Community

Dayton Dia de Muertos Celebration and Parade

November 1, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

More than 1000+ people have celebrated Dia de los Muertos in Dayton, making it a huge success. We’re doing it again on November 1st 2015!

Dia de los Muertos is a special day celebrated throughout Latin America, on which people remember loved ones who have died. The Dayton celebration will be in the Mexican tradition of celebrating with bright colors, imagery of calaveras (skulls) and more, but recognizes all Day of the Dead traditions. This is a free and family-friendly event.

The kick off will be at 200 S. Jefferson Street. Here’s the time line:

1:15 p.m. Sugar skull face painting

2:30 p.m. Parade starts, marching from Jefferson through the Oregon District and ending at Missing Peace Art Space.

3:30 p.m. Celebration, community ofrendas (altars) exhibition, and enjoy hot chocolate and coffee provided by Saxby’s Oakwood. Dayton food trucks PA’s Pork and world class tamales from Orgullo Mexican will be available for purchase for everyone whose hungry.

Dia de los Muertos 2015 Dayton commemorative sweatshirts and t shirts available for sale at Missing Peace Art Space.

Nucleus CoShare Creating Community Video

October 27, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Nucleus CoShare is working on a community project that they predict will become a viral sensation! Everyone involved is donating their time out of love for our city. In order to keep the element of surprise, we can’t tell you all the details- just that it will be a music video focused on Dayton.

The Oregon District Business Association, Downtown Dayton Partnership and Mayor Nan Whaley have endorsed this project. Everyone involved is donating their time out of love for our city.

They need several hundred people to fill the streets of the Oregon District, much like a parade, promptly at 3PM on October 31st, as we have permission to use the street closure before Hauntfest begins.

This will be quite the production, which is why they want you to be a part of it! If you are part of a business or organization that would enjoy some viral exposure, bring banners and wear T-shirts!

If you are part of a business or organization that would enjoy some viral exposure, bring banners, wear t-shirts, mascots – anything to stand out! Let’s show everyone how awesome Dayton is!

To guarantee you receive ALL the details for the filming please sign up here.

Please arrive promptly at 2:30pm to check in/sign waiver in the parking lot at the corner of Jackson and Gates streets behind the Oregon District Goodwill.

ACTIVATED SPACES’ POP-UP PROJECT TO OPEN TWO NEW DOWNTOWN RETAIL SHOPS

October 26, 2015 By Dayton937

Two new businesses are preparing to open their doors in downtown Dayton this fall.

· Kneaded Bodies Massage, 29 W. First St.: Kneaded Bodies Massage strives to offer superior wellness services through traditional massage as well as chair massage. In addition to massage, Kneaded Bodies will have affordable, natural skincare products available for purchase. Kneaded Bodies gives those who live and work downtown the ability to participate in their own wellness and therapeutic goals just minutes from their home or office. Kneaded Bodies Massage will host a grand opening event during November’s First Friday on November 6.
Baker Salvage Co., 31 S. St. Clair St. (St. Clair Lofts): Baker Salvage Co. is a custom furniture and décor company. Their home goods are made from reclaimed wood and salvaged materials. Stock items and commission custom-built pieces are available for purchase, including farmhouse tables, coffee and side tables, signs and wall décor, headboards, and even light fixtures made from reclaimed wood, glass, and metal. Baker Salvage Co. will open in early November.

The new shops are part of the ninth retail phase of the Pop-Up Project, part of an initiative to fill downtown storefronts called Activated Spaces. This program builds on the success of the first eight phases of the Pop-Up Project, launched in November 2011, to provide potential business owners the opportunity for shorter leases at below-market rates as a way for them to jump-start their businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Dayton. Since it was started, the project has launched 21 shops (16 of which are still open), filled approximately 16,000 square feet of previously vacant space and created 42 jobs. “We are so excited to open Baker Salvage Co. and Kneaded Bodies Massage in our fall 2015 round of pop-up shops,” said Pop-Up project leader, Elise Huelskamp. “We’re confident Activated Spaces will continue to highlight the available amenities and potential for business owners to thrive downtown alongside hundreds of other businesses.”

