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Community

McPherson Town Holiday Tour

November 22, 2010 By Teri Lussier Leave a Comment

Admit it: You sometimes drive out of your way to cruise Dayton’s historic neighborhoods, looking at beautiful homes and gardens, staring in awe at glorious testaments to workmanship the likes of which haven’t been seen in one hundred years. Yeah. Me too. No, we are not a crazy neighborhood creepers, we are HouseNerds and O’ Happy Day! It’s Historic District Holiday Tour time in Dayton and I’m giddy with excitement. Watch this space for the next few weeks as we bring you details of Holiday Tours in several of Dayton’s most beloved historic districts including McPherson Town, Grafton Hill, and the Oregon District. Today, we look at McPherson Town.

McPherson Town is called Dayton’s oldest suburb, located just north of the river, a small community featuring Eastlake and Queen Anne style homes that is tucked just to the west of N. Main St. I spoke with neighborhood resident and Holiday Tour contact person, Rick, about the tour and what he loved about McPherson Town. A resident for two years, Rick said he liked the location “It’s within walking distance to all the cultural venues in Dayton,” but more than that, Rick described the “closeness of the community. We have an active community life with a neighborhood cookout in the summer, monthly dining-out get togethers, and community gardening. It’s really a wonderful place, and I couldn’t ask for more from a neighborhood.”

Curious to find out more about this community and the beautiful homes? The McPherson Town Holiday Tour will be held Thanksgiving weekend on the evenings of Friday November 26th & Saturday November 27th, 2010. This is a guided tour of 10 homes, some have been opened during past tours but Rick told me that there will be a variety of home styles, ages, and sizes, and homes in various stages of repair or disrepair, including an infill house. One of the more interesting homes on the tour is one that was once a complete rehab and made the cover of “Country Living” magazine. After that it was sold, fell into disrepair, and is now being rehabbed again.

Between 500-600 guests are expected, and the tours are guided and scheduled by reservation. Reservations can be paid for in advance for best pricing. Reservations are just $12 in advance and $15 at the door. What a great way to share the beauty of Dayton’s Historic Gems with visiting friends, family, and loved ones who share your HouseNerd passion, contact either Rick or Nelson at 937-938-7176 for details, or sign up online here.

And be sure to share your post (or past) tour thoughts in the comments below.

Photo: Courtesy of McPherson Town Historic District, used with permission.

Filed Under: Real Estate

Updayton to Hire Executive Director

November 19, 2010 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

A few years back when the Creative Class Task Force called for volunteers to become “catalysts” to help reinvigorate the region through what would become DaytonCREATE, the application said they were signing up for a one-year commitment from March 2008-March 2009.   However, the excitement for the updayton project and the progress made kept many of the catalysts actively engaged in the mission over these past three years.  Although some of the original catalysts moved on, many new volunteers joined the fold.  Updayton continues to grow, advocate for young talent in the region, and produce projects to impact the experience of young talent in the region.

The growth and development of updayton, its projects, and the annual Young Creatives Summit has been due to the efforts of an unpaid steering committee with a team of dedicated volunteers.  To ensure sustainability moving into the future, updayton announces the search for a paid part-time Executive Director to coordinate all aspects of the updayton initiative.  This position has been made possible in-part through collaboration with the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education.

Bringing on an Executive Director provides updayton with the potential to grow in areas relevant to young talent in the region. Updayton has been asked to provide support and input on projects for many local organizations; an Executive Director allows updayton to take on additional tasks and make a greater impact for recent college graduates and young professionals.

Updayton chair, Scott Murphy, believes that this is the logical next step in the growth of updayton.  “We’ve brought young people to the forefront of getting involved and determining the future of the region – both on projects already in existence and by giving them the tools to launch their own ideas.  As these efforts move forward and new initiatives begin in 2011, we also need to take steps towards greater sustainability.  That’s the goal of bringing an Executive Director on board.”

Do you know a person who would be a good fit for updayton’s Part-Time Executive Director?  Is that person YOU?  Check out the job description here.

Filed Under: Young Professionals Tagged With: executive director, updayton, Young Professional

Growing A Mo In Movember For Men’s Health

November 18, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

Salvador Dalí

Ah, remember those mustaches of yore… Rollie Fingers, Tom Selleck, Charlie Chaplin, Salvador Dali, Yosemite Sam, Ron Jeremy… of course, in many parts of Dayton facial hair never went out of style – but today there is a new group of men sporting the stache, and it is for an excellent cause.

Welcome to Movember – a campaign that challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st  clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.  In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $42 Million US equivalent dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners.  The funds raised through Movember’s US campaign benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Yes, this post is not exactly the most timely one we’ve done as it is already Movember 18th, but it is definitely not too late to help this good cause.  Our good friend Andy Williamson (Daytonian, Outdoor enthusiast and all-around nice guy) has joined the Movember challenge and needs YOUR help by either joining his team (there are still many good stache-growing days left in Movember) or making a donation to Andy’s team.  Any amount will help – even just $10.

Team MoFRO

I’m joining the growing club of modern gentlemen who believe in the virtues of fine moustachery, immaculate grooming and growing a moustache for Movember. I am looking for like-minded ladies and gentlemen to join my team to change the face of men’s health.Movember is about raising funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically cancer affecting men, because:-    1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime

–    1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

The more people I can get on board, the more lives we can impact. I am asking you to join my team and either grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or join as a Mo Sista to help recruit other gentlemen.

To join my Movember team go to http://us.movember.com/register/91322 and follow the steps.

Once registered you’ll be sent all the information you need to raise funds and start growing as part of my Movember team – MoFro.

If you’re interested in learning more about the work that is being carried out as a result of Movember funds, feel free to read the details at http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

I hope you join me to change the face of men’s health.
Andy Williamson

ALSO – the MoFRO group is organizing a “Mustache Ride” on November 30th – bring your bike and a suggested $10 donation to Fifth Third Field at 5:30pm for a short ride around Dayton (bring a light).  Awesome raffle prizes from around the region will be awarded and mustaches will be available for everyone.  The ride ends at Brixx for some Mo-friendly beverages!

Filed Under: Charity Events Tagged With: LIVESTRONG, Movember, Mustache, Prostate Cancer, Stache

CultureMash-New Media Group Gives Back!

November 14, 2010 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

A group of young professionals  with the desire to give back to our community and share their skills and success with new media is set to launch Dec 2nd at a kickoff event at Wright State. More details here.

But even before they’ve launched they have jumped into action helping with a campaign to help a local family get visibility and help for their young son who suffers from unexplained seizures.  The story itself is heart wrenching, as you’ll read below.

But what makes this story more relevant is that while facing so much in his personal life, David Bowman has spent years touting the influence of social media.  He’s perhaps our area’s most respected and giving authority on new media.  Several years ago when I first launched DaytonDining as a ning site, I needed help.  I had seen David’s name around town and knew he had experience with these sites.  I emailed him, offering to pay him for help and within the hour he emailed back, with the help I needed and even more resources for me.  And wouldn’t even think about taking my money.  In subsequent meetings, he proved that he’s truly all about spreading his love for social media and his dreams of educating the Dayton region into being a hub of experts in new media.  He is the driving force behind the creation of Summitup, which just held it’s 2nd annual social media conference last month.  He’s a man that makes an impact.

As Richard J. Kaiser put on his facebook page, “I thought about leaving Datyon..if you want to thank the man who kept me here, please sign up to Send Jude Bowman’s Story to Ellen Degeneres…David Bowman is the reason why I’m staying in Dayton and continuing to help make this city great!”

So now it’s our turn to use social media for good and ask you to help. If you are interested in participating in this effort, a copy of the letter they drafted is below.  Simply copy it, print it, and mail it to the Ellen show.

The Bowman Family

Ellen DeGeneres Show

Attn:  Kara Hogan

4000 Warner Blvd. Building19

Burbank, CA 91522-0001

Dear Ellen,

We are the many friends and family members of the Bowman Family.  We are all coming together to ask for your help for their four year old son Jude.  We realize that there are millions of people in the world facing difficult times, be it financial, personal, or medical.  We know that some problems seem more at crisis levels than others, but to each of these people and each of these families, finding help is paramount.  This is the Bowman’s story and our plea for help for them.

Upon meeting Jude, one might never suspect or imagine that he is anything but a happy healthy child.  He is handsome, charming, funny, and bright.  However, spend more than a passing moment in his presence and one would most definitely become confused and maybe even a bit uncomfortable.  Jude’s eyes often roll uncontrollably upwards, he will lose muscle control, enter into a coma-like stare, and frequently fall unconscious for several seconds at a time.  His parents, David and Colleen, will hold him until the episodes pass, as if nothing is happening, because it has become the family norm.  It is a scary experience for anyone to witness, but even more so when you realize that the Bowman’s have no way of explaining why this has happened; they themselves have no reasons, or explanations.

