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Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities Sep. 25-Oct. 2

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Get to know your neighborhood

The City of Dayton and it’s 64 official neighborhoods. Image: City of Dayton

Some of our most effective urban revitalization comes from the city’s many neighborhood associations, yet a lot of my well-intentioned friends have never been involved with their local group. Some of them don’t even seem to know what neighborhood they live in. (No, all of Southeast Dayton is not Belmont like your realtor told you.) So I thought I’d take a minute to share with you the City of Dayton neighborhood directory and map, divided into 64 unique planning districts. Sometimes the planning district name might not be the same as the common neighborhood or historic district name – for instance Five Points is now known more as Wright-Dunbar and Historic Inner East as St. Anne’s, Huffman, and Newcom Plain. I also asked our Facebook group members to help me compile a list of neighborhoods with a web presence and here’s what we came up with. Let us know what we missed in the comments section below. Once you find your neighborhood, introduce yourself at their monthly meeting!

Get Involved

Twin Towers neighborhood teens meet with updayton to plan a new park for their neighborhood

  • Our updayton Streetvival team is moving forward with plans to turn a vacant lot at the heart of the Twin Towers neighborhood (Xenia & McClure) into an outdoor ‘reading room’ and performance space with an interactive chalkboard mural. This month we met with the neighborhood association and teens from Peace Academy and Camino de Vida after school programs. In October we will host a Fall Work Weekend to lay the groundwork for completing our pocket park at Xenia & McClure in the spring. Saturday, Oct. 13 at 10am (prep/prime wall and plant trees) and Sunday, Oct 14 at 1pm (paint chalkboard). Contact me to get involved.
  • The “Old” Yellow Cab Building is a 7,000 sqft grassroots community arts space at the eastern edge of the Oregon District near Garden Station; both began as initiatives of the Circus Creative Collective. They could always use help from handy volunteers, and in particular are looking for someone with HVAC experience to get furnaces up and running in their garage performance space. Let Jeff Opt know if you’re that person, or if you’d like to use the space for a creative event, contact Christina Lewis.
  • Garden Station still needs more volunteers at their weekly Saturday morning work sessions. Show up at 4th and Wayne from 8:30am to noon and Lisa  will put you to work!

    Bike Miami Valley found some great volunteers for their valet through this column, including these UD students!

  • What to do with that vacant lot?– Got some energy to help clear the weeds next door? Get a head start on next year’s season by registering with the City’s Care A Lot program. Or learn how to take it over as your own through Lot Links.
  • The Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence is hosting a community discussion on what you can do to reduce violence in your neighborhood, Thursday, Sep. 27, 5:30-7:30pm, Northwest Recreational Facility. A nice overview on Dayton’s innovative community policing and its chief can be found here.
  • Walnut Hills Delivery Crew – The mayor’s ‘hood, Walnut Hills, is building a team to hand deliver its new newsletter. So if you live in Walnut Hills, leave a comment here.
  • The last alley sweep of the year will be in Historic Huffman. I’m sure they’d welcome extra hands from everywhere!: Jeff Heath, 301-8556
  • Quick & affordable housing – Check out this cool video of how 100+ Habitat volunteers raised a house in eight minutes last Saturday. To volunteer in the future, visit their website.
  • Don’t forget the downtown dog park cleanup we mentioned last week! Deeds Point, Saturday and Sunday, Sep. 29-30, 9am to 1ish each day. Bring your dog, gloves and any brush removal tool you own. Contact Karen Stephens, 510-6900.

Just For Fun

Volunteers led creative PARK(ing) Day activities in the parklets, from yoga to stories to drumming.

  • Yarnbomb Dayton (or just knit)! – Noticed any colorful ‘knit graffiti’ around the Oregon District? It was probably the work of the Oregon Sip-n-Stitch, which meets every 4th Thursday (e.g. this Thursday) at Deaf Monty’s Inn Port d’Vino from 5-8. Open to any ‘portable handcrafts.’ Wine, beer and light snacks are available for purchase; BYO snacks to share are welcome. Contact Margot.
  • Yogic takeover of the boulevard! When the famous Olmstead Brothers designed South Park’s lovely Park Drive boulevard in the 1880s, I bet they never imagined dozens of yogis praticing their sun salutations. Join the first-ever Yoga on the Boulevard with Practice Yoga, Friday, Sep. 28, 6pm.
  • Meet your Salem Avenue-area neighbors at the Festival of Neighborhoods, Saturday, Sep. 29, 3-6pm, Grace United Methodist.
  • Blanket concert – The Patterson Park neighborhood has planned a community concert on their commons. Sunday, Sep. 30, 6-8pm.

Don’t forget to e-mail me your items and report back with your successes!

Dine and Dish with The League of Women Voters

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Since 1916, when the first woman was elected to the US Congress, fewer than 10 percent of all members have been women. Why is this number so extraordinarily small? And how has the presence of women in the electoral arena changed over the past hundred years?  The League of Women Voters welcomes Barbara Palmer, co-author of Women and Congressional Elections: A Century of Change to Dine & Dish on Friday, Sept 28th from 5:30-7pm at Sa Bai Asian Cuisine on the corner of Fifth & Jefferson Streets.

Join Barbara in a discussion about the unexpected consequences that shape the integration of women into political offices. Heavy appetizers, wine and a chocolate buffet will round out the evening.  Pay online using the PayPal link. Questions? Call the League Office at 228-4041.

 

PARK(ing) Day 2012 – Dayton Edition

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A much better use of a parking space...

In cities around the globe today, artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day.”

Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Daychallenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”

This year Garden Station‘s Project Manager, Lisa Helm, has has coordinated several local organizations to sponsor parks. The Main Branch of the Dayton Metro Library is sponsoring a park in front of the library on St Clair. Garden Station is sponsoring a park in front of Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District, and City Hall is sponsoring a park on Ludlow Street. MetroParks is loaning plants for the day and Green Velvet Sod Farms has donated sod, which will end up at Garden Station. The Oregon District PARK(ing) Day park will have programming throughout the day including kids activities, yoga class and concerts. This is the fourth year Dayton will participate in the event.

Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2011 included 975 “PARK” installations in more than 160 cities in 35 countries on six continents. This year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe. PARK(ing) Day is an “open-source” user-generated invention created by independent groups around the globe who adapt the project to champion creative, social or political causes that are relevant to their local urban conditions. More information regarding local PARK(ing) Day activities can be found on Facebook  and a global map of all participating cities are available on the PARK(ing) Day website.

(submitted by Garden Station)

How to Buy a Boyfriend

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Some of the Miami Valley's most eligible bachelors will be up for bid this Friday at the third annual PUSH Dayton Charity Bachelor Auction.

Some of the Miami Valley's most eligible bachelors will be up for bid this Friday at the third annual PUSH Dayton Charity Bachelor Auction.

Jennifer Shinkle tells people she “bought” her boyfriend. And it’s true.

Shinkle’s boyfriend was part of the September 2011 PUSH Dayton Men in the City Charity Bachelor Auction, and the two have been going strong since. This year’s event will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 21, at the Dayton Racquet Club, with an after-party to be held in the adjacent 29 Stories Lounge.

With 17 of the Miami Valley’s most eligible bachelors up for bid, organizers of this third annual event are hoping for yet another love story. After all, the Bachelor Auction is two-for-two: In addition to Shinkle, chair of this year’s event, PUSH committee member Monica Deal met her husband at the first auction, and they’re now proud parents.

But the Bachelor Auction isn’t only about love. It’s about sex, too — sexual health, that is. The event directly supports Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region’s free condom program and sexual health advocacy in the Miami Valley Region. It’s organized by the all-volunteer PUSH Dayton (Professionals United for Sexual Health) committee, which has held more than 20 events and raised more than $20,000 for Planned Parenthood since it was formed four years ago.

“Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of practicing safe sex,” said Crystal Justice, associate director of development for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region’s Miami Valley area. The organization served more than 23,000 patients in its eight health centers just in the past year, Justice said.

“Our work to promote safe sex and access to testing is crucial to sexual health outcomes in the Miami Valley, which has seen a sharp increase in sexually transmitted illnesses,” she added. “Planned Parenthood makes quality care accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Each bachelor comes with a date package on which interested ladies bid. This year’s bachelors range in age from 22 to 55 and their occupations include business owners, dancers, a state trooper, writer, actor, meteorologist, entrepreneur and adjunct professor. Couples packages also will be available for bidding, so those who already have found their true love still can participate and support the cause.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r8G3myEAB4&feature=youtu.be’]“Last year we raised about $5,000 with about 115 guests,” Shinkle said. “This year, we expect to bring in even more attendees and have a goal to raise $8,000 for the cause. This is a very important year for us because we want to establish this as an annual event the community gets excited about. There is no event quite like it.

“The event not only supports Planned Parenthood, those who attend the event can mingle with like-minded professionals from throughout the Miami Valley,” Shinkle added. “You will meet people outside of your normal social circles at the Bachelor Auction and make new friends.”

Profiles and photos of each of the bachelors are available on PUSH Dayton’s website, as well as on the organization’s Facebook page. Advance tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased online, and tickets are $25 at the door. Appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available.

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities Sep. 18-25

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Admiring the work of the You Are Here! team at Urban Nights

Welcome back to my column on getting involved in urban community improvement projects! I hope that you’ve recovered from another fabulous Urban Nights event last Friday. The Downtown Dayton Partnership coordinated the event, which required not only the work of dozens of their own volunteers, but also that of the hundreds providing art and entertainment, and even eighteen climbing experts who kept novices from falling off a 27-story building! I enjoyed guiding visitors on the RTA shuttles and got to see the public art installation You Are Here! which reminded us to be more involved in the place and times in which we live. So with that in mind, here are this week’s volunteer opportunities:

Get your neighborhood outside!

Just because it’s getting a little colder doesn’t mean you have to retreat inside! Its important for urban neighborhoods to have the face-to-face interaction that comes from walking, biking, and being outdoors in general.

  • Bike valet at Oktoberfest: As part of their efforts to encourage biking, Bike Miami Valley is providing a bicycle valet area at various local events. They need a crew of volunteers to staff the valet at the DAI Oktoberfest in Dayton’s Grafton Hill neighborhood this weekend, Sep. 22-23. Volunteers get free admission! E-mail Laura if you can help.
  • Help build a pocket park: Our updayton Streetvival team meets this Thursday to plan fundraising & work days for a new park at the corner of Xenia & McClure in the Twin Towers neighborhood. We especially invite handy people with construction and landscaping knowledge to join our team!  Sep. 20, 7pm at the Trolley Stop patio. Contact me for more info and stay tuned for more efforts to turn Twin Towers into the Street Art Capital of Ohio!

  • Volunteers are needed to staff PARK(ing) Day parks and lead creative activities.

    PARK it in the streets! PARK(ing) Day is a celebration of urban greenspace in which volunteers in cities around the world transform parking spaces into temporary parks. Lisa Helm has instigated local parklets for the last few years and needs volunteers to help with the Garden Station-sponsored space in front of Blind Bob’s, this Friday, Sep. 21. Assistance needed setting up the park at 7am, tearing down at 5pm, and programming/staffing it in between – e-mail Lisa if interested. There will also be City Hall and Library parks as well.