Pop-Up Shops from the previous phases of the project include:

Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.;
Vintage Barber Shop, 110 W. Fifth St.;
Peace on Fifth, 234 Dutoit St.;
Pi Style, 37 S. St. Clair St.;
Green Baby, now located at the 2nd Street Market,
Spice Paradise and Hicks’ Barber Shop & Shave Parlor, both located at 16 Brown Street:
Confetti, 42 W. Fifth St;
Twist Cupcakery, 25 S. St. Clair St.;
Fronana, 27 W. First Street,
Mitosis, 14 W. First St.
In addition, Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave., has expanded to a new location over twice the size of their original Pop-Up Shop location.

The Pop-Up Project is driven by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and UpDayton with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, the City of Dayton Neighborhood Mini-Grant program and community volunteers. Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information about Activated Spaces.

Halloween Happenings!

October 23, 2015 By Melissa Ledinsky

Daytonians Halloween is just around the corner and there are many active events to help celebrate this holiday! Even though Halloween is next weekend, things are ramping up this Saturday and Sunday to get you ‘in the spirit’. Two adventurous activities this Saturday evening and a costume run on Sunday, not to mention many fall festivals and farms to visit in the Dayton area, you are all set to have a spook-tacular active life!

The Halloween Happening Event takes place at Lost Creek Reserve in Troy this Saturday, October 24 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Guests of all ages are invited to drop by and experience a crisp, fall night hike around the historic Knoop farm aglow with jack-o’-lanterns, deeming this ‘the jack-o’-lantern hike’. Be sure to stop by the barn at the end of the hike to enjoy some delicious fall treats. The corn maze will also be open from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Remember to bring a flashlight and anything else to help guide you on this festive experience. Extra bonus: the entire evening is free, Happy Halloween!

Also on Saturday is a very unique event hosted by The GCP&T Trail Sentinels. Grab your bike and come on out to Xenia Station for a night ride to Beavercreek Community Park. The GCP&T Trail Sentinels are an elite volunteer group who patrol the trails and coordinate several cycling events. All riders must be 18 or older and have a helmet. The ride starts at 7:00 p.m. Join the Sentinels for a moonlight ride, and celebrate Halloween by adding lighting to yourself or bicycle to travel the trails! Extra bonus: another free event, hooray!

After all of that evening activity on Saturday, make sure to get a goodnight’s sleep and be ready for the 3rd Annual Club IMPACT Costume 5K/10K and Monster Mile on Sunday, October 25. Help support Miamisburg’s Club IMPACT, a youth enrichment after school program. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Motivation, Perseverance, Attitude, Character and Teamwork. Club IMPACT is a free program that serves both boys and girls in grades 3-8 through the city of Miamisburg. The event takes place at Riverfront Park in Miamisburg at 4:30 p.m. Micro chipped timing, door prizes and refreshments will be available; registration begins at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The cost for the 5K/10K is $25, and the Monster Mile is $10. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged to compete in all events. Break out that favorite Halloween getup, grab your running shoes and join the race. Prizes will be awarded to Best Individual Costume (male and female; youth and adult), Best Couple and Best Group Costume. Sounds like a fun way to celebrate the season and support a great cause at the same time!

There are a variety of events going on this weekend to help get you in that Halloween spirit! Whether it’s hiking, biking, or running/walking by moonlight or by sunlight there’s something for everyone this weekend and it’s all happening in your community. Let’s get out, get moving, and celebrate Halloween Dayton!

Launch of the Girl Develop It Dayton chapter

October 19, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

On October 20th, head to Proto Build Bar in Downtown Dayton to celebrate the launch of the Girl Develop It Dayton chapter. This event will provide an opportunity to learn more about Girl Develop It and also the chance to win a FREE course with GDI Dayton! There will be food, drinks (cash bar) and lots of conversation.

