaMoments.com

Friday, November 25, 7:45 pm
Courthouse Square, Third & Main sts.
Watch the holidays light up during Dayton’s traditional tree lighting. At 7:45, we’ll throw the switch and approximately 100,000 colored lights will brighten the three-story-tall tree on Courthouse Square. Bill Nance & Melody Morris from FaithAndFriendsRadio.Com will do a live broadcast at the Old Courthouse from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by live announcing of the parade.

PARADE ROUTE:
The parade will begin at 7:50 pm at Second and Wilkinson streets; it will proceed east on Second Street to south on Main Street, then to west on Fourth Street. When at Fourth and Perry streets, the parade floats will disband and stage for escort to their designated storage area.

Closed from 9 am until 10 pm:
·         Third Street between Main and Ludlow
Closed from 3 pm until 10 pm:
·         Second Street between Perry and Vista View
Closed from 5:30 pm until 10 pm:
·         Wilkinson Street between Second and Third
·         Ludlow Street between First and Second
Closed from 7 pm until 10 pm:
·         Main Street between First and Fifth
·         Second Street between Jefferson and Perry
·         Third Street between Jefferson and Perry
·         Fourth Street between Jefferson and Ludlow
·         Wilkinson Street between Maple and Fourth
·         Southbound Red Cross Lane between First and Second
·         Southbound Stafford Street between First and Second
(Access to the Arts Garage will be maintained while surrounding streets are closed.)

MetroParks Ice Rink Opening Weekend

November 24, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Whether you’re a skating rookie or have been lacing up your skates for decades, and whether you’re looking for a leisurely afternoon with the family or a competitive night on the ice, there is a full slate of activities to choose from at the MetroParks Ice Rink. The ice rink is located within RiverScape MetroPark and features sweeping views of both the Great Miami River and the downtown Dayton skyline. It measures 70 feet by 150 feet and is sheltered under a pavilion. The rink has something for everyone: beginners’ lessons, open skating, broomball and curling, not to mention hot chocolate and music.

Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill light up the holidays for 29th season!

November 24, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Opening Night for the ‘Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill’ is Friday, November 25, 2016. Gates open at 5 pm. Precisely at 6 pm, with the flip of one switch, nearly 4 million lights come on at once transforming the night into a shimmering world of fantasy.

For over a quarter of a century Clifton Mill has been lighting up the winter holidays. What began as a simple idea of stringing a few strands of lights on the historic mill for the enjoyment of family and friends has become one of the largest outdoor holiday displays for miles around. The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill now features close to 4 million lights which decorate the mill, the trees, the river banks and everything else we can reach. There is a synchronized lights and music show, which occurs hourly each night, that is truly breathtaking.

Also 29 years ago, the owners began work on a miniature village with scaled down versions of some of Clifton’s historic buildings built by an artisan in Pennsylvania. There has been a new addition each year by a variety of artists and today it is a sight to behold with street after miniature street of scaled down homes and businesses, a tiny Fire Dept. putting out a “house fire”, an outdoor train, a 1950s drive in theatre, a County Fair and much more, all lit up for the holidays!

Clifton Mill has over 3000 examples of Santa Claus on display dating from as far back as 1850. Some are toys, some are advertising items, some are weird, some are elegant, all are interesting.

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill is open nightly from the day after Thanksgiving until January 1. It is an outdoor event and is weather permitting. Call before you come in bad weather.

Admission is $10 per person for everyone age 7 and older. Concession Food available. On Dec.8, 2016 a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

Clifton is in Greene County, three miles east of Yellow Springs on State Rt. 343, six miles south of Springfield on State Rt. 72, and three miles north of Cedarville on Rt. 72.

For more information visit www.cliftonmill.com or call 937-767-5501

Just Stuff It, Will Ya ?

November 23, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Green Sriracha Bread Pudding by Chef House

Everybody is talking turkey, turkey turkey… giving pointers on grilling a turkey, baking one, deep frying one, etc, etc and so on.

Well, the Food Adventures crew says .. STUFF IT ! Literally. We want to share our secret or not so secret tips for stuffing, which is just as important as the turkey!

*** CHEF HOUSE’S TAKE ON STUFFING: Try Bread Pudding as an alternative. Always use quality ingredients.

—Stuffing vs. Bread Pudding by Chef House: I love both equally. My step dad makes an insanely good oyster stuffing every year for Christmas. It is loaded up with stock, butter and of course lots of oysters. I think gizzards are in there too.