  • Dayton World Soccer Games: Support our immigrant communities through soccer (er, football) spectating at the first ever Dayton World Soccer Games. I’m sure you’ve seen the endless international press the City of Dayton has gotten for its Welcome Dayton initiative – here’s a fun way to take part. Sep. 21-22, Action Sports Center.
  • Dog park clean-up: Dayton Unleashed is organizing a clean-up of downtown Dayton’s new volunteer-run dog park at Deeds Point for the weekend of Sep. 29-30. Bring your dog, gloves and any brush removal tools you own; they’ll start at 9am and work until about 1pm. If you can do both days great, if not, pick a day and bring your best bud. Make new friends for the both of you! Questions? Contact Karen Stephens at 937.510.6900 or e-mail her. Follow their group  for more ways to get involved, discuss downtown dog issues, and get details on the upcoming Doggie Fashion Show.

    Help cyclists and others enjoy the Midwest Outdoor Experience. Photo: On the Run Photography

  • Midwest Outdoor Experience (formerly GearFest) has grown beyond just gear and exploded into a multi-day event, featuring camping, competitions, regional music acts, exciting demos, a Friday and Saturday night beer garden and more! So bike on down to Eastwood MetroPark at the city’s eastern edge, October 5-6. Volunteers can sign up and and find all the information they need, including info an upcoming training, here.

If you must stay inside…

  • Help Dayton school kids succeed! There will be an event this Thursday at Ruskin Neighborhood School Center to show how community members can help the K-8 students succeed in reading and more. Sep. 20, 5-6:30pm, 407 Ambrose Ct.
  • Cityfolk was launched in 1980 by Five Oaks volunteers in a neighborhood park to showcase cultural diversity. In three decades it’s grown far beyond that original series to include the festival, year-long concert series, and educational programming that we know today. Unfortunately a terrible weekend of festival weather threatens Cityfolk’s future and they need to replace the $100,000 loss to allow it to continue. Please donate at Cityfolk.org.
  • I-75 construction update: Learn how the final(!) stage of downtown interstate modernizations will impact you at one of six information sessions ODOT is holding this week. Download the flyer here. Bike Miami Valley is encouraging cyclists to attend the Wednesday evening session to discuss impacts on cyclists.
  • Engage in poverty reduction: Learn about local efforts to fight poverty at the next of the City of Dayton’s 2012 Community Engagement Workshops. More information here and to RSVP, contact Verletta Jacksonor 937-333-3670.

    The brawn behind Demo Day at Fifth Street Brewpub.

Have a great week and remember to share your opportunities and report your successes back here!

No experience? No problem! Get on TV

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Casting – not for people, but for PLACES! A Texas production company with local ties may come to the Dayton region to shoot two great shows for HGTV. Now they need YOU!

Do you live in a converted home – something that use to be a bank, bus, old tree or submarine? They want to take a light-hearted look at unique houses and you might have the right fit!

Is your house pretty normal, but your backyard pool is out of this world? You might have a shot, too! No kidney-shaped stand-bys for this show – they are looking for unique, exotic and special pools.

Check out the two calls below and if you have a great converted house or a “cool pool” – you might be the right fit for the show. Share your gem of a house/pool and bring the production to our region!

More information on what exactly they’re looking for and details on how to submit available at the FilmDayton site.

Urban Nights, Downtown’s Biggest Street Party, Returns This Friday

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Musicians perform on stage in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. The area will have different performers on several stages from 5 to 10 p.m.

Fall Urban Nights will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 14, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. An estimated 30,000 people attend Urban Nights, which is held in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village, and there are more than 100 activities planned during the event — including live music on outdoor stages, art exhibit openings, tours of downtown housing, discounts at restaurants and retail shops, and much more. A full list of events is available online. Highlights include:

• Dancing in the Street: First Street will be closed between Ludlow and Main streets to make way for performances by DCDC, the South Dayton Dance Theater, Funk Lab, SMAG Dance Collective, ZumbAtomic and the McGovern Ceili Dancers.

• I Am City Folk: Cityfolk will launch this year-long project that is part of its Culture Builds Community initiative. It will feature mosaics, compiled by local photographer Andy Snow using photos of Daytonians taken by Nicole Christian, on display throughout downtown. Contact Jean Howat Berry, Cityfolk’s education and outreach/Culture Builds Community coordinator, at 937-223-3655, ext. 3008.

Customers eat at the Oregon Express during Urban Nights in May. Many downtown eateries will offer specials and discounts the evening of Urban Nights.

• Dayton, Ohio! You Are Here! This large-scale performance piece will transform the Old Courthouse on Third and Main streets into a work of art through video projection and architectural lighting on the building’s exterior, as well as visual art and performances of dance, music and spoken word inside the historical building. Contact Peter Benkendorf at 732-5123 for more information.

• Over the Edge: Returning to the fall Urban Nights will be this challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower, which visitors can watch from Courthouse Square. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. For more information, contact Matt McDowell at 937-220-6855.

•Taste of the Miami Valley: This weekend-long event will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

• Downtown in Focus: Winning entries from this annual amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the PNC Center lobby.

• Business grand openings: Three new downtown businesses will host grand openings during Urban Nights: OinkADoodleMoo in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower, 10 W. Second St.; Brim, a new hat shop at 464 E. Fifth St.; LIVV Interior Designs, a home and office interior design firm at 520 E. Third St. in the Cannery; and Sew Dayton, featuring fabric and patterns, at 16 Brown St.

• Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights: Cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for, a community ride through the Urban Nights action hosted by Bike Miami Valley and ending at Courthouse Square. While the ride will be in parade fashion with a police escort, it is not appropriate for small children on their own bikes.

A family participates in Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a biking group that will ride through the city, meeting at 5:15 p.m. near Fifth Third Field.