Jude has undergone virtually every neurological test.  He was initially diagnosed with epilepsy and was treated with six different medications, including rescue drugs, to treat what the Bowman’s were assured to be seizures.  After two years of experimenting with different combinations and doses of medications, the Bowman’s realized that the medications were not helping to control the “seizures”.  The symptoms and aftereffects of the “seizure” activity were increasing in occurrence and severity.  None of the medications stopped the “seizures” from occurring or made Jude’s life any more normal.  While taking these medications, Jude would become disoriented.  He would not recognize people or things in his own home environment.  He continued to experience involuntary eye movements in which his eyes would roll up into his head, often followed by instances of collapse.  The family has called the paramedics numerous times as he has stopped breathing in their arms.  He has been hospitalized six times in two years and has been studied under video monitoring four times.  Jude has experienced more testing than any child should have to endure.  The most difficult part of the testing has been the outcome; all of the results have been inconclusive.

Disoriented, confused, lethargic, isolated, uncoordinated, and frustrated are not words one would wish to use to describe anyone, let alone their four year old child.  Watching Jude with other children is heartbreaking.  His energy level is no where near that of the children with whom he tries to play and he can often be found sitting by himself like an outsider.  He often collapses while walking up and down stairs and there are some days that Jude loses control of body movement and has to be held.  There are many periods where he cannot identify Colleen, David, and his sister Ella.  He frequently asks Colleen and David to help him and all they can do is hold him while his mind and body break down.  Most people have had to watch their children struggle with something at some point in their lives; the Bowman’s spend every day watching Jude struggle with everything, from eating dinner to running through the backyard.  The powerlessness they and everyone who knows and loves Jude feels is all consuming.

Jude and the Bowman Family could use a helping hand.  The past four years have been filled with great happiness and life experiences for the Bowman’s.  That same four years have been filled with fear, anger, acceptance, constant doubt, medical research, medical testing, foreign medical jargon, and sadness.  Jude has been diagnosed with everything from benign reflux,  severe epilepsy, Paroxysmal Tonic Up-gaze (PTU), to the most recent diagnosis: unknown.  The Bowman’s have trusted in medical professionals who have medicated, over and over again, a baby who could not even walk or talk, to a four year old who can’t even begin to look forward to starting school next year as his condition continues to slow his physical abilities.  Jude’s case does not seem to fall into a clear diagnosis, so he is passed from doctor to doctor with still no results.  Colleen and David have begun their own quest for answers.  With limited resources, their path toward any resolution is quite daunting.  Obtaining all of Jude’s medical records has become a monumental task.  Hours upon hours of research has been logged every night.  They have applied for a service dog in the hope that Jude can develop a bond with someone who can help him during these episodes and help to create a small bit of independence for him as he gets older and more aware of his condition and limitations.  The financial, physical, and emotional toll it has taken on their family must be overwhelming.   As I watch their family struggle day after day, I am inspired by their courage and spirit.  I am trying to extend a much needed helping hand and am hoping you or someone you know might be able to help them as well.

If there is anything we would ask of you, it is simply for exposure.  Exposure so that the Bowman’s can hopefully find a cure for Jude or ultimately find answers and treatments that will enable Jude to live a healthy fulfilling life.  We fervently hope that one day soon, someone will see Jude’s story and be able to help.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Friends and Family of Colleen and David Bowman

Filed Under: Getting Involved Tagged With: Bowman Family, CultureMash, David Bowman, Ellen DeGeneres, Jude Bowman

Voices and Stories: Tales from a Diverse Community

November 10, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

On Thursday, November 4, 2010, The Centerville-Washington Township Diversity Council hosted a very special event entitled “Voices and Stories: Tales from a Diverse Community”—a community project intended to embrace their own mission of “bringing together governments, schools, businesses, media, faith and ethnic communities, organizations, and individuals to promote multiculturalism and [to] address issues of diversity.”

The stage was set with red and white lighting, a tree stump, a faux

“Fire Induction with Raymond Two Crows and Alicia Pagan”

campfire, an initial four shouts through a conch shell, and rhythmic tapping on a wide, flat drum giving the audience an immediate atmosphere of closeness, and therefore a special kind of neutrality. Out loud, the speaker invites us to “Be Intrigued”!  Then, we heard Native Cherokee Indian singing into the above pictured drum …..Throughout the event, Raymond Two Crows, a Native Cherokee Indian, of Scots-Irish and Lumbee Indian heritage plays different instruments to introduce the ten individual accounts of ten individual’s lives. For the audience, it was like listening to ten different news headlines and so I will share some of these stories as such in hopes of conveying the intimate, overall “holy ground” ambience (if I may) of the event .

“Cameroon West African Princess Helene Anagho-Beny, experiences culture shock in America.”

This beautiful French speaking woman, whose father was an African Tribal Prince, moved to America with her 6 brothers and sisters (ages 2 to 14) and learned to speak English along with many other cultural challenges.  She shared with us the humorous “What were we thinking?”- experience of returning to Cameroon a few years later, fully “Americanized” (if you will) in white T-Shirts during the rainy season!  She also shared the traditionally enlightening experience of laying their grandfather to rest, witnessing the coronation of her father, and the “old chief sharing wisdom with the new chief”.  A week of feasting and celebrating followed as they connected with who they actually were.  Finally, her personal revelation of being American citizens in Cameroon, and Cameroon citizens in America, and then to recognize they were simply “Citizens of the world!”  As she broadened her personal horizon, so ours was also influenced.  She amused us in stating that when asked “What did you do last summer?” she responded “I became a Tribal Princess!”—and we can’t top that for an impressive response, I don’t think!!

Mukund Srinivas, shared his realization of the benefit of having two cultures

“Alma Mater: Students from China/Netherlands, India, and Japan share their stories of acclimating to American culture”

within himself and two viewpoints of all that he sees, and though missing his homeland culture, never regretted the move to America, and all that he learned through this lens of multiculturalism.  He spoke two languages and went to the grocery store together with his family so that everyone could support each other through the experience.  Our Chinese friend, Ruize Zhuang, shared that his background of being a Dutch-Chinese visitor to America turned many heads! He shared some Chinese traditions with us, the meanings given to certain foods, the fun family competition to find the store with the longest noodles, celebrations of birthdays back-to-back, coinciding with relatives in China simultaneously sharing the same celebrations with the same foods, offering him a feeling of connectedness.  Suzuka Watanabe from Japan shared that the initial shock of coming to America was so great that her family thought they should immediately return, but then, it was decided that a Japanese school here in America where she would learn about Japanese math, culture and foods was a suitable solution for supplementing her education.  She shared that it was quite amazing when 100 people were all pounding rice cakes at the same time and that she was glad she stayed here while staying connected to her culture as well.

“Indian Mother and Teacher loves to share stories with children”

I will tell you that we listened to a mother from southern India named Asha Mahambrey, who believed in the power of stories to raise her children and help them keep true to a sense of her culture.  She shared a story of how she explained to them why there was one God but many different perceptions of Him and how we all experience God in different ways.  She also shared her love of her simple mother, who had no education, but whose wisdom and love she appreciated more than her own education.  In parting, she shared, “Hold onto your nature” and that “we can bring profound Truth to young people’s minds” through stories told not only to her own children but to the children she teaches.

There isn’t enough time or space to tell full details of the all the accounts, but I’d like to share a few more as concise synopses of the remaining cultures showcased.

Bill Castro ‘s family came to the United States from South America in 1966 and ultimately built their El Mason restaurant through the continuing visions of his father, who was a dreamer, and always saw the potential to expand, in essence, the potential of the mindset… “Si, se puede!” (Yes, you can!)

Karine Daddah shared her “Wedding Bells” story of growing up in Mauritania.  She shared how her mother wanted her to marry someone from the Mauritanian culture so she would always have someone to connect with her on this level.  And so as providence would have it, she met her future husband in Mauritania heading to the United States. She had a combination of Vietnam, Lebanon, France and Mauritania in her background.  She married in the South of France and found her way to continue experiencing everything of these and the Mauritanian culture while recognizing that she married happily–knowing “no one else would understand her multiculturalism as uniquely well as her new Mauritanian husband would.

Kathy Hayes, who is formerly from Western North Carolina and now teaches Appalachian Studies at Sinclair Community College, shared her family’s “Pickin’ and Grinnin’” experiences at their old mountain cabin, with her very musically talented relatives, whose talents were regular events when there was no internet, tv, or ipods, but just the sound of mountain music.  Kathy shared that her mother was a walking history book, a woman who felt just like a bird whose natural state is singing and she became a singer later on, receiving the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment of the Arts for her efforts in sharing and preserving her mountain music and heritage with others, and something she asked Kathy to promote, and while being true to that request, Kathy advises “Be yourself! Be true to who you are!”