Chef House in the Living Dayton TV Kitchen

—Bread pudding is a pretty cool alternative in that it can be sweet or savory! I like how versatile it is. I, of course, slightly spice mine up, add veggies (duh!) and you can’t beat the cheese, eggs and cream 🙂

—My only tips for these two would be “use quality ingredients.” Make your own stock for the stuffing, or use a really good one, I love Trader Joe’s veggie stock, actually more than i like their chicken broth! It has way more flavor. Use good bread! This year I am adding spicy sausage and caramelized onions to my Green Sriracha and zucchini bread pudding.

Jax with a plate of freshly carved Turkey

Wow, are you drooling yet? We are just getting started on this Food Adventure Holiday edition….

HUNGRY JAX’S TAKE ON STUFFING: Don’t Stuff it ! Tweak it !

Hey fellow foodies… here are my tips on getting the most of your stuffing experience….

— I don’t ever put stuffing inside my turkey, I just cook it in a separate dish! Why? Because there is a slight risk of salmonella if the turkey is under cooked. By placing stuffing inside the turkey you’re creating longer and unreliable cooking times. Don’t risk turning a holiday into a sick day.

Jackie never puts stuffing in her turkeys. Maybe a few herbs…

—Here are some tweaks I have done with test recipes!

1. Stuffing muffins: basically take your favorite stuffing recipe and cook it in a well greased muffin cups instead. baking time will be shorter so keep an eye on them. But now you have individual servings!

2. Hollow out a pumpkin or any other favorite squash (acorn would be fun too!) and bake the stuffing in the squash! This is a great pairing with stuffing that has the flavors of sage, maple or even apples!

Jax added some cranberrys to this stuffing

3. Add ins: Doctor up a simple stuffing by adding apples, pears, maple sausage, bacon or pancetta! Raisins, crasins and water chestnuts are also great too!

Finally, we have the last crew member giving some tips:

THE BIG RAGU’S TAKE ON STUFFING: Go Italian with it.

Big Ragu chopping garlic in the DLM Culinary Center

The Big Ragu says “here is my super duper, top secret, family recipe for Italian style stuffing that is versatile, quick and easy.”

This recipe, developed by my mom, is used regularly by our family for turkey stuffing, stuffed artichokes, stuffed mushrooms and even stuffed clams. I have tweaked it in my own special way, but basically it comes down to …. the “butter drizzle” at the end.

ITALIAN STYLE STUFFING RECIPE:

Oyster Stuffing, Ready for the Oven at Big Ragu’s home

Ingredients: 1 Loaf of Bread, 2 Eggs, 2 TBS Minced Garlic, 3 dashes of garlic powder, 3 dashes black pepper, 1 can of chicken broth (14oz), 2 TBS dried Oregano, 2 TBS Basil (dried or fresh), and a stick of melted butter or 2.

Directions: Whirl a loaf of bread in a food processor (Ragu normally uses Wonder Bread) or chip a loaf of bread by hand into silver dollar size pieces. Place bread into a big mixing bowl. Add eggs and spices and mix by hand, no.. really, using your hand and fingers. All the time slowly adding chicken broth until stuffing is mixed and slightly wet. The stuffing is best cooked in a casserole dish at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes until golden brown. *** The final and maybe most important step: Right before serving, drizzle some hot, melted butter over the top of the dressing.

Ragu’s Turkey Stuffed with Lemon Halves and Quartered Onions

Want Oyster Suffing (Dressing)? Use the above recipe and add a pint or quart of raw oysters, depending on how much of a seafood lover you are.

But Ragu, you say… “You didn’t put the stuffing in the turkey?”

NOPE.. I always cook it in a separate dish.

Here is what I stuff all turkeys with: Equal amounts of lemon halves and quartered onions. I stuff them in until they are bursting out. But I never eat the onions or lemons.

We hope this helps make your Thanksgiving plate complete

So there you have it…

The Food Adventure Crew of Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu want to thank you for checking out our tips, and wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Follow us on Facebook by clicking HERE. We feature amazing photos, restaurant features, dinner events, charity events, recipes, cooking classes and so much more!

Feel free to browse some of our Holiday and party photos below.

Chef House’s Green Sriracha Bread Pudding !

Even use Ragu’s Stuffing for Artichokes

Use the same stuffing techniques for whole chicken dinners

Stuffed Clams by Big Ragu

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving

Stuffed Portabella Mushroom – ready for the oven

Never stuff a deep fried turkey

Stuffing and more, makes the turkey dinner even better.

Jackie basting her grilled Turkey

Just Stuff It ! With lemon halves and onion quartes

Just Stuff It ! With lemon halves and onion quarters

Pints & Whiskers

November 22, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Chris Paxton, owner of Centerville’s Whiskeryman Grooming Company is partnering with Warped Wing Brewing Company to present Dayton’s 2nd Annual Pints & Whiskers Beard and Mustache Competition at Warped Wing Brewery this Saturday night, Nov 26th. While it’s free to compete, participants must register, startingat 6pm and judging will take place at 8pm.