This is just a small sampling of the many activities that will be part of the Sept. 14 Urban Nights. The event also includes live music on five outdoor stages, art exhibit openings at galleries and other creative spaces, discounts and specials at downtown restaurants and retail shops, a chalk walk, roaming entertainers, and more. In addition, Greater Dayton RTA will provide free event buses to help visitors get around; bus routes are included in the event map.
Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information. Urban Nights is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Wright Dunbar Inc., DP&L, Mix 107.7-FM, Greater Dayton RTA, Kaplan College, Business Furniture, Bob Ross Auto Group and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website, www.downtowndayton.org, has a complete list of downtown businesses, as well as a list of business resources, arts and cultural amenities, a dining guide, parking map, and much more.

Can You Spare 2 Hours on Thursday Night’s?

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Artemis Center provides support and information for victims of domestic violence and their children.  They currently have a need for  responsible, caring, and reliable babysitters for Thursday Nights. Babysitting services are provided so clients can attend support group worry-free knowing their child is having a blast from 5:45 – 7:45 PM. All volunteers working with children are subject to a criminal background check. For more information contact Sarah @ 937-461-5091

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another. It is an epidemic-affecting people in every community, regardless of age, economic status, nationality or educational background. Violence against women is often accompanied by emotional abuse and controlling behavior, and thus is part of a systemic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death. The consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and truly last a lifetime.

  • 85 -95% of all domestic violence victims are female
  • About 1 out of 4 women will be abused by a partner in her lifetime.
  • Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the US; more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined
  • A woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the US
  • Police report that between 40% and 60% of the calls they receive are domestic violence disputes
  • 50% of all homeless women and children in this country are fleeing domestic violence
  • The health-related costs of rape, physical assault, stalking and homicide by intimate partners exceed $5.8 billion each year
  • In the US, more than 1200 women are killed each year by their intimate partner

In addition to helping people in crisis, Artemis has become a community resource for creating a coordinated response to domesticviolence. Because all systems must work together to protect victims and hold batterers accountable, Artemis and the YWCA joined together to form The Family Violence Collaborative in 1993. This Collaborative has brought together law enforcement, criminal justice, child protection and health care professionals to develop protocols of response.

2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition at Sugar Camp Pointe Oakwood

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House # 1 – The Oakleaf

Four years after the last Dayton region Homearama, The Home Builders Association of Dayton will be presenting the 2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition showcase of custom homes in the beautiful Sugar Camp – Pointe Oakwood community from Friday, September 14 through Sunday, September 30.  The fully decorated and furnished homes range in size from 2,200 square feet to over 4,000 and will feature the latest styles, building and design trends, landscaping and technologies, with expected prices to range from $395,000 to over $600,000.

The current HBA of Dayton Builders for the show include: two homes from Bob and Steve Rhoads of R.A. Rhoads Custom Homes, Mike & Jeff Miller of M/M Construction and Scott Dickey of South Dayton Builders. The Sugar Camp-Pointe Oakwood developer is Oakwood Investment Group, LLC with partners Union Savings Bank and Landmark Title Agency South.

House # 2 - The Olde English

Unavailable until now, Sugar Camp-Pointe Oakwood offers home buyers new custom built luxury homes within the City of Oakwood. The premier residential community’s site is comprised of 20 unique acres conveniently located on Far Hills Avenue with unparalleled views of the Miami Valley. The prime location of the community allows homeowners the advantage of all the amenities that downtown Dayton has to offer while in walking distance to the center of Oakwood and its quaint business district. Sugar Camp-Pointe Oakwood is part of the 34 acre, multi-living use facility, Sugar Camp. Sugar Camp will eventually connect with the Great Miami River, Carillon Park, The Dayton Art Institute, The University of Dayton and downtown Dayton through a series of walking and bike paths.

The master plan for the community includes over 20 single family home sites, 20 attached condominium units, a 88 unit assisted care facility and a professional office park.  John H. Patterson, founder of National Cash Register (NCR) established the innovative Sugar Camp in Oakwood as an NCR training camp, where classes started in 1893 at the serene secluded site.

House # 3 – The Craftsman

Adam Zengel, HBA of Dayton President commented, “The distinctive Sugar Camp-Pointe Oakwood community will provide the participating HBA builders an exceptional venue to showcase their craft with the highest quality products and homes loaded with details and extra amenities appropriate to the current market.”

“Pointe Oakwood is developing into a very special community within Oakwood. We are very proud and excited to host the ever popular Homearama at Sugar Camp this fall. It will be a great setting for the HBA builders to showcase their abilities and it is an event where people really enjoy experiencing the latest in new home design and building,” commented Bob Posner, Executive VP/Chief Operating Officer of Oakwood Investment Group, the developer of Sugar Camp.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ5smGQDLZ0′]

House # 4 - The Aspen

High Performance Homes

For the first time ever, the Green Building Task Force of the HBA of Dayton will provide an educational experience to assist new home buyers and home owners considering remodeling in the many choices they will face when exploring having their dream home reach the level of the industry’s terms of a “High Performance Home (HPH).”

The group will host the first “High Performance Home Pavilion” included with Homearama at the Pointe Oakwood site. The Pavilion will have many technology and product displays and will be staffed by experts well versed on the high performance home subject. Scheduled seminars will provide Homearama visitors an opportunity to learn more.  For more information on HPH, read this full article by Walt Hibner (Executive Director of HBA Dayton).

Ticket Information

The 2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition runs from noon to 8 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and 4 pm to 8 pm on Mondays through Thursdays (no one admitted after 7 pm).  Tickets are $10.00 at the gate or available at Dorothy Lane Market locations ($2 discount with Club DLM card).

House # 5 - Village Pointe

DMM Ticket Contest

We have THREE PAIRS OF TICKETS to give-away to the 2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition Preview Party on Thursday September 13th from 5-8pm ($70 value).  The evening includes complimentary fine beverages, a hearty fall supper and sweet desserts from Yia Yia’s Bakery.  Listen to jazz favorites performed by the renowned John Slate Trio. Bid on themed baskets in the silent auction to benefit the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton, the 2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition designated charity.