Girl Develop It is a national organization that provides affordable and accessible programs to women who want to learn web and software development. GDI offers mentorship and hands-on instruction in a supportive environment for learning skills such as coding, creating graphics, building apps, and business development. Their motto, “Don’t be shy. Develop it,” is a window into their philosophy that there’s no such thing as a “silly” question. Armed with your new skills, you will be more marketable!

At the Launch Party, you’ll learn more about what Girl Develop It Dayton has to offer, and how to sign up for upcoming programs. You’ll also have the opportunity to mix and mingle with other women interested in technology and local developers.

Proto has also generously offered all attendees 25% off 3D printing sessions! These are usually $20 per 90 minute print. Be sure to bring your own STL or OBJ file on a USB flash drive or create one on site. Visit thingiverse.com and tinkercad.com to find and modify designs.

If you want to be a part of an exciting opportunity to grow and empower the female tech community of Dayton the organizers, Sara Cope and Catherine Devlin would love to meet you.

Sponsoring this event is Build Right, a division of Sparkbox, created to inspire and empower a Web built right. Build Right is excited to present a full-day workshop with Ethan Marcotte on November 5, right here in Dayton, Ohio. For more information, visit buildright.io/maker-series.

It’s Sweetest Day!

October 17, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Sweetest Day is an original American holiday not based on any group’s religious tradition. It’s simply a reminder that a thoughtful word, deed or small gift enriches the life of the recipient as well as the person giving it.

Sweetest Day, observed on the 3rd Saturday in the month of October has its origin in Cleveland in 1922, during the Great Depression. Legend has it that Sweetest Day was established by Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio, candy company employee who wanted to bring happiness to the lives of those who often were forgotten. Kingston and others distributed candy and small gifts to orphans, people confined to their homes and others to show them that someone cared.

In the early 1930s, movie stars got into the act. Ann Pennington distributed candy to 2,200 Cleveland newspaper boys, and Theda Bara gave candy to theater-goers and patients in Cleveland hospitals.

In time, the Sweetest Day idea of spreading cheer broadened to include everyone from family members to sweethearts and coworkers to acquaintances.

Observance of Sweetest Day is still most prevalent in the Great Lakes region where the holiday originated, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. But today, the once-regional celebration of Sweetest Day has spread throughout the country.

Sweetest Day celebrations are similar to Valentine’s Day in most locations, with the most popular gifts and acknowledgements being cards, flowers, chocolates and candy. Hallmark first made Sweetest Day cards in the mid-1960s.

Dayton Police Launch “Safe Exchange” Spots

October 12, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The Dayton Police Department’s East Patrol Operations Division announces the launch of the Safe Exchange program. Safe Exchange is designed to provide a safe location for families to make custodial exchanges and to assist residents with the exchange of products purchased or sold online. This service is part of the Dayton Police Department’s commitment to community safety.

There are now designated areas at East Patrol Operations Division North (417 E. Helena St.) and East Patrol Operations Division South (2721 Wayne Ave.) where online buyers/sellers and parents or guardians can meet to make needed exchanges.

Once both parties have agreed on exchange terms, they may meet at one of the two locations and look for the “Safe Exchange Zone” sign near the main entrance. The building lobby at the either location will be available during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). If the lobby is not accessible, the parking lot is also a safe exchange zone because it is monitored and recorded by video surveillance. In addition, a peace officer may be requested to be present during the exchange by calling 333-COPS.

No firearms are permitted anywhere on Dayton Police Department property. The Department will not be utilized to make transactions of illegal products, dangerous or deadly weapons, or any other dangerous materials.

While the Safe Exchange program has been established to provide a safe area for online buyers and sellers to meet, it is important to remember that the people you meet online are strangers and may not have your best interests in mind.

Here is some additional information to consider when making or planning online purchases or transactions:
Use websites you are familiar with.
Never provide personal information over the Internet.
Never make an online purchase using a credit card on a site that does not have an SSL.
When taking photos, utilize the cut and paste method from a Word document. This will make it difficult to utilize GPS location programs.
Use photos only of the item(s) you are selling. Other items in the background can represent additional targets for a would-be criminal.
Ask a lot of questions.
Don’t go to a transaction alone, and show up early.