The four categories will be:

Todd -defending Beard Champ from 2015

1. Best Beard
2. Best Mustache
3. Best Partial Beard
4. Best Whiskerina – This is the women’s fake beard category. Fake beards are usually crazy and handcrafted monstrosities, made of everything from real human hair or yarn, to moss and flowers or even rubber snakes.

This event is for everyone and will help raise awareness and funds for the ALS Foundation. This organization is leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. A 50/50 raffle will take place that will help raise funds for one particular family in the Dayton area that is battling ALS.

Dayton Rotary Announces $50,000 Grant Opportunity

November 21, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The Rotary Club of Dayton Foundation is taking applications from non-profit organizations in the City of Dayton for a Signature Grant of $50,000, which will be awarded in April 2017. The first step of the process is for local non-profits to complete a Letter of Intent (LOI) which is available on the Dayton Rotary website.

The LOI is due by December 31, 2016. Based upon the Dayton Rotary Foundation’s review in January 2017, some applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application, which will be made available to them by the Foundation. The deadline will be March 31, 2017.

The Rotary Club of Dayton Foundation is taking applications from non-profit organizations for a Signature Grant of $50,000, which will be awarded in April 2017. The first step of the process is completing a Letter of Intent (LOI) which is available on the Dayton Rotary website.

The LOI is due on December 31, 2016. Based upon the Dayton Rotary Foundation’s review in January 2017, some applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application, which will be made available to them by the Foundation. The deadline for submission will be March 31, 2017.

This will be the first Signature Grant of this type made by the Foundation. The Rotary Club of Dayton Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the City of Dayton. The Signature Grant funding priority is to support a larger project or initiative in the City of Dayton, which is comprised of proactive programs and activities and will make a meaningful and sustainable impact and long-term change in the community.

Our three priority areas are:
· Community Enrichment: programs that drive economic development, contribute to a more well-rounded community experience and specialized learning opportunities.
· Education: innovative programming that expands access to, and improves the quality of, well-rounded educational experiences for people of all ages.
· Youth & Families: programs that ensure people of all ages and means have the ability to improve the quality of their lives.

For more information please contact Dona Vella, President, Rotary Club of Dayton Foundation at 937-275-7431 ext. 139. Please return your LOI to Laura at the Rotary Office [email protected]

**The Foundation will also be considering their traditional $3,000 grants for the December 31st cycle but will not be accepting them for the March 31st deadline.

For more information please contact Dona Vella, President, Rotary Club of Dayton Foundation at 937-275-7431 ext. 139.

Mystery Monday – November 21, 2016

November 21, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 41 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 40’s Mystery Photo is: The Sinclair Conference Center at Sinclair Community College‘s David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center (Building 12).

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Carley of Dayton. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 41:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Today is the Day of Transgender Remembrance

November 20, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Today is the world wide Transgender Day of Remembrance, dedicated to educating people about the trans community and the important issues trans people face worldwide, from hate crimes, to healthcare hurdles, to employment discrimination.

Created originally to honor Rita Hester, a highly visible member of the transgender community in her native Boston, MA where she worked locally on education around transgender issues. Rita was stabbed 20 times in her apartment. Almost two decades later, police still have not found Rita’s murderer (or murderers). In 1999, one year after Rita’s murder, advocate and writer Gwendolyn Ann Smith coordinated a vigil in Rita’s honor. The vigil commemorated not only Rita, but all who were tragically lost to anti-transgender violence.

Transgender Pride Flag

Findings from the ‘Injustice at Every Turn’ report conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the National LGBTQ Task Force showed alarming rates of violence and harassment expreienced by the more than 6,000 transgender repondents across a variety of contexts, including educational settings, at work, in interactions with police and with family members, at homeless shelters, accessing public accommodations, and in jails and prisons.

Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. The deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives.

The 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-affected Hate Violence Report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects shows that, of the victims murdered, 80% were people of color, 55% were transgender women, and 50% were transgender women of color. Transgender women survivors of hate violence were also more likely to experience police violence, physical violence, discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, threats, and intimidation compared to those who were not transgender women

Anti-transgender violence isn’t just directed at adults. Statistics from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) show that in schools, 16.2% of transgender students report being physically assaulted as a result of gender expression, while 32.5% experience physical harassment.

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center will host a Candlelight Ceremony today at 4pm to honor those lost to violence because they are Gender-Noncoforming. The Center is located at 24 N. Jefferson St, Suite 200 and all are welcome. Their will be a panel discussion with members of our local Transgender community, as well as welcoming remarks from Mayor Nan Whaley.