Simply fill out the form below and then leave a comment telling us that YOU want to go to the 2012 Homearama Lifestyle Edition Preview Party, and we’ll announce winners on Wednesday September 12th – GOOD LUCK!

CONTEST CLOSED

Congratulations to our winners!

Heather Craaybeek
Rachelle Stiles
Mackensie Clark Wittmer

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities: September 11-18

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Welcome to our new column for urban volunteer opportunities! I’ll be posting all kinds of ways to get involved in city neighborhoods – from hand-on service to crowdfunding to fun community-building events – so if you have items for submission e-mail me or add them to our Facebook group!

Spotlight on: Garden Station

Have you driven on Wayne Avenue downtown and wondered what that raucous splash of color was by the railroad tracks? Or maybe you’re a regular at the many frequent events occurring at this two-acre community art park, such as the weekly Sunday Market or ‘Free Music First Friday.’ Launched in 2008 as an initiative of the Dayton Circus Creative Collective, Garden Station is now a stand-alone organization led by Lisa Helm with a small crew of volunteers. It is an “urban hub where the Dayton community can come together to enjoy art, campfires, festivals, movies, concerts and community gardens.” They always need help on Saturday work days throughout the growing season, and this week, they are holding Wine and Weeding Wednesday to get spruced up for Urban Nights. The garden’s current fiscal sponsorship agreement expires on September 14 and its estimated monthly costs are $300, so they’d love if you made a tax-deductible donation before Friday! Or if you don’t fancy yourself a philanthropist, you can still give by eating at Blind Bob’s on the first Monday of the month and mentioning Garden Station Night. For more information, follow their page or e-mail Lisa.

Some of the 170 K12 & East End volunteers installing the mosaic

Get Involved!

  • Guide our county’s future: Montgomery County is asking citizens to give input through a series of public forums. The topic for Tuesday, Sep. 11th is “Where Do We Stand vs. Other Communities?” Seen any great ideas in other areas that you’d like to bring back here? Chime in!
  • Show your art on downtown streets: Activated Spaces, the Downtown Dayton Plan’s joint project of Generation Dayton and updayton, is conducting a final call for submissions for art to fill downtown storefronts. Artists will appreciate that they’re printing the art on vinyl window clings this time, making installation much easier! Click here for more information and to apply by the September 14th deadline.
  • The November library levy (Issue 70) includes an “upgraded main library that will be a regional information, reading and cultural attraction for downtown Dayton.” Their online volunteer form asks for help with phonecalls, going door-to-door, endorsers, poll greeters, and public speakers.
  • Bike sharing for downtown was recently a hot topic of discussion in our group, and we learned that Bike Miami Valley is exploring the idea. Fill out their brief online survey to share your thoughts on a ‘smart bike’ system!
  • Which urban neighborhoods are on Facebook? Several years ago, DMM publisher Bill Pote and I led a training at City Hall to get more neighborhoods on social media. Let us know how far we’ve come by adding to my running list.
  • Urban Nights: Still a few more slots availablefor volunteers!

    Monica Wirick-Schultz doing some park planting with other volunteers last Friday

  • Clean up North Main Street: Volunteer help is needed for cleaning up litter and overgrown vegetation; supplies such as gloves, brooms and bags are provided. Saturday, Sep. 15, 8:30am-1pm, 2141 N. Main St. For more information, contact FROC Priority Board Coordinator Verletta Jackson at 333-3288 or e-mail her.
  • Demo Day at the Fifth Street Brewpub: Meet at the community-owned brewpub (1600 E Fifth) at 10 am, Saturday, Sep 15 to demo the interior of the brewhouse. Email them if you can make it so they can plan accordingly (e.g: buy enough beer)
  • Community-Police Action Planning: Learn about community-police relations, give feedback, and sign up for volunteer opportunities at the Dayton Community Police Council’s Community Day Party. Saturday, Sep. 15 11am-3pm, Convention Center.
  • Help make peace in Dayton neighborhoods: The Dayton Mediation Center is looking for volunteer mediators to attend upcoming trainings and commit to helping with conflict resolution. More details can be found here.

Success!

  • Adding color to Xenia Avenue: Over 170 volunteers participated in the year-and-a-half long mosaic mural project led by K12 Gallery for Young People in partnership with East End Community Services Corporation. The finished project can now be seen at 504 Xenia Ave. Like K12’s page to get involved in future projects! The new mosaics decorate the facade of the future location of the Corner Cupboard Charities thrift store, a volunteer-run organization that raises money for other local nonprofits. Check them out!

    One of the many streetscape transformations underway in the South Park neighborhood

  • DDR volunteers rocked it!: Over 200 volunteers came out to support the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Fest this past weekend and a good time was had by all.
  • Invest in the city through real estate! Theresa Gasper of Full Circle Development, LLC recently shared some amazing before-and-after pictures of the homes she and partners have transformed in the Historic South Park neighborhood, an area which saw a 23% value increase in the last reappraisal. There are plenty of great urban realtors who would love to get you started!
  • First Friday Park Planters: A dozen volunteers organized through our Facebook group planted about 40 shrubs and perennials at a little downtown park on Friday night before exploring First Friday together. This was made possible by a grant that volunteer Brian Ressler obtained from Keep Montgomery County Beautiful. Thanks everyone!

 

Are you a poet? Would you like people to know it?

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Entries are now being accepted for the Dayton Metro Library’s  annual Poetry Contest.  Entries will be accepted through Saturday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m.  This is the 15th year for the contest, open to residents of Montgomery and adjoining counties (Greene, Miami, Clark, Darke, Preble, Warren and Butler).  There are three age categories:  Teen (age 14-18), Adult (age 19-59) and Senior (age 60 and over).  Winners are selected in each age category, with first place winning $100, second place $75 and third place $50.  Prizes are donated by the Friends of the Library.