Marsha Bonhart is WDTN’s Channel 2 Anchor/Reporter, and even she came out to share with the audience “All the World’s a Stage”–readings from William Shakespeare.

In the end, Alicia Pagan, (of Puerto Rican descent, identifying herself with Taino Indians, Spanish and African and who currently teaches Spanishat Trotwood High School) and her husband, Ray Two Crows, wisely advised us all that “Stories protect us from ill health…Stories are our defense!…In the belly of the story there is life for the people….the importance of love and respect.  Our stories, she said,  are sacred, because each one of us is sacred…and that we are ultimately all relatives—34th cousins from everyone else.”

We all know that by opening ourselves up to diversity we too, discover the power of the personal story and the personal experience.

In an article from the Principia Wire quoting the well-known Memoirist Patricia Hampl, she wrote: “…Stories can move people to oppose injustice in a way that reports and statistics can’t.”  She continues that “Eventually, narrative may even help us avert injustice.”

This event truly embraced individualism. How sweetly it burns off the petty edges of our lives and restores the innocence we need to eliminate cynicism in whatever ways it tries to thwart that true sense of humanity and love that are truly within each of us, perhaps waiting to be viscerally tapped into in some tender, irresistible manner—such as through the power of a personal, cultural story, such as in this lovely event which we hope the Council continues to cultivate on an annual basis for all of Dayton to enjoy!  We would look forward to that!

All photos by Jerry Huffman

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Centerville, Diversity

The (second) Death of Passenger Rail in Ohio

November 9, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 126 Comments

3C Rail Plan – Worth Saving?

Last year, many Ohioans (especially students, urban dwellers and young professionals) cheered loudly when it was announced that Ohio would receive $400 million to modify and improve freight rail tracks to accommodate a new passenger rail system called 3C which would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.  Of course, Daytonians were a bit put off by the obvious exclusion of a “D” in the name, but the thought of passenger rail becoming a reality was enough to offset any hard feelings.  Proponents point to the ability to work, read or relax while commuting that would be a huge plus with the many who currently drive between cities for work, and that with rising gas prices it would eventually be cheaper than driving.  They argue that the necessary operating subsidies pale in comparison to the amount of public money poured in our roads and highways every year (which incidentally played a significant role in killing trains the first time).  They claim that 3C would put Ohio in the 21st century and connect it with neighboring states (many with their own passenger rail plans).  And they point to the opportunities for economic development that would likely occur near the proposed train stations – most being in struggling urban cores like Dayton.  According to the 3C is ME section of the official ODOT website (obviously taking a pro-side), the train would reach speeds of 79 mph and also act as a boost for jobs and economic development:

  • Ohio’s $400 million investment will result in 255 immediate construction jobs over a two-year period
  • Well-studied U.S. Department of Commerce data also predicts the $400 million investment will create approximately 8,000 indirect and spin-off jobs in Ohio

Of course, that was before last Tuesday when Governor Ted Strickland (a champion for 3C) was defeated in his first

Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich - "Passenger rail is not in Ohio's future."

re-election bid by staunch conservative John Kasich.  Kasich made no bones about his feelings against 3C during his campaign, and predictably and abruptly announced within hours of his win that “passenger rail in Ohio was dead”.  He, along with many of his fellow conservatives across the state, insist that Ohio does not have the density necessary for passenger rail to make sense, and more importantly – Ohio cannot afford the estimated $17 million annual subsidy to keep the system running after it is built despite the once-in-a-lifetime federal grant of $400 million.  Others against the rail plan claim that it will not be fast enough to compete with automobiles as a viable inter-city transportation option and will not have schedules that accommodate most peoples’ needs.  They point out that added to the cost of transportation from train stations to final destinations (made more challenging by decades of sprawl patterns in Ohio cities), passenger rail will not be cost-competitive with simply driving.  Not to mention that many if not most Ohians will rarely find a need to use the rail system anyway.

In DaytonMostMetro.com’s first debate column, we’ve invited Shanon Potts and Teri Lussier to share their opposing views on this hot local topic, which can be read by clicking on the tabs at the top of this story.  We hope that this is the first of many op-eds about local issues to be featured here, and we invite you all to chime in with your own opinions in our comment section.

Pro

Shanon Potts is an Assistant City Attorney at City of Dayton and 2010 Chair for Generation Dayton.

Hearing of plans to connect Ohio’s major cities with passenger rail service made me want to dance and sing, “Come on, ride the train, hey, ride it, woo woo!” High-speed rail is a key transportation component in the world’s developed countries and failure to make proper investments in a passenger rail system now is a mistake. Unfortunately, Ohio’s Governor-elect, John Kasich, recently proclaimed the train dead, stating, “Passenger rail is not in Ohio’s future.”

Young adults favor transportation choice now more than ever. Probably not unlike many other children of the eighties who grew up in small Midwestern towns, I was not aware of transportation alternatives. Amish traveled by
horse and buggy, only conductors rode trains, and everyone else traveled on roads in automobiles. Roads unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclists. I first learned of Amtrak from students from other countries while studying
abroad. Despite growing up with a narrow view of transportation, it is a mindset that can be overcome through education and life experiences, or simply a more open and creative mind.

Unfortunately passenger rail was dead in this state well before many of us (young adults) were born. Eighty years ago we had an extensive rail network. It was privately owned and operated and tax paying. In the name of national defense and security, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was signed into law. It was the beginning of the end for passenger
rail. Governments began subsidizing highways and roads by the billions while at the same time forcing rail out of business. Now the cost of some highways and roads are covered by taxes and tolls. Investment in highways, roads and bridges continue, mostly to the exclusion of all other forms of transportation.

Passenger rail failed because our government got in the business of subsidizing highways and roads. The possible unintended consequence was flight from cities as policy began to favor transportation by automobile over all other forms of transportation. There is no better time than now to level the playing field to restore prosperity, investment and business growth to Ohio’s largest cities and to allow all Ohioans to reap the rewards. It is time to move Ohio forward into the 21st Century by laying the necessary foundation for modern, high-speed passenger rail service.

The cost seems so little for all that we stand to gain. Investment in the infrastructure for high-speed passenger rail equals job creation and economic growth. An estimated 255 new jobs will be created over the first two years. The United States Department of Commerce predicts an additional 8,000 jobs from organic growth and an $18 million economic impact on the Dayton Region. The cost that opponents are whining about subsidizing amounts to $1.50 per year for taxpayers and only 0.005 of our state’s transportation budget.

Failure to invest now will cost more in the long run. The State of Ohio competed against other states and received a $400 million dollar award to upgrade freight rail and to build a passenger rail system. In letters dated
November 8, 2010, Governor-elect Kasich asked Governor Strickland to terminate all contracts relating to his passenger rail program, and he informed President Obama that he would terminate all work on Ohio’s
passenger rail program. What Ohio stands to lose, another state stands to gain. In a November 5th letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo volunteered to accept Ohio’s
$400 million award in anticipation of the position Governor-elect Kasich would take in order to create jobs for New Yorkers and to stimulate economic growth in upstate New York.

It is not only about the missed opportunity to create jobs or economic growth or the loss of $400 million to another state. As an advocate for young professionals in Dayton and Ohio, the worst pain is the thought of Ohio being left behind as other states advance further into the 21st Century.

Seventy three percent of Ohioans between ages 18 and 34 support passenger rail in Ohio. This support for passenger rail is evident in my own home and amongst young adults I talk with. My husband and I looked forward to reading a book or working on a laptop while traveling to Columbus from Dayton and back to visit family. Despite our concerns over slower speeds up front, we deemed it worth the investment over the long-term. Even if it took a little longer to reach our end destination, we would value our spare time. A young man opposing my viewpoint on rail changed his tune as he imagined taking the train from Dayton to Cincinnati for concerts or to watch professional sports teams while enjoying a few adult beverages.

Unfortunately, voter turnout among young adults ages 18-29 was especially low this year. Young adults who choose not to vote seem to fail to realize the role political policy and decision-making plays in their future, or are disenfranchised by the political scene. Regardless, more than 220,000 students are within less than 10 miles of the proposed train stations that compose the Ohio Hub. Young talent attraction and retention, also known as the brain drain, has been and still is an issue for Ohio. It would be nice if transportation policy reflected a desire to solve this issue.

As young adults we are advised to save and invest in our retirement despite other expenses in our lives, such as  substantial student loan repayments. While we pay down our debts we still invest to secure our future. Similarly Governor-elect Kasich should at least consider investing in high-speed passenger rail infrastructure for our future, despite the budget shortfall he so desperately seeks to balance. It is time for Ohio to end its monogamous love affair with highways, roads, bridges and automobiles, enter into the 21st Century, and “Come on, ride the train, hey, ride it, woo woo!”