Fifth Third Bank’s $30 billion Community Development Plan

November 18, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Today, the Dayton Community Reinvestment Coalition, consisting of numerous organizations focused on fair and affordable housing, small business development, social services and workforce development, commended the $30 billion Community Development Plan announced by Fifth Third Bank.

The plan was developed in an agreement between Fifth Third and members and allies of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), including the Dayton Community Reinvestment Coalition. Dayton is expected to benefit substantially from the loans and investments included in this agreement.

Fifth Third’s Community Development Plan, starting in 2016 and taking place over five years, includes mortgage and small business lending, including micro-lending, community development lending and investing, philanthropy, and financial services for low- and moderate-income communities.

“Fifth Third’s commitment to investment in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in Dayton will help our community by leveraging other investments already taking place. Community Development organizations like County Corp are looking forward to working directly with 5/3 to implement these investments,” said Adam Black, Vice President of Housing, County Corp.

“Sustainable neighborhood revitalization is only possible with the support of both the public and private sectors. Fifth Third’s public benefit agreement demonstrates a commitment to provide valuable private resources to Dayton-area communities most in need. Greater Dayton Premier Management is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the process and work hand in hand with partner agencies seeking to improve communities,” added Kiya Patrick-Director, Planning and Development, Greater Dayton Premier Management

“As a member of the Dayton community, I am pleased to see that Fifth Third has made a commitment to ensuring financial services to low- and moderate-income communities and individuals as well as small businesses,” said Catherine Crosby, executive director, City of Dayton Human Relations Council. “Small businesses are the primary employers in Dayton, which makes it critical to ensure that resources are available not only for financial stability, but also to build capacity through technical assistance. We look forward to continuing our partnership to fulfill mutual goals for economical sustainability in diverse low- and moderate-income communities in Dayton.”

“This substantive and detailed community development plan was the result of a collaborative process with community members and bank leaders,” said NCRC President & CEO John Taylor. “We applaud President & CEO Greg Carmichael and the senior leadership of Fifth Third, who after putting out a significant community commitment earlier in the year, were willing and eager to deeply engage NCRC and its member organizations in significant discussions to ensure the commitments made were in areas of the greatest community need and put in place rigorous accountability for their bank and the communities they serve.”

The Community Development Plan was developed through meetings with NCRC and 135 other community-based organizations across Fifth Third’s footprint.

The Community Development Plan will:

*   Fund $11 billion in mortgage lending to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities;
*   Fund $10 billion in small business lending in all markets and communities to businesses with gross annual revenue below $1 million;
*   Fund $9 billion in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) community development loans and investments. This includes support for affordable housing, revolving loan funds, community development corporations, community development financial institutions, community pre-development resources, housing rehab loan pools, and community land trusts and landbanks;
*   Fund $93 million in philanthropy;
*   Work to ensure adequate access to bank branches in low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color, including opening at least 10 new branches.

The Dayton organizations signed on to the plan include:

ABLE
City of Dayton Human Relations Council
CityWide Development Corporation
County Corp
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Dayton Premier Management
HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton
Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, Inc.
Miami Valley Urban League
Montgomery County
Ohio SBDC at The Entrepreneurs Center
Small Business Development Center at Wright State University
The Omega Community Development Corporation
Wesley Community Center.

Mystery Monday – November 14, 2016

November 14, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 40 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 39’s Mystery Photo is: Cooper Park in downtown Dayton via the third floor of the currently under construction Dayton Metro Library Main location.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Demarus of Dayton. Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 40:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

DP&L’s Gift of Power Helps Those In Need Stay Warm

November 11, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Power and Light Company (DP&L) is proud to announce the Gift of Power program’s second season. The fund provides emergency relief for DP&L customers struggling to pay their winter heating bills.

Gift of Power helps customers who are just above the income guidelines for other Ohio Energy Assistance programs and are experiencing a financial hardship, such as the loss of a spouse or an unexpected cost, making it difficult to stay current with their bills. The goal is to prevent disconnection or help quickly restore customers who have been disconnected. The program begins the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17, 2017) and runs through April 15, 2017.

The program’s inaugural year was very successful, helping over 400 families in the service territory. “The launch of Gift of Power more than exceeded our expectations. We were hoping for a strong first year, and thanks to the generous donations and support from our community, that happened. The response was tremendous from our customers, employees and other stakeholders, who donated an additional $60,000 to DP&L’s initial funding. We are grateful to everyone who helped our Ohio neighbors stay warm,” said Tom Raga, DP&L’s President and CEO.

DP & L is again partnering with The Salvation Army, who will be administering the program. The kickoff will launch with a $115,000 DP&L corporate grant.

To apply, donate online, or learn more about the Gift of Power program, visit dpandl.com/gift.