 

A panel of judges will read the entries in October, and a Poetry Party is scheduled for November 11 at the Main Library, in which the awards will be presented.  If you are a finalist, you will be notified in advance of the Poetry Party.  The party brings people together, from teens through seniors, to appreciate each other’s poems, enjoy refreshments and celebrate the creative spirit.  The event is free and open to the public, but we encourage all who entered to attend.

Entry forms with official contest rules are available at all Dayton Metro Library locations, on the website here or by calling the Community Relations Office at 496-8901.  Entry forms must be attached to each submission, and don’t forget the deadline.  Entries must be received at any Dayton Metro Library location no later than 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29.

Contact the library’s Community Relations Office at 496-8901 if you need further information.

Explore a Block Party & Urban Nights Previews During September First Friday

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Downtown’s next free First Friday art hop will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7.

The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area will host the Live United Block Party in the Oregon District from 4 to 7 p.m., when 19 partner agencies of the organization will set up booths along Fifth Street, including Goodwill, a Special Wish Foundation, the Girl Scouts and Catholic Social Services. Guests who visit more than 10 of the booths will be entered into a raffle to win several prizes, including a diamond tennis bracelet and a pair of tickets to a Cincinnati Bengals football game. Select restaurants, including Blind Bob’s, Dublin Pub, Oregon Express, Coco’s Bistro and Trolley Stop, will donate a portion of proceeds during

Folk musicians Todd the Fox will provide roving entertainment during September First Friday.

the event to the United Way. Look for Heater, the Dayton Dragons’ mascot, wearing a Live United T-shirt during the block party from 5 to 6 p.m. The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area supports local health and human service programs provided by more than 70 partner agencies in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties.

Sew Dayton, the newest Pop-Up Shop in the Activated Spaces initiative to fill vacant downtown storefronts, will host its soft opening during First Friday at its new home in the Color of Energy Gallery, 16 Brown St. The shop, owned by two Dayton seamstresses, will sell a variety of fabric and patterns, bags, and accessories, in addition to offering sewing classes. Sew Dayton be open until 9 p.m.

Blue Sky Project, CADC, Gallery 510 Fine Art, Grass Roots Enrichment and Wellness Center, K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS and the Yellow Cab Building will debut new works of art during First Friday. The Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will begin at 7 p.m. at Courthouse Square; contact tour guide Leon Bey at 274-4749 or email [email protected] for a reservation. The Loft Theatre will host the opening night of “Managing Maxine,” a new comedy, at 8 p.m. More than a dozen restaurants and bars will offer dinner and drink specials, and several retail stores will host sales and other special events.

More than 40 downtown businesses will participate in September First Friday; see a complete list of what downtown businesses have on tap for First Friday on the DDP website.

During First Friday, fire dancers from the Soul Fire Tribe and folk musicians Todd the Fox also will provide entertainment while roaming the streets of downtown.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more.

Volunteers for Dayton! Opportunities: September 4-11

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Greetings MostMetro-land!

Welcome to our new weekly round-up of urban Dayton volunteer opportunities!

Mural by David Kenworthy at Garden Station

As someone who’s been involved in a lot of community improvement projects at both grassroots & government levels, I’ve sensed a need to better coordinate all the amazing energy that people have for our center city these days. I’ll be pulling these from our Facebook group and items that you e-mail me. So if you’re looking for ways to get involved in Dayton’s revival, check back here every week. Be sure to report back what you’ve accomplished!

Get Your Hands Dirty – Help Wanted!

    • Install a mosaic mural:  East End Community Services and K12 Gallery need your help at 504 Xenia Avenue in the Twin Towers neighborhood. Tues. & Wed., Sep. 4-5; drop in any time from 8:30am until 2pm. Bring work gloves if you have them and dress to get messy! For more info call Amanda at 259-1898 or e-mail her.
    • “First Friday Park” Planting & Volunteer Social:  Downtown volunteer Brian Ressler took it upon himself to get a grant to beautify the highly-visible triangle between St. Clair & Patterson at Fifth. Now he needs some extra hands to help plant flowers! Gather for drinks, pizza, and First Friday after. Friday, Sep. 7, 6pm; more info & RSVP here.
    • Downtown Dayton Revival Music Fest: Talk about slacktivism! All you need to do to show your support for downtown is buy a ticket and show up to hear great music. Saturday & Sunday, Sep. 8-9.
Downtown Mural Volunteers

Downtown Mural Project volunteers cleaning. Photo: Carli Dixon

  • Volunteer at Urban Nights: Downtown’s favorite street party needs your help! Visit the Downtown Dayton Partnership and sign up to be a trolley or walking guide, serve beer, or survey guests at this Friday, Sep. 14th event.
  • The Dayton Skatepark Project: Join other skateboarding enthusiasts in their quest to start a downtown skatepark by following their page.
  • Dayton Unleashed is a grassroots group improving a fenced area at Deeds Point for use as a dog park. Learn more at their page and stay tuned for volunteer clean-up dates.
  • Donate Dayton items for the RNNC basket: Each year neighborhood activists represent Dayton at the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference and contribute a Dayton-themed basket (including gift certificates, mugs, T-shirts, etc.) to be raffled off. Contact Sandy Melke to contribute.

Crowdfunding

We know that money is often tight these days, but remember that there is power in numbers – even the smallest donations can add up for grassroots projects!