Con

Teri Lussier is a Realtor, creator of TheBrickRanch.com and DMM Contributor.

What is it that makes passenger rail so much sexier than cars? Trains have appeal, nostalgia, I keep hearing they are better for the environment, and besides all that, two words: Cary Grant. Trains? Oh yes. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday! The emotional appeal of the 3c Passenger Rail is strong, then. Undeniable. I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t want a clean, efficient, uber-sexy, train in their city to travel hither and yon. What kind of people are they that would willing force an end to a passenger rail? Neanderthals, no doubt. Uninformed, unimaginative, cretins? People who are secretly jealous of Cary Grant? How about “pragmatic”.

When I agreed to write this, I had to do my research. I didn’t realize the facts were so definitive against it, because I like the idea of passenger rail service in Ohio, but that’s just it- I like the idea of it. The trouble is that I can’t find a study that shows passenger rails in the United States are solvent. They could be, some day, maybe, depending. From Cleveland.com:

“Illinois — which has a similar population density to Ohio — paid $12 million a year in operating costs to its Amtrak regional services until 2006 when the state’s four regional rail lines were greatly expanded.

George Weber, bureau chief for Illinois state’s bureau of railroads, estimated that since adding seven state-sponsored trains a day to the four that were running, the state is seeing about 10 to 15 percent more riders per train.

“When you start increasing the frequency, you definitely begin to see the ridership curve start to rise,” he said.

Weber said the state subsidy of the four rail lines rose to $28 million a year, but could dip this year depending on the cost of fuel.”

The fact is that I cannot find any solid, measurable, definitive benefits of passenger rails for the vast majority of citizens, except for the warm and fuzzy emotional benefits: “We like it.” and “Europe has them.” However, I did find plenty of solid reasons not to build this. Here. And here. And here. And as much as a train ride with Cary Grant might give me a thrill… Hmmm. Not only am I happily married, but facts is facts.

“Let’s have a true accounting, of what the problem is here. Let’s put the money in that.” –Charlie LeDuff

Filed Under: Opinion, The Featured Articles Tagged With: 3C, John Kasich, Ohio Train, Passenger Rail, Shanon Potts, Ted Strickland, Teri Lussier

CTW Boutique Holiday Open House

November 7, 2010 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Please mark your calendar to join us for our

Annual Holiday Open House

in the

Clothes That Work Boutique

November 10

from 3 – 6:30pm.

There will be a drawing for a fabulous Kathy Van Zeeland handbag and other surprises throughout the evening. We will have our festive assortment of holiday sweaters on display, some are classic and beautiful and some are, well, that perfect gag gift for the person who has everything.

We will also have our Better Bar well stocked for some great holiday finds.  The Boutique has never looked better and our elves have gotten a great start on making sure that you find something you just can’t live without each time you visit.

**15% off your purchase if you bring in a donation of new men’s dress socks,

boxers, belts, personal care items, and gloves and scarves.

Clothes That Work Boutique is located in the Job Center at  1133 S. Edwin C Moses Blvd.  Call 222-3778 for more info!

Filed Under: Charity Events Tagged With: clothes that work, ugly holiday sweaters

Dayton Peace Accords – Fifteen Years Later

November 3, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

(submitted by Matt Joseph)

Fifteen years ago this month, the agreement that ended the war in Bosnia was negotiated and initialed here in Dayton.  Most people around here know that, and probably remember the talks that happened at Wright-Patterson AFB.   The war, the largest of the wars of dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, had lasted three and a half years and cost over a hundred thousand lives, a huge number of them civilians killed in attempts to eradicate a specific ethnic group.  The Dayton Peace Accords ended the war and created the constitutional structure that is still in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke chose Dayton as the summit site for a number of reasons.  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, provided sufficient accommodations for the nine participating delegations at a location easy for US diplomats to reach from the East Coast, it sealed the participants off from the ravenous East Coast press, allowed Holbrooke to completely control the talks’ physical environment, and also the delegations’ movement and contacts,  and prominently displayed America’s air power.  Holding the talks in Dayton enabled Holbrooke’s use of the “Big Bang” strategy – now known in diplomacy circles as a “Dayton” – where negotiators are more or less locked into an area until they reach an agreement.   For our part, Daytonians welcomed the negotiators and then formed human peace chains around the base, holding candlelight vigils, and praying for peace throughout the 21 days of talks.

You can read the history of the war, and of the Dayton negotiations & remarks specifically, in a number of authoritative accounts, and I won’t repeat it here.  What I would like to do is talk about two effects of the Accords on Dayton.

Sarajevo

The first affect the Accords had on Dayton was to instantly create a bond between Daytonians and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.  Even today, whether they liked the terms of the Accords or not, everyone in those three countries knows about Dayton and what happened here.  The City of Dayton is Sister City to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and numerous organizations and institutions like the Friendship Force and the University of Dayton have established productive exchanges and programs over the last 15 years.  In addition, like many American cities, we now have a group of immigrants living here in Dayton from the countries who were involved in the war.  As anyone who has seen the South Slavic Club dancers perform or eaten some ćevapi sausages at World A’Fair can attest, they are enhancing our cultural richness.  Also, with the language ability they bring, and their experience in distinct cultures, they can potentially help us compete on the world stage in a number of areas.   I know that as a community we have not utilized them as a resource as fully as we should have.

Second, because of the high profile of the war in Bosnia, the Accords placed Dayton in the world’s spotlight for an entire month.  This sort of exposure is hard to come by, and its value is nearly impossible to measure, in a world where travel and communications advances have enabled rapid cross-border commerce and conversation, where the overseas success of a business could partially rest on it coming from a city with a recognizable international reputation.  The Accords have given Dayton our second shot at that exposure and reputation, and our first since the world-shaking successes of the Wright brothers one hundred years ago.

We are doing a better job of promoting our city as the home of the Wright brothers than we used to.  The bicycle shop is doing well, the hangar at the flying field at Wright Patt is looking great, and we are finally growing more comfortable with our Wright brothers image or brand. The question being discussed now isn’t whether we should focus on the Wrights, but on the best way to do it.

Even though the Dayton Peace Accords are lower-profile (except in Bosnia itself) than the Wrights, I propose that we should do more to capitalize on the fact that the Accords happened here.  As I mentioned earlier, there are many organizations who maintain close relationships with people in Bosnia and the region.  Through them, we are doing a good job of keeping the personal connections strong.  However, there are more things we can do to take advantage of the increased visibility and recognition the Accords have given us both in Bosnia and throughout the world.  I would like to suggest the following as possible ways to help our city by using the Accords to our advantage.

1.       We could collect and archive documents from the Dayton Peace Accords.  The Accords utilized a unique model to reach agreement between the warring parties, one that is still being studied and analyzed, and we would likely gain some international attention as the prime location for that analysis.

2.       We could mobilize our current immigrant population from Southeast Europe and our universal name recognition there to encourage skilled immigrants to come to Dayton, and following the model provided by our new Ahiska Turk population (and countless other immigrant waves over the last 200 years,) revitalize a neighborhood or two and provide new energy to the city.

3.       We could come up with a strategy to exploit the historic sites of the Accords to attract historical and other tourists.  Other cities have opened museums and offer tours with displays, reenactments and other attractions that highlight their roles in major negotiations, agreements, signings and other historically significant events, but we haven’t even tried to do this here.  I think we should at least take a look at the feasibility of such a coordinated effort.

4.       We could endow an academic chair at a local university to teach about the region or to research and teach about applying lessons learned in our involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

5.       Before the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a highly industrialized place, with a skilled workforce.  Now they are making the transition, like we are, to the information-based economy.  There are progressive minds in the region looking to increase the number of companies working on new green technologies, and in other areas that coincide with areas that we are working in, like the heat pump systems that use groundwater instead of outside air to heat and cool buildings.  Perhaps we should research and assist our local companies in signing cooperative agreements with business incubators and small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along the same lines as the model Montgomery County is using in Israel today.  We hold the same advantage in this case, which is access to the huge US market for these technologies.  If we can use this advantage to create jobs here in Dayton, using new innovative technologies, we should.

In these days of cynicism about government, and the general reluctance of people to put aside their own personal comfort for a greater goal, the Accords are especially good for us to remember.   We Americans, through our government’s action, ended a horribly vicious war, and the peace has held, even though the political situation continues to be unruly there, 15 years later.  We can be proud of the small but crucial role we played, and we should do more to take advantage of the fact that the Accords took place here in Dayton.