Free Shuttle Offers Alternative Option for Oregon District Parking

October 9, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

With downtown Dayton’s Oregon District thriving and first-floor retail occupancy more than 95 percent, community leaders are taking steps to alleviate congested parking lots in the popular entertainment area. The Downtown Dayton Partnership, Oregon District Business Association (ODBA), City of Dayton, ABM Parking Services, and Citywide Development Corp. are teaming up to offer low-cost parking along with complimentary shuttle service.

Oregon District visitors may now park in the Transportation Center Garage, located at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson streets between The Neon movie theater and the Convention Center, at a reduced $3 rate Fridays and Saturdays between 5 pm and 1 am.

To help ensure visitors arrive at their destinations quickly and efficiently, a complimentary shuttle will transport visitors from the garage to several stops throughout the Oregon District. The shuttle will run continuously, picking people back up from those stops and returning them to the garage. The hop-on, hop-off shuttle will make several stops throughout the Oregon District, helping patrons reach many businesses in a short amount of time. Shuttle hours on Fridays and Saturdays will be 5 pm to 1 am.

“The Oregon District has never been a more popular destination for shopping, dining, brewpubs and other activities,” said ODBA President Mike Martin. “With our growing number of new businesses and our mainstays expanding, we’re seeing lots of new guests to downtown and the Oregon District, and we want to ensure all our patrons – old and new – can easily find a parking space and quickly get to their favorite Oregon District destinations.”

The garage also is within easy walking distance. For example, from the garage, it’s only a 5-minute walk to Jay’s Seafood Restaurant, a 7-minute walk to Toxic Brewing Co., and 9 minutes to walk to the Dublin Pub. The reduced garage rate and complimentary shuttle will launch Friday, October 16.

“How long do you usually spend driving around looking for a space?” said Robin Sassenberg, owner of The Trolley Stop at 530 E. Fifth St. “With the garage, you arrive downtown, park in the garage, relax in the shuttle or walk a few blocks, and that’s it. You can hop on and hop off the shuttle to get to and from many locations quickly. It’s simple and easy.

“I anticipate the shuttle will become a very popular choice in the coming cold weather,” she said.

More information on the Oregon District Shuttle, including a map of its route and stops can be found online.. Find locations and rates for other garages, public lots, and more parking information online at www.EasyParkDowntown.org.

Boys Night Out with Mom!

October 9, 2015 By LIbby Ballengee

The 1st Annual “Boys Night Out with Mom” is a new event, sponsored by the Red Shoe Society of Dayton and the Jr. Red Shoe Society. This event is open to area mothers, grandmothers, and friends with their sons, to share a an evening of dancing and games, in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Dayton.

Ticket price includes dinner and dancing! There will be raffles, a photo station, a ‘smores bar and laser tag! Too cool! Plus, the memories you’ll make are priceless!

All proceeds from this event benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dayton and its mission to provide a home-away-from-home to families of critically ill or injured, hospitalized babies and children. Space is limited, so register now!

How to go?

Sunday, October 11th, 5pm—8pm

NCR Country Club, 4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering OH 45429

$38 per guest. Registration is required! Click here for tickets.

For ticket and RSVP information please visit: www.rmhcdayton.org

Dayton Native Zac Pitts Joins Living Dayton Team

October 8, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

WDTN-TV today announced the addition of Dayton native Zac Pitts to the Living Dayton team. Pitts comes to Living Dayton from WCPO-TV in Cincinnati where he’s spent the last year and a half as a morning reporter.

“We are thrilled to have Zac join our Living Dayton family,” said Joe Abouzeid, WDTN-TV President & General Manager. “He has strong ties to the community and will be an asset to the Living Dayton team.”

Pitts was born and raised in Dayton and is an alum of Chaminade-Julienne High School. He went on to the University of Dayton and graduated with a degree in Electronic Media Communications.

“I’m honored with the opportunity to come back home and join the amazing team assembled on Living Dayton,” said Pitts. “The Miami Valley is a great place to live and I can’t wait to do my part to showcase the best that Dayton has to offer.”