Future Fifth Street Co-op Brewpub

  • Build a park in St. Anne’s Hill: This historic neighborhood just east of downtown hopes to raise $1500 as a match to their City of Dayton mini-grant. Learn more and contribute on Razoo.
  • Own a brewpub: Speaking of St. Anne’s, their cooperatively-owned Fifth Street Brewpub is still seeking inaugural members, so for $100 you could be an owner too!
  • Cityfolk Post-Festival Appeal: The weather was truly unkind this year, shutting down the downtown festival twice and resulting in a 60% loss compared to other years. To keep the festival, the concert season, and the Culture Builds Community educational program going, Cityfolk hopes to raise $100,000 by the end of the year. Please give at the Cityfolk website.
  • Give a Dam!: Over $3.8 million has already been raised for the River Run project, but now it’s your turn to give a dam.
  • Success! Congrats to Sew Dayton and the Downtown Mural Project for meeting their recent crowdfunding goals (although I’m sure they’ll continue to take your money).

 

You can also join our group to participate in discussions on Dayton activism–this week’s hot topics include food trucks, bike share programs, and the Priority Board system–send me volunteer opportunities, or just check back here next Tuesday!

 

 

The Beauty of Boudoir

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During my career as a makeup artist there have been few things as rewarding and yet questioned than boudoir photography. I have been in the beauty industry for over ten years and what orginally attracted me to it was both my early career in the theater business and retro/pin up style. When I began in the boudoir business almost 6 years ago with Dayton photographer Tracy Abston, I knew this was where I wanted to be and also wanted to get the stigma that boudoir is anything less than tasteful. It never comes as a surprise that when I tell someone I do makeup for a boudoir studio they look at me like I work in porn! Boudoir is not porn and it is also not glamour shots lol.

Boudoir photography is nothing new to the world. Since the beginning of time we have been obsessed with capturing soft curves, swells, skin, and general beauty of a female in relaxed poses capturing the attention of not only men, but also other women. The female form is a curiosity, and a beauty to withhold in and of itself. The resurgence of boudoir has taken off once again the last five years. Women from all walks of life have once again started celebrating the female form. Many women do this for a gift for someone but most times it is a gift to themselves. It most circles it is now seen as perfectly acceptable to do these photos and not only that but it is a sought after service.

What makes boudoir so beautiful is not only the actual art of the photography but how it can affect a client who comes in. Women do these sessions for multiple reasons; weight-loss, a recent divorce, a loss of self esteem, new boobs, a wedding or anniversary present or even to remember themselves in a certain way.  These sessions are not a one time thing, once women see themselves in this new image they always want to come back for another one and I can personally attest to that! The beauty of boudoir is that it can change a person. As women we are constantly judging ourselves and expecting to look a certain way. Our stomachs will never be flat enough, our thighs small enough or lips full enough. We are our own worst enemies. Not only do we constantly obsess about our looks but so many women lose themselves over the years. We have had so many women come in who have put themselves on the backburner for years in order to make other people happy whether in their personal lives or at work. Boudoir is about bringing that woman back and letting her see that she still has it in her!

 

There are so many memorable women that I have had the the pleasure of working with but there a few that really stand out as what boudoir is about.

Miss A

Miss A is very dear to my heart we nearly had to beg her to come in after she tried backing out but her daughter talked her into it. She was turning 50 and had a very rough few years with family issues and losing herself in general. Her daughter had recently been diagnosed with a horrible disease and Miss A was really having a rough go at life. The funny thing about her is that she is not only absolutely beautiful but this is also a woman who has biked across Ohio in a day, ran marathons and dedicated her spare time to children in need! This is a woman who had so much to give that literally forgot to give back to herself. There are no words to describe her reaction when she looked in the mirror at herself in fact when we heard the silence we knew….it was a good thing she was waterproofed 🙂 She said she had never felt so beautiful in her entire life. The smile in her pictures brought her back to life and you could see the woman she had lost. I can only hope that on days where she is feeling down about herself that she will look at her pictures and see the woman that she is. Beautiful. Strong. Deserving.

 

Miss D

Miss D was another woman who came in for a very different reason. She was in late forties and had recently been diagnosed with a disease that would eventually cripple her within 5 years. She came in to the boudoir studio to have pictures made for both her husband and for her child who was under the age of 10. She wanted her child to remember as being beautiful and healthy rather than sickly. She was reserved and did her photos wearing jeans and a tshirt in the courtyard but by the end she had an inner diva in her that produced some stunning sexy photos! Once Miss D let her inner model come out she was amazing. I often think of her and wonder how she is doing. For her, boudoir was about preserving a moment in time that she felt beautiful and wasnt thinking about what the future would bring. Miss D’s photos showed a woman who was living for the moment and doing a fabulous job at it!

More Boudoir reactions:

“Thank you so much for my sneak-peak!! I have been nervously but anxiously checking my e-mail repeatedly over the past two weeks!! I would literally jump every time my e-mail chime on my phone went off. When I finally saw the e-mail from you I quickly scrolled down to the photos and I was in complete shock. I can’t believe the woman in the photos is me. I’ve looked at them ten times already and I’m still amazed. You have such an unbelievable talent which is not limited to actual photography. You’re amazing at what you do and how you make your clients feel. I remember thinking after my session that I had never felt so comfortable in my own skin nor had I ever felt better about myself than I did at that moment. The experience of the session alone was well worth it and did so much for me and I love that I will have the photos to remind me. I can’t say thank you enough and I absolutely can not wait to give my husband his 1st anniversary gift!!”