To that end, this coming weekend, UD, WSU and Sinclair, along with a number of other partners, are sponsoring two events to commemorate the 15 years since the Accords were negotiated here.  There is a dinner on Friday night at the Hope Hotel, in the same room that the accords were initialed, and there is a policy forum on Saturday from 9 to 4:30 at UD.  The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Sven Alkalaj, will be here for both events, along with the Mayor of Sarajevo, Dr. Alija Behmen, and a number of other guests and experts from the region.  We are including, for the first time, a greater focus on the status of average people caught in the conflict, with one panel talking about everyday life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and another discussing the experiences of the immigrants who came here during and after the war.  As of this morning, there are still seats available for both the dinner and the forum.   I’d like to see us make this weekend’s events the start of a more focused strategy to take advantage of the opportunities granted to us by the historical quirk of the Accords’ signing here in Dayton, and I hope you will join in both this weekend, and in what will come after.

If you would like more information, go to www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/accords_update.htm, and to order tickets to the Banquet, or RSVP for the Forum, please visit: http://daytonpeaceaccordsat15.eventbrite.com, or call Kate Evans at 333-3659.

Filed Under: Community, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Bosnia, Croatia, Dayton Peace Accords, Herzegovina, Richard Holbrooke, Serbia

November YP Roundup

November 2, 2010 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

With Thanksgiving ending the month, there are some changes in the regular schedule for the YP events in November.  Take a look at what’s available here, click on the Web sites or event calendar links and get out there to meet some new people.

And, although it’s not a *specific* YP event, I gotta use this chance to say – VOTE!  Regardless of whatever else you’re doing on Tuesday, November 2, make sure you take the time to have your say on the future direction of our schools, cities, counties, and state.  A lot of people don’t bother to get involved during midterms, but there’s a lot at stake, so take the time to make a difference.  Soapbox put away – back to the YPs…

Something new I’m discovering – Meetups!  A couple casual groups who coordinate events that may be fun:
20 Somethings of Dayton: http://www.meetup.com/20somethings-of-Dayton-Ohio/ and
Dayton Young Professional group – http://www.meetup.com/Dayton-Professionals/

Let’s get to events in November:

November 1-6

First up, for you aspiring photographers, Dayton Creative Syndicate (with Ohio Photography) is hosting a contest for you to win a free photo session on November 6 at the beautiful Cox Arboretum MetroPark with Jim Crotty (big photography deal).  The contest ends November 3, so check it out now if you’re interested in learning more!

After you submit your entry, head over to the Dayton Racquet Club to enjoy complimentary appetizers, happy hour prices, and free parking in the Kettering Tower garage while you meet and mingle with members of the Dayton Ballet Barre.  Happy Hour is from 5 – 5:45 and then the Associate Board meeting begins.  Not on the Associate Board?  Use this meeting as your opportunity to learn more about this group, try it out by volunteering, or sign up that night.

Nothing specifically YP that I’ve discovered on Friday, November 6, so you’ll want to make sure you head downtown for First Friday, the Courteous Mass bike ride, or one of the great dining, music or arts options.   Check the DaytonMostMetro.com event calendar for your options.

November 7-13

My gift to you for the second weekend of November – not only great YP events, but another hour in your day as we “fall back” for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, November 7 at 2 AM.  Don’t forget!

Tuesday, November 9 – Generation Dayton combines your entrepreneurial spirit with tasty spirits from The Wine Gallery at “Smashing Glasses,” an entrepreneur event presented by Jeff Van Horne.  He highlights what it takes to start a small business – the hard work and the fun.  Limited to only 35 participants, so make your RSVP early if you want to go.

Also on Tuesday, the Dayton Creative Syndicate has great opportunities for members.  Together with the School of Advertising Art and the Greater Dayton Advertising Association, DCS presents guest speakers Ben Nunery and Pat Jones from Powerhouse Factories.  Ben and Pat have a great story – hear it at 6 PM ($10 for members, $20 for nonmembers, $5 students w/ ID).  And like many a good YP groups, the Dayton Creative Syndicate does more than *just* the educational and professional stuff, so mix and mingle with the DCS members right after the speakers at the November Happy Hour beginning at 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, November 10 – Join up with the HYPE members for lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Piqua.  It’s a great opportunity to meet other YPs who live or work in the northern Miami Valley and get involved with this great group.

Thursday, November 11 is the day to “Jump into Art” as jumpstART visits the Dayton Visual Arts Center.  Stop by after work starting at 5:30 PM for light snacks, some adult beverages, and Art to Buy.  It’s a casual opportunity to explore one of Dayton’s great art resources.  And just in time for the holidays, Art to Buy is an exhibit that provides you with affordable and accessible art items (jewelry, wine toppers, ornaments, etc) perfect for gift giving!

Looking for some fun south of town on Thursday?  Be sure to stop by Champps Americana for the Generation Dayton Thirsty Thursday from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.  Meet in the side room to enjoy Chips and Salsa and $2.50 pints of any beer.  No membership requirement – just come to learn more about Generation Dayton and have a great time with fellow YPs.

Friday, Friday, Friday!  On the second Friday of every month, you can “USUALLY* count on the Dayton Urban League Young Professionals to enjoy kids play in an adult way at YP @ Play.  They pull out the Wii, Twister, Jenga, cards and more for you to enjoy.  But, in November it’s GALA time – no YP @ Play this month.  But you will want to catch up with your DULYP pals at the Dayton Art Institute for this beautiful, fun, and fancy-schmancy event.  Learn more here.

And the fun on Friday continues.  The Young Republicans are hosting a party for members at Chappy’s Tap Room beginning at 7 PM.  Learn more about the group and how to get involved.  Questions?  Call 937-689-6084.

November 14-20

Tuesday this week gets you started early with the Generation Dayton Business & Breakfast.  Get to Tank’s at 7 AM for some tasty and affordable breakfast and hear from David Grupe – the General Manager of the Bach Society of Dayton and Chair of the Community Arts Network.  Free to attend, but RSVP so they can save a seat for you.

You can count on the Dayton Urban League YPs to host an interesting membership meeting on the third Thursday of every month.  Only $5 for nonmembers (members free) to get up to date on all the happenings and what’s next for this exciting group.  Start time – 6:30 PM.

Head back up north on Thursday, November 18 for the HYPE Holiday Kickoff and Gift Drive beginning at 5:30 PM.  This is a great charity event PLUS a fantastic party.  Raffle prizes, music, games, drink specials, 20% off food, and so much more!  Plus = everyone who brings a new, unwrapped gift for kids to the Buffalo Wild Wings in Troy receives a coupon for 5 free wings.  This is quite an event – make sure you’re there to help a great cause and have a great time.

Also for your drinking and dining pleasure on Thursday, you can join the Ballet Barre for their monthly Wine & Ballet happy hour at the Wine Gallery downtown (new digs – not over by the Cannery anymore!).  They meet from 5:30 – 7:30; enjoy some happy hour pricing and great wine tastings with this YP group.  Plus – parking is available in the lot just West of the Wine Gallery for only $1.

Here’s when holiday math gets tricky.  Many people will be busy on the Fourth Friday (due to Thanksgiving), so Generation Dayton has moved their lunch to the THIRD Friday so you can still have a great lunch with great friends in November.  Join them at Spinoza’s at the Mall at Fairfield Commons to eat, drink (a work-appropriate beverage) and be merry before Thanksgiving.  Lunch at your own cost at this free event – RSVPs required.

November 21 – 30

 
Not a lot happening near the end of the month as groups are coordinating schedules around the beginning of the holiday travel season, but Generation Dayton invites members to come to a membership meeting after hours to provide feedback, meet the Chamber staff, learn more about volunteer opportunities, and network with peers.  Not a member of GenD yet and interested in learning more?  Check out their Web page.

So that’s what I could dig up for November. And Spoiler Alert -I  just learned about a new group that is getting going specifically for social media types who want to give back to the community.  Can’t tell you much about them (as their launch event is in December), but you can follow them here.

As always, if I missed an event, please post it below.  Hope to see you around!

Filed Under: Young Professionals Tagged With: Ballet Barre, Dayton Creative Syndicate, Dayton Urban League Young Prefessionals, generation dayton, JumpstART, meetup, professional development, Young Professional, Young Republicans, YP

Buying and selling a house of the living dead

October 30, 2010 By Teri Lussier 3 Comments

Frank Coleman wrote an interesting post about some of Dayton’s more famous haunted spaces. As the resident Realtor at DaytonMostMetro.com, I thought I’d take this Halloween Sunday to talk about how haunted or otherwise stigmatized properties might affect property values. But first, a disclaimer: I am not an attorney. I do not play one on TV. This is not intended as legal advice. If you are purchasing or selling a property that has any stigma attached, or have any questions about legal implications of stigmatized property, please consult an attorney for legal advice. I now return you to your regularly scheduled post.

Let’s say you just moved into town, bought a house at a fair market value- that is, it’s not a foreclosure or otherwise discounted price- you paid a fair price for a property you love. You’ve moved in, you are settling in, and one day a neighbor tentatively knocks on your day to say hello and introduce themselves. The conversation naturally turns to your new home and your neighbor shakes their head sadly and says, “It’s so horrible what happened here.” You say…”Huh?” The neighbor explains, “Yeah! Six months ago there was a murder/suicide in the master bedroom. Didn’t you know?”