Pitts will be joined by co-hosts Katie Kenney and Sallie Taylor beginning Wednesday, October 21st. Living Dayton airs live each weekday from Noon to 1pm on WDTN-TV.

A Difference Maker In Dayton: Firehouse Subs

October 7, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

While they may be known for their mouthwatering hot subs, piled high with meats and cheeses, Firehouse Subs also gives back to the community by way of their Public Safety Foundation. This Thursday, October 8^th, Firehouse Subs will be launching their very first Foundation Day of Thanks.

Firehouse Subs will be celebrating a $39,000 donation to the Kettering and Fairborn Fire Departments. “Donations from Firehouse Subs round up at the register program and the sale of our 5 gallon pickle buckets have raised the funds to provide two state of the art chest compression systems to Kettering and one to Fairborn through our foundation,” according to Dave Baker, franchise owner of the Kettering Firehouse Subs. “In the past year we’ve funded two of these automated defibrillators for Huber Heights, one for Vandalia and I believe Xenia was just approved for one. I’ve heard that Kettering has already saved 2 lives with their equipment.”

Founded in 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to provide funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations. Since the organization was founded, they have donated over $14 Million to heroes nationwide and nearly $650,000 in the state of Ohio alone.

You can stop by Firehouse Subs to join in the festivities! The fun begins bright and early at 10:30AM at the UD location on Oakwood Avenue. Meet Firehouse Subs representatives and firefighters and other first responders and enjoy a sub while you’re at it.

Dayton area Firehouse Sub locations:

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6 Oakwood Ave · (937) 813-1585

Open 10:30am until 9pm

North Heights Plaza

8436 Old Troy Pike · (937) 938-9737

Open 10:30am until 10pm

4301 Far Hills Ave · (937) 298-4444

Open 10:30am until 9pm

Do you know someone who’s making a difference in the Dayton region? Someone who gives of their time and talent to make our community a better place? An unsung hero that is quietly making an effort to make someone’s life a little better? Nominate them as a DMM Difference Maker and we’ll honor them and share their story. Send us an email with their story.

Masquerage Chair Named United Way’s Volunteer of the Month!

October 1, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Lauren Williams LIVES UNITED by “using my energy in a positive way in our community.” Lauren volunteers with AIDS Resource Center Ohio and is the chair of 2015’s Masquerage and United Way of the Greater Dayton Area’s Volunteer Connection is proud to have Lauren as October’s Volunteer of the Month.

Lauren grew up in Centerville and graduated from Wright State University. She is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Brookdale Senior Living, just recently celebrated her first wedding anniversary with her husband Brad and has three dogs.

She attended a Masquerage and knew she wanted to get involved witb ARC Ohio. She has been on the associate board for four years and is a leading volunteer. ARC activities in the run-up to Masquerage occupy several hours a week.

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Lauren and Brenden Wynn representing the ARC Ohio Associate Board at the Levin Family Foundation Health Fair

Lauren has volunteered since childhood. Both of her grandmothers taught her “about the value of giving back and instilled a spirit of volunteerism.” She says she encourages others to volunteer by “talking about my positive experience and thus encouraging them to participate in opportunities.”She has also volunteered with Alzheimer’s causes. When not busy volunteering she enjoys reading and baking.

United Way’s Volunteer Connection is proud to recognize AIDS Resource Center’s Lauren Williams as Volunteer of the Month for October, 2015.

First Four Men’s Basketball Championship Tickets On Sale October 17

October 1, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Tickets to preliminary rounds of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship go on sale at 10 am local time Saturday, Oct. 17, to each host city. Fans wishing to buy tickets to the First Four®, first- and second-round games or regional competition should go to www.NCAA.com/MBBTickets.

The 2016 championship begins on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, March 15-16, with the First Four — four firstround games taking place in Dayton, Ohio. First- and second-round action takes place Thursday and Saturday, March 17 and 19, in Denver; Des Moines, Iowa; Providence, Rhode Island; and Raleigh, North Carolina. Also, hosting first- and second-round games Friday and Sunday, March 18 and 20, will be Brooklyn, New York; Oklahoma City, St. Louis and Spokane, Washington.
Louisville, Kentucky, will serve as the South Regional site and Anaheim, California, will host the West Regional
on Thursday and Saturday, March 24 and 26. Philadelphia will be the site for the East Regional and Chicago will host the Midwest Regional on Friday and Sunday, March 25 and 27.