“Although it’s been over a year since my session and my little black book wedding gift to my husband, the pictures are still making quite the impact! I originally wanted to get boudoir pictures done because my husband was deploying overseas …for the military, but it was perfect timing to give the book to him as a wedding present. I was just as nervous when he was opening it as I was when I got the e-mail from you with password to the album. But the look on his face made me feel as happy, sexy and confident as I felt when I looked at them for the first time. Anytime I am having feeling bad about myself or having a “fat” day, one glimpse at those images and remember the look on my hubby’s face. How could I feel bad knowing what he sees and how looking at me makes him feel? Thank you for helping me create the perfect wedding present and for giving me the confidence to just be me!”
“When I found out that my husband was searching the internet for a boudoir photo session for me, I sort of panicked. I’m 63 after all and why would it be a good thing to have photos of me at this stage in my life? But, after reading the information for ‘blush boudoir’, I agreed to do this for him. After my photo shoot, I felt like a new woman! We love the coffee table books and as I age, we will look back on this experience with a smile on our faces. I am so glad I did this!”
Boudoir is not about how you think you should look. Boudoir is about who you are as a woman and the woman that you should be celebrating today. You dont have to be a size 0 and you certaintly dont have to wait to celebrate something in your life to do one of these sessions. Boudoir is about being comfortable in your own skin and taking time for yourself. If you give or show these pictures to someone then that is just an added bonus. This is about you and how you see yourself. I will warn you however, that these sessions are addicting and you will probably be back for more 🙂

Interested in your own boudoir shoot?  Read more testimonials, see more pictures and check out package options at BlushBoudoir.com and on the Blush Boudoir Facebook Page.  Read our first feature on Blush Boudoir from back in July 2010 here.

 

New Pop-Up Shop “Sew Dayton” to Open in Downtown Dayton

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A new business will open downtown on Friday, Sept. 7, as part of the third phase of the Pop-Up Project, part of an initiative to fill downtown storefronts called Activated Spaces. Sew Dayton, owned by two seamstresses, will offer fabric and patterns, custom party dresses, bags, and a variety of accessories, as well as offer classes.

Sew Dayton will pop up for an initial six months at 16 Brown St. in the Oregon District. The store will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours will be extended to 9 p.m. during First Fridays and Urban Nights. The store’s number is 937-234-7938.

Tracy McElfresh, left, and Jesy Anderson are opening Sew Dayton, a new Pop-Up Shop operated through Activiated Spaces. The store, which will host a soft opening during the Sept. 7 First Friday, will offer sewing classes, custom clothing items and accessories.

Sew Dayton is a collaboration between two existing businesses, Dresses by Tracy McElfresh and JKessel Design. McElfresh is a third-generation seamstress. Her business partner, Jesy Anderson, began sewing three years ago and has not stopped. Together, the pair is excited to bring their love for fabric to a downtown storefront as they continue to offer their custom-designed products and as they teach the art of sewing to others.

Sew Dayton also has a Kickstarter fundraising webpage, and its $5,000 goal has been met through pledges by more than 70 backers. In return for their pledge, these backers will receive anything from handmade zipper pouches or headbands to private sewing lessons, depending on their level of investment.

The opening of Sew Dayton builds on the success of the Pop-Up Project’s first two phases, launched in November 2011 and May 2012. Two of the initial three businesses in the pilot are approaching their one-year anniversary: Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St., and Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St. All three shops from the second phase remain open for business and include: American π, 37 S. St. Clair St., Arin, 27 S. St. Clair St. and Vintage Barbershop, 110 W. Fifth St.

Two more Pop-Up Shops will open as part of the third phase of the project. They will be announced soon and are anticipated to open this fall.

Activated Spaces’ Pop-Up Project, which helped fill 5,730 square feet of retail space during its first two phases, is led by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and updayton. The project is a strategic effort to fill vacant street-level space and spur interest in opening a business downtown that’s part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

“The Pop-Up Shops have helped enliven downtown while building on growing momentum for the center city,” said Tom Razauskas, who owns the building housing Beaute Box and Vintage Barbershop. “It has been refreshing to work with volunteers and business owners who really believe in downtown and are excited about its future.”

“The Pop-Up Project provides a low-risk, low-cost, flexible way to showcase local businesses while adding vibrancy to downtown,” said Shanon Potts, a past chair of Generation Dayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “The long-term goal of the project is to convert temporary leases into traditional leases, while establishing downtown as a regional destination for shopping for one-of-a-kind items and retail services.”

“This project also supports local, creative entrepreneurs as they take a risk and test out their business concepts while bringing renewed life to downtown storefronts,” said Scott Murphy, immediate past chair of updayton and Activated Spaces volunteer. “Visitors who support these pop-up shops will help to spur a more permanent retail environment in our downtown ― the next step in downtown revitalization.”

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

Wergerzyn’s Throwing A Garden Party

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Imagine the Wegerzyn Gardens transformed into Alice’s Wonderland on Thursday, September 13th, for this year’s Garden Party!

  • Like Alice, you’ll start your adventure by entering a rabbit hole (our unique Patrick Dougherty sculpture) where you will enjoy cocktails and appetizers. (Served from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.)
  • Pleasant strains of live music will draw you further down the path to a savory table-served dinner by Elite Catering. And yes, tea will be served too!
  • Like the Mad Hatter, you’ll hop to a tantalizing array of exciting adventures and one-of-a-kind creations for your home and garden at our auction tables.
  • When you thought there couldn’t be more, you will be treated a bountiful assortment of irresistible desserts fit for a king or queen–of hearts, of course!
TIckets for this fundraiser run $75 per person and can be reserved online.    Perhaps you’d also like to support the event raffle.  You could win a three-night trip for two to Napa Valley’s romantic Wine Country!  Trip includes round-trip airfare from Dayton to San Francisco; a superior room in the luxurious Meritage Resort and Spa; intermediate rental car; $50 spa credit; and a 5 1/2 hour customized wine country tour including transportation, sampling and lunch.  Thirty-day notice is required. No cash value.  Additional nights can be added at winner’s expense.  Contact Uniglobe VIP Travel for details (888-338-4814 or 937-424-3171).  Raffle tickets are $25 each or 6 for $100.   The winning raffle ticket will be drawn at the Garden Party and you need not be present to win. Proceeds benefit the Wergerzyn Gardens Foundation.