So you don’t believe in ghosts, poltergeists, spirits, etc, and that’s fine. But. Same thing: You just moved into town, bought a house, blahblahblah, one day your new neighbor excitedly pipes up, “What’s it like to live in a haunted house!?!?” Say what? Congratulations. You are the proud owner of a stigmatized property. Would you want to know before you bought the home? Do you have a right to know? Is the seller legally or ethically obligated to disclose any death that occurred in this home? And what is the statute of limitations for such disclosure?

I was helping a family transfer from California to Wright-Patterson Air Force base. The husband was here, the wife and kids were still in California. One Saturday morning as we were driving to see a home, the husband got a call from his wife, “I have a weird feeling about this home,” she said. “Find out if there’s been a death there.” I had to clarify her concerns. “Any death or a violent death?” I think we can assume that most historic homes have had a death occur in them. People used to die at home, the body would have been prepared in the home, the wake was held in the parlor. To most people, that’s a completely different issue from a violent death.

Violent deaths might attach an emotional or psychological stigma to a property and might impact the perceived value of a property. Again, if this is a concern to you, express this to your Realtor, ask the sellers to disclose any known deaths, and research the property history using internet searches, county auditor websites, and other means, including talking to the neighbors.

When you list a property for sale in the Dayton Area Board of Realtors MLS system, you fill out a Property Disclosure form that discloses material defects of which the sellers are aware. Plumbing issues, roof leaks, foundation problems, etc. There isn’t a “check one, Yes or No” for ghosts or strange unexplained occurrances- these are not material defects, so what would you do if you are selling a home that has what your family jokingly refers to as a ghost, living in it? What about a violent death?

The laws vary from state to state, and from case to case– and again, this is not intended as legal advice, I am not a lawyer- but laws are beginning to lean on seller’s responsibility to disclose. In other words, who knew of the facts, and who has the money? Speak with a lawyer about your responsibility to disclose anything that might affect the value of your property, but as a general rule of thumb, if you know something about the property that might affect a buyer’s decision to purchase, err on the side of disclosure. And Happy Dios de los Muertos, Dayton!

Photo credit: Emma, used with permission.

Filed Under: Real Estate

The Dayton Tap Project

October 29, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

Performing artists from Dayton and beyond will head up a tap dance performance and workshop on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Stivers School for the Arts, 1313 E. Fifth St. The event will begin with workshops starting at 9 a.m. and culminate in a 7:30 p.m. performance. Guests can attend all or part of the event.

The Dayton Tap Project will be presented by two local organizations: Sole Purpose — a nonprofit tap company founded by Dayton’s own Kandee Thacker-Mann, who’s performed in Savion Glover’s Footnotes, won Showtime at the Apollo and volunteers to teach tap at Ruskin Elementary — and The Tap Factor — a new local professional company founded by Chris Erk that offers dance lessons and community outreach. The Dayton Tap Project will provide instruction to Dayton’s public school students and community members.   The project is made possible with a grant provided by Montgomery County Arts and Culture District and cooperation with East End Community Service.

“The Dayton Tap Project is an effort to present tap dance to the community and help preserve its place as an American art form,” Erk said.

The fee for the workshops is as follows: one class is $25, two classes $40 and three classes is $50. The cost is $10 per class for Dayton Public Schools students. General admission for the evening performance is $10. For tickets, call the Dayton Playhouse 937-424-8477 or go to www.daytonplayhouse.com.

“Before the show there will be master classes held at Stivers School for the Arts,” said Thacker-Mann. “Our guest performers will teach classes to students with The Dayton Tap Project, as well as others from the Dayton area and beyond.”

Performances and workshops will be given by professional dancers, including:

  • Alexandra Bradley, from Flint, Mich., has performed internationally at the Cannes Film Festival and 2002 Winter Olympics, as well as in Improvography at the Joyce Theater in New York City.
  • Quynn Johnson has performed in Jamaica and Lima, Peru. He’s an original member of the Flintstone Hoofers, has performed with American Tap at the Lincoln Center in New York City and was recognized as Maryland’s No. 1 choreographer for students younger than 12.  (see video below)
  • Frances Bradley has performed in the Tap Masters Honorarium in Oklahoma City, Savion Glover’s Footnotes in Detroit, the 2000 National Tap Dance Day Tap Extravaganza in New York City, and Bubblin’ Brown Sugar in Atlanta.

Also included in the performances for the show will be an array of student performers from the East Dayton Community Center, Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton and Stivers, as well as from other local public schools and colleges. Poetic and video installations also will be on display. Music will be provided by Premium Blend and others.

“This is going to be an exciting day of classes and a delightful evening of tap dancing,” Erk said. “Dayton, being a city that appreciates tap dance, will warmly welcome our new local performers and guests to town and appreciate the breadth in which so many members of our community can participate. This is just the beginning of more to come as tap dancing stays alive and thrives in Dayton.”

Quynn Johnson from studio3wd.net on Vimeo.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Alexandra Bradley, Chris Erk, Dayton Tap Project, Frances Bradley, Kandee Thacker-Mann, Quynn Johnson, Sole Purpose, Stivers School for the Arts, The Tap Factor

National Novel Writing Month

October 29, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 4 Comments

(the following was submitted by Nicole Amsler)

November is the month best known for television sweeps, too much turkey and frost on the ground. But for a handful of Dayton writers, it is also NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.)

National Novel Writing Month began in 1999 with only 21 participants. Now, in its 11th year, a few hundred thousand writers from all over the world endeavor to write a 50,000 word novel from scratch. Writers can register for free at www.nanowrimo.org and can begin writing on November 1st. The website offers forums, advice, word wars and community connections.

“Just knowing that there are thousands of others embarking on the same amazingly crazy challenge helps me to write,” said Dara Sorensen, one of the three Dayton Muncipal Liasons (or MLs). “Many times, writing is a solitary profession. So to see so many others participating and encouraging one another makes reaching 50K in a month seem a little smaller somehow.”

The Dayton area NaNo group, affectionately named DANG, meets all over the city most nights in November. Flocking to coffee shops, book shops and libraries, the DANG group is a mismatched group of young and old(er), students and professionals, experienced writers and newbies. The genres are broad as well—ranging from fanfic to fantasy, historical romance to literary fiction.

Winning NaNo is accomplished by uploading the completed manuscript online for a quick word count before November 30th. You win a printable award, winner icons for your website and of course, bragging rights.

But the biggest win varies for different people. Some pursue publication, others don’t write another word again until next November.

“The big win for me personally is that I found my critique group through NaNo. I’ve been part the group ever since 2007 and my writing has improved so much, thanks to them.  Without NaNo, I’m sure I never would’ve been part of such a great group,” said Sorenson.

November is already a busy month. But by drinking copious amounts of coffee, ignoring your carpal tunnel syndrome and neglecting your laundry, it can be done.

Tips to Win NaNoWriMo

  • Try to accomplish the daily word count goal of 1,667. It is much harder to make up one or more missing days.
  • Don’t worry about making the story perfect as you are writing it. Turn off your internal editor. NaNoWriMo is about producing a first draft—not a polished manuscript.
  • Attend one of the many write-ins in the area. Other NaNo participants are encouraging and friendly. But don’t expect too much conversation. Write-ins tend to have concentrated times of silent writing followed by several minutes of conversation.
  • Participate in a friendly “word war” by challenging another writer to see who will get the most amount of words in an allotted time.
  • Don’t give up. Even if it becomes impossible to win NaNo this year, you will have more words in your word in progress than you did at the beginning of the month.

NaNoWriMo Write-In Calendar

The full NaNoWriMo calendar can be viewed on the Dayton forum on www.nanowrimo.org. You must register join the forum but registration is free.