“This is a great opportunity for college basketball fans to see March Madness® in some of our traditional cities
with a long history of hosting the tournament, as well as a couple of new cities that have never hosted before,” said Dan
Gavitt, the NCAA’s vice president of men’s basketball. “From major markets to smaller cities, there’s a great chance that
America’s best sporting event is going to be played reasonably close to any fan in the country, so it’s a terrific opportunity to come watch history unfold.”

“The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament generates an enormous level of excitement and passion
from a global fan base,” said JP Nauseef, Chairman of The Big Hoopla NCAA First Four Local Organizing Committee.
“Each Spring, fans from across the Dayton region and Ohio demonstrate their commitment as host to the tip-off of March Madness and the home to the epicenter of college basketball. First Four ticket sales and game attendance have continued to exceed expectations thanks to longstanding support from America’s most passionate college basketball fans right here in Dayton, Ohio. We believe this year will be no different.”

The 78th NCAA Men’s Final Four® will be co-hosted on April 2 and 4 by the University of Houston, Rice
University and Texas Southern University. General tickets to the games at NRG Stadium in Houston are sold out, but fans still have the opportunity to purchase ticket and hospitality packages from PrimeSport, the official ticket and hospitality provider of the NCAA, by visiting www.NCAA.com/VIP. The NCAA Experience® ticket and hospitality packages for all preliminary rounds of the championship can also be purchased at that website via PrimeSport.

East Fifth Street Named One of “Great Places in America

October 1, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

The American Planning Association (APA) today named East Fifth Street in Dayton as one of five Great Streets on the organization’s annual Great Places in America list.

Photo by Tom Gilliam

Dayton’s East Fifth Street, stretching a quarter mile through the city’s popular Oregon District, is lined with century-old buildings, shops, restaurants, taverns and attractions, making it one of the region’s premier destinations.

A brief ceremonial event will be held at “Trolley Stop Plaza” (530 E. Fifth St.) on Friday, Oct. 2, at 5:30 pm. The event will announce the Great Place designation and will kick off the First Friday celebration for October. Commissioner Matt Joseph, local business leaders and representatives of the American Planning Association are scheduled to attend.
East Fifth Street also features bike share stations, a pedestrian-focused design and signature features such as ornamental lighting, stamped concrete crosswalks and landscaped sidewalks. The street is home to the monthly First Friday celebration, as well as Hauntfest, Taste of the Oregon District, and a variety of other events, nightlife and attractions.
The Fifth Street honor marks the first time an APA Great Place honoree has been named in Ohio outside of Cleveland, Cincinnati or Columbus.
As part of National Community Planning Month, APA’s Great Places in America program recognizes streets, neighborhoods and public spaces in the United States demonstrating exceptional character, quality, and attributes that enrich communities, facilitate economic growth, and inspire others around the country.
In addition to Dayton’s East Fifth Street, APA is also recognizing the following four streets this year:

Third Street (McMinnville, Oregon)
Laura Street (Jacksonville, Florida)
Lexington Avenue (Asheville, North Carolina)
Olvera Street (Los Angeles, CA)

The metal gateway signifies that Fifth Street is at the heart of the Oregon District, a historic and bustling neighborhood in Dayton. Photo Tom Gilliam.

“This year’s list highlights the power of a single well-planned street to stimulate economic activity and energize an entire community,” said Carol Rhea, FAICP, president of APA. “We applaud those who have worked hard through careful planning, public engagement and innovation to build better places to live, work, play and visit–one street at a time.”

For more information about these streets, as well as APA’s top four Great Neighborhoods and top six Great Public Spaces for 2015 and previous years, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to suggest an additional favorite public space, neighborhood or street to earn a “People’s Choice” designation. During the first half of October, individuals can offer suggestions via APA’s social media channels, using the hashtag #greatplaces. APA will then select five finalists, after which the public can visit planning.org to vote for a favorite.
The American Planning Association is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides leadership in the development of vital communities. Since launching the Great Places in America program in 2007, APA has recognized 245 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces around the country. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for the future.

Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan Available Without Prescription

September 30, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio) through its subsidiary, AMC Ohio Pharmacy, is now able to dispense naloxone (also known as Narcan®), a medication used to reverse opioid overdose, without a prescription. This move makes the AMC Ohio Pharmacy the first public pharmacy in Dayton to offer this service.

According to Joel Diaz, Chief Marketing & Community Affairs Officer for ARC Ohio, “the protocol requires individuals to get two doses, two nasal sprays and two adapters run less than $100 cash. It also can be billed to most insurance companies & Medicaid. All someone has to do is go into the pharmacy and request it, the pharmacist will then walk them through the protocol.”
The decision comes in response to Ohio’s increasing opiate epidemic and after Governor John Kasich signed HB 4 into law this past summer which gave authorization to pharmacists or pharmacy interns to dispense naloxone without a prescription, in accordance with a physician-approved protocol.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, more than 13,000 Ohioans have lost their lives to drug overdoses since 1999. On average approximately five people die each day in Ohio due to drug overdose. Opioids, which include heroin and narcotic prescription painkillers, are the leading cause of most overdose deaths. Individuals with liver disease and/or HIV have an increased risk for overdose.

When administered during an opioid overdose, naloxone reverses the effects of the overdose within seconds; however it must be administered while calling 911 for medical assistance. Naloxone blocks receptors in the brain from the effects of the opioids and can restore breathing. It may be administered by intramuscular injection, intranasal spray or auto-injector.

Naloxone was administered 74,000 times in Ohio from 2003 to 2012. “Naloxone is a proven harm reduction strategy and life-saving tool to help in the fight against drug overdose” says ARC Ohio President & CEO, Bill Hardy. “Our goal is to help save lives.”

Increased access to naloxone is part of a harm reduction strategy being implemented by ARC Ohio which seeks to reduce the negative consequences associated with drug use, reduce the overall level of drug consumption and help prevent new HIV and other blood-borne infections.

Get Married at Masquerage 2015

September 28, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Masquerage, an annual event that raises funds for AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio), is known for its incredible themes that raise the bar each year on décor and patron attire, and this year is no exception. Masquerage 2015 guests as well as the venue will be decked out Vegas-style to celebrate Sin City in the Gem City. This year, ARC Ohio and its Associate Board are “upping the stakes” and adding a new element to Dayton’s “parties of parties for a cause.”

This year couples attending Masquerage will be able to get married at the event. “Kitschy chapel weddings are one of the staples of the Las Vegas Strip,” said ARC Ohio Masquerage Committee Chair Lauren Williams. “Thanks to the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, we now have the opportunity to add an extra special element to this year’s Masquerage that is open to everyone.” Weddings may be added as a premium ticket package.

Masquerage attendees who wish to commit to their significant others during the event can purchase one of two ticket options: The Chapel of Love package ($200) includes two general admission tickets to Masquerage plus the ceremony and officiant, cupcakes, wedding photos, and champagne to toast. The High Roller package ($400) includes everything in the Chapel of Love package, with two special features: upgrades to the Red Ribbon Lounge and special guest officiant Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. “I am proud to celebrate marriage equality,” said Mayor Nan Whaley. “I appreciate the opportunity to marry couples and support ARC Ohio.”

Tickets to this year’s Masquerage, to be held Sat, October 17th at the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairground, are on sale now from ticket ambassadors or online at www.masquerage.org. Many more volunteers are needed to help the nonprofit throw the big bash; volunteer opportunities and online registration are also available at the website.

Since its inception, fundraising event Masquerage has raised more than $1.25 million in unrestricted funds in support of ARC Ohio’s life-saving services. More than 9,000 Masquerage attendees have enjoyed a unique and entertaining experience while supporting ARC Ohio.