Oct. 30th
Pre-Kick Off Party, Kettering-Moraine Library (3946 Far Hills Ave, Kettering, OH 45429), Noon-3 PM

November 1st:
Northern Kickoff, Piqua Public Library (116 W High St. Piqua, OH 45356), 5:30-8:30 PM
Dayton area: Dorothy Lane Market, Upstairs Room (740 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066), 6-9 PM

Nov. 2nd:
Write In @ Panera Bread, Fairfield Mall (2751 Fairfield Commons Dayton, OH 45431), 6-9 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Miller Lane (6550 Miller Lane Dayton, OH 45409), 6-9 PM

Nov. 3rd:
Write-In @ Books & Company, The Greene (4453 Walnut Street Beavercreek, OH 45440), 6-9 PM

Nov. 4th:
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 6:30-9:30 PM

Nov. 6th:
Write In @ Washington-Centerville Public Library (111 W Spring Valley Rd, Centerville, OH 45458) 12:30-4:30
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 1:00-5:00 PM

Nov. 8th:
Event @ Dayton Public Library, Main Branch (215 E. Third St. Dayton, OH, 45402), 5-8 PM
Write-In @ Piqua Public Library (116 W High St. Piqua, OH 45356), 5:30-8:30 PM

Nov. 9th:
Write In @ Panera Bread, Fairfield Mall (2751 Fairfield Commons Dayton, OH 45431), 6-9 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Miller Lane (6550 Miller Lane Dayton, OH 45409), 6-9 PM
Write in @Dorothy Lane Market, Upstairs Room, (740 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066) 7-9 PM

Nov. 10th:
Write-In @ Barnes & Noble, Dayton Mall (2619 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd Dayton, OH 45459)

Nov. 11th:
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 1:00-5:00 PM

Nov. 13th:
Write in @ Fairborn Public Library (1 East Main Street, Fairborn, OH 45324) 1-5 PM

Nov. 15th:
Write-In @ Piqua Public Library (116 W High St. Piqua, OH 45356), 6:00-8:30 PM

Nov. 16th:
Write In @ Panera Bread, Fairfield Mall (2751 Fairfield Commons Dayton, OH 45431), 6-9 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Miller Lane (6550 Miller Lane Dayton, OH 45409), 6-9 PM
Write in @Dorothy Lane Market, Upstairs Room, (740 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066) 6-9 PM

Nov. 17th:
Write-In @ Barnes & Noble, Dayton Mall (2619 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd Dayton, OH 45459)

Nov. 18th:
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 1:00-5:00 PM

Nov. 19th:
Write in @ The Loft, Fairborn (1 South Central (West) Fairborn, Ohio 45324 ) 7-11 PM

Nov. 20th:
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 1:00-5:00 PM

Nov. 22nd:
Write-In @ Piqua Public Library (116 W High St. Piqua, OH 45356), 5:30-8:30 PM
Write in @Dorothy Lane Market, Upstairs Room, (740 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066) 6-9 PM

Nov. 23rd:
Write In @ Panera Bread, Fairfield Mall (2751 Fairfield Commons Dayton, OH 45431), 6-9 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Miller Lane (6550 Miller Lane Dayton, OH 45409), 6-9 PM

Nov. 27th:
Write in @ The Loft, Fairborn (1 South Central (West) Fairborn, Ohio 45324 ) 6-10 PM

Nov. 29th:
Write-In @ Piqua Public Library (116 W High St. Piqua, OH 45356), 5:30-8:30 PM
Write in @Dorothy Lane Market, Upstairs Room, (740 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066) 6-9 PM

Nov. 30th:
Write-In @ Night Sky, Troy (18 N Market St Troy, OH 45373), 5:00-9:00 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Fairfield Mall (2751 Fairfield Commons Dayton, OH 45431), 6-9 PM
Write In @ Panera Bread, Miller Lane (6550 Miller Lane Dayton, OH 45409), 6-9 PM

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: National Novel Writing Month

Commemorate the Dayton Peace Accords

October 29, 2010 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

From OhioHistoryCentral.org: The agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on December 14, 1995. These accords put an end to the three and a half year long war in Bosnia, one of the armed conflicts in the former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia.

You’ve heard of the Dayton Peace Accords.  You know it’s a big deal.  But you may not know exactly who, why, and how it all came together right here in Dayton, Ohio to end the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  November 5th thru 7th, you can join in the commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary and experience fuller understanding of this important turning point through great events featuring distinguished guests.

More information is available here: http://www.daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/accords_update.htm

The commemoration includes a banquet at the Hope Hotel on Friday, Nov. 5 and a public forum in Kennedy Union on Saturday, Nov. 6.  These events will be held in conjunction with the awarding of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize on Sunday, Nov. 7.  These events are being supported by The City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Dayton International Airport, University of Dayton, Wright State University, Sinclair Community College, Central State University, Dayton Literary Peace Prize Committee, and Dayton Sister Cities Committee.

The banquet and forum will feature many distinguished guests, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs for BiH (H. E. Sven Alkalaj), the Mayor of Sarajevo (Dr. Alija Behmen), and the Executive Director of Migration and Refugee Services for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (Amb. Johnny Young).

Please consider attending one or more of these events, and help spread the word about them.  The hosts are particularly interested in having students and community members attend the forum.

Details on the November 5 BANQUET: There will be a banquet on the evening of November 5th for Dayton residents and others to remember the negotiations and the many people we came into contact with during those days and in the last fifteen years. The banquet will be held at the Hope Hotel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the same place where the Accords were negotiated and initialed in 1995.  Tickets for the banquet ($45) may be purchased on-line at:  http://daytonpeaceaccordsat15.eventbrite.com/.

Details on the November 6 FORUM:

Now, fifteen years later, they are holding a forum (free to attend) on November 6, 2010, at the University of Dayton, with three goals in mind.

  1. To discuss the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and take a look at what US policy towards BiH should be now and in the immediate future.
  2. To discuss how our experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina has and will change US policy approaches in resolving other conflicts.
  3. To hear from those who left Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who now live in Dayton, about their positive and negative experiences here in the US.

The forum at UD on Nov. 6 is free-of-charge, but they request an on-line registration.  People who want to attend the forum can register at http://daytonpeaceaccordsat15.eventbrite.com/.  A buffet lunch will be offered free-of-charge.

Details on the November 7 Authors Event: If you missed getting your tickets to the big reception for the Literary Peace Prize winners (or couldn’t afford them), you can still hear the winners  speak on Sunday, November 7th at 11:30 AM at Books and Co. at the Greene.  Attached are details directly from the Books and Co. event calendar.

geraldinebrooks2.jpgmarlonjames2.jpgdaveeggers2.jpg

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7; 11:30 AM @ The Greene

Conversation and Brunch with the Winners of the 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Come for a luscious brunch prepared by Brio Tuscan Grille and enjoy conversation with our visiting authors: DAVE EGGERS, author of Zeitoun, Nonfiction Award winner, MARLON JAMES, author of The Book of Night Women, Fiction Award winner, and GERALDINE BROOKS, Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and author of March (Pulitzer Prize winner), Year of Wonders, and People of the Book. Marsha Bonhart from WDTN-TV2 will emcee the program.

There is a $10 donation for the brunch, which is a fundraiser for The Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation. You can pay at the event, but please RSVP to worldpeace2010@att.net by November 2, so Brio can prepare accordingly. Those who want to hear the authors but not partake of the brunch are certainly welcome to attend at 12:15 pm, with no charge.

************

So there are quite a few ways to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords.  The event coordinators share their mission that, “after these events are complete, we hope to be able to say that we have advanced the understanding of BiH by US citizens and perhaps that we have helped shine a light on some ways to improve peoples’ lives in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

For additional information, please call Kate Evans in the Dayton City Commission office at:  333-3659.

Filed Under: Getting Involved Tagged With: Dayton Peace Accords, Literary Peace Prize

Join The Fight Against World Hunger

October 28, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

How many times have you come home, ravenously hungry, opened the refrigerator door, did a quick once over, saw only a fridge full of food that need to be cooked and declared to yourself, “There is nothing to eat!” Now, imagine that scene again, but this time there is little to no food to be eaten and with hunched shoulders, you sighed, “There is nothing to eat.”

Millions go hungry every day - Photo by Lyric Fields

In a world where there are more than 1,000 billionaires with a net worth of $3.6 trillion, up from $2.4 trillion in 2009, (Forbes, 2010), there is an estimated total of 925 million people undernourished according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. There are number of factors that contribute to food scarcity globally, poverty being the leading cause.

In the Miami Valley many families come home to empty refrigerators every day. Unable to feed their children, they turn to local food pantries and social service agencies for support. Sometimes a teen or youth is left to fend for themselves. When that happens, they go to Daybreak, Dayton’s only homeless shelter for youth.

This week the Dayton Urban League Young Professionals (DULYP) in partnership with the Dayton Urban League Guild, the National Urban League (www.nul.org), and National Urban League partner, YUM! Brands is hosting a National Day of Empowerment to collect various non-perishable items for the youth served at Daybreak. At this event, the DULYP will report on its weeklong efforts to address world hunger by supporting this very worthy local agency. Donations of non-perishable food items (i.e. soup, Ramen noodles, tuna and Poptarts) along with gift cards to WalMart and Krogers will be accepted at this event.

Event: Fight to End Hunger (National Day of Empowerment)

Date: Saturday, October 30

Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Location: Dayton Urban League, 907 W. Fifth Street

For more information email Serida Lowery at serida4u@gmail.com or call 672-0402.

Filed Under: Charity Events, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: daybreak, Foodbank, homelessness, hunger, runaway, youth

Where Am I? October 27, 2010

October 27, 2010 By Teri Lussier 2 Comments

Hint: en pointe

Last week I was visiting Foy’s Halloween Store in downtown Fairborn. I know long term residents of Dayton who are still unaware that there is such a thing as downtown Fairborn, let alone a very very cool five & ten there (if you don’t know what a five and ten is, think if the Oriental Trading Company and the Dollar Store had a baby, it would be a five and ten cent store). Anyway, in October, Foy’s Variety Store, Foy’s Halloween Store, and Foy’s various costume stores take over downtown Fairborn, creating some big, bad, goulish fun for the whole family. The Oregon District may have the most raucous Halloween party but if you are looking for something more family friendly, head out to Fairborn on Friday, October 29 for the Spooktacular Parade, starting at 7:30.

Filed Under: Where Am I?

Haunted Dayton: Ghost Stories of The Gem City

October 27, 2010 By Dayton Most Metro 2 Comments

The rear of the Old Court House building, thought to be visited by the spirit John McAfee, the first man to be publicly hanged in Dayton.

“He’s stuck, that’s what it is. He’s in between worlds. You know it happens sometimes that the spirit gets yanked out so fast that the essence still feels it has work to do here”. – Oda Mae Brown in the film Ghost.

A mystery lies deep in the bowels of the one-hundred year-old Stivers School for the Arts building located on the east end of downtown Dayton.  Decades ago, the body of teacher Mary Tyler was discovered floating in the building’s pool,  fully clothed.  The mystery deepens as Ms. Tyler was believed to have been involved with a student – a young man who was a senior at the time of her death.

He was never seen or heard from again.

But according to accounts from students and maintenance staff over the years, Mary Tyler decided to take up permanent residence within the storied halls of the arts school.  Witnesses have reported Tyler’s ghostly figure levitating in the abandoned pool (now buried beneath a classroom) and floating about the lower levels and the networks of tunnels buried underneath the school, banging on pipes and wailing loudly wherever she goes.

Karen Laven, who documented ghostly occurrences in her 2009 book, Dayton Ghosts, recalls her personal experience when she visited Stivers for research in 2008:

“Stivers gave off a distinctly weird vibe,and not only when I was looking down into the bowels of the old swimming pool where Mary was found dead,  but throughout the school. It truly seems to have a very deep history of hauntings in its century of life and at the same time, it is a hub for artistic creativity. Amazing combination.”

If historians and experts of the paranormal are to be believed, Stivers is just one of  several places in the Dayton area where sightings occur frequently.  Woodland Cemetery has had its fair share of sightings, with visitors claiming to have spoken with people who simply vanished shortly after briefly conversing with them.  The venerable Amber Rose, a Dayton dining staple, is said to be haunted by a spinster named “Chuckie.”   The team from Ghost Hunters, the popular reality television show on the Syfy network, even visited Wright Patterson Air Force Base in January 2008, investigating Buildings 70, 219 and the Arnold House for paranormal activity (results were “inconclusive”).

So with a healthy dose of skepticism, I unearthed what I believe to be the 5 most haunted places in Dayton:

5. The Corner of Fifth And Ludlow

In 1805, Daniel Cooper, one of Dayton’s “founding fathers”, purposed four acres of land as one of the city’s earliest graveyards.  As the city’s population and size swelled, the bodies interred at the location were dug up and moved decades later to Woodland Cemetery.  Due to poor grave markings and improper burials, countless bodies were left behind.

Historian Curt Dalton of Dayton History, says:  ‘There were over 800 bodies here, and when they built the building that stands there now, they discovered dozens of bodies in various stages of decomposition.  There were wild pigs that were digging up the bones…the place had become a mess.”

4. The Original Dayton Daily News Building

The fourth floor of the original Dayton Daily News building on 4th and Ludlow Streets is purported to be the haunting grounds of Judy Sinks.  Sinks was murdered by her husband, Theodore, a maintenance worker employed by the newspaper.  After strangling her at home, Theodore concealed her body in the building.  The following year, her body was discovered.

The fourth floor of the historic Dayton Daily News building on 4th and Ludlow.

“It was very sad what happened to her,” says historian Leon Bey, who conducts historical ghost tours of downtown Dayton.  “Many employees on that top floor were very happy when the newspaper moved to the new location because they were having problems with Judy’s ghost.  She was making all kinds of noises and carrying on.”

However, Judy is not the only ghost at DDN’s old residence.  Gov. Cox, founder of Dayton Daily News, can be seen and heard diligently working in the library on the third floor.  Leon Bey tells participants of his walking tour:

“One night, after he was dead for about a year-and-a-half, a janitor came into the library to clean.  He was shocked to see a man in a smoking jacket sitting at Mr. Cox’s desk.  He couldn’t believe it.  The gentleman admitted he was Gov. Cox but asked to be left alone.  The janitor went out and told people about it, and that  started the legend.”

Bey smiles, and adds, “He’s a friendly ghost!”

3. The Victoria Theatre

The gray, marbled facade of the  historic Victoria Theatre provides passersby a tiny glimpse of its storied vaudevillian heritage.  Though most of the structure has gone through extensive restoration due to the original being nearly burned to the ground, the opera house retains much of the charm of its past lives.  Dalton explains that it retains something else, as well:

Victoria Theatre at 138 N. Main Street.

“When it was a music hall, an actress disappeared one night before she was supposed to go out on stage.  They went up to get her, and she wasn’t in her room.  There was a guard at the bottom of the stairs that never saw her come down.  We think that she was probably murdered, and possibly taken out in a trunk.”

When she disappeared, she was wearing a taffeta dress scented with rose perfume.  Stories of employees hearing the rustling sounds of a dress and the sweet smell of perfume (particularly on the balcony) persist to this day.  Employees affectionately named her “Vicky”.

“When they did renovation in 1979, Ms. Vicky maybe thought that they were tearing down her home,” says Dalton, grinning as he glances up at the beautiful building.  “The workers kept talking about how their tools would disappear again and again.  If you come here, they’ll tell you all about Ms. Vicky!”

Bey adds, “We think this is the most active ghost in Dayton!”

2. The Patterson Homestead

Generations of the Patterson family, one of the most influential families in Dayton’s history, lived in the three story mansion on Brown Street for nearly 100 years until 1904.

Some would argue that they still live there.

Patricia Staley, of Dayton Ohio Ghost Hunters Society (D.O.G.S.) says the Patterson Homestead is one of the most haunted locations in the Miami Valley.  She described a 2009 investigation of the property to a group of wide-eyed audience members at a recent lecture at Kettering-Moraine Public Library:

“We had a lot of interesting activity.  We were told that people were getting the feeling of being watched all the time, and also people were seeing full-body apparitions.  We had people with us that are sensitive to spirits.  When we went up to third floor, we discovered [the spirit of] a thirteen year-old boy.

The Patterson Homestead at 1815 Brown Street.

We then went to the master bedroom and I’m sitting in the chair…all of a sudden, I feel [the spirit of] a dog come up to me and I started stroking its head.  I felt a connection with Julia, as this was her bedroom.  I went from laughing and talking… to crying.  It’s just a very odd sensation – but also very fulfilling.

We picked up several EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) on our recorders.  They [the spirits] will talk a lot about the curator and the people who work there.”

Staley and the rest of the crew at D.O.G.S. contend that most of the spirits at the home are benevolent.  Staley admits, however, there is one area in the home that made her uncomfortable – the basement.

“It totally freaked me out,” Staley said.  “There’s a section that’s walled off and concreted tight.  We can’t get a camera or a wire through, or anything.  I’m not sure if it was a coal chute or a cellar.  But I  know I can’t turn my back to that wall.  I have to physically back away.  There’s something there that says, ‘Don’t turn your back on me!'”

1. Sinclair Community College

So much ghostly activity has been documented at Sinclair that it was named “one of the most haunted college campuses in America” a few years ago, with activity being reported in Buildings 2, 7 and 13.  Students and staff have reported seeing figures floating down hallways and out of bathrooms.  Whispers and voices are heard.  Some have said that in certain buildings, they can feel hands pulling their hair and tugging at clothing.

But the hotbed of otherwordly activity at Sinclair Community College appears to be concentrated in two areas: Blair Hall  and the Tartan cafeteria.

A ghost named “Hamlet” has been haunting Blair Hall Theater for over thirty years according to generations of students

Blair Hall at Sinclair Community College.

and faculty.  Random noises come from the rear of the stage, lights turn off and on by themselves and faint outlines of a someone with a slender build can be seen walking on the several catwalks high above the stage.

The area that is now the Tartan Cafeteria was once the site of the Dayton’s hanging gallows, where many criminals were hanged to death.  Their spirits are believed to still linger around, taunting students.

A former security chief who died suddenly is said to have appeared on campus, making his rounds as dutifully as he did when he was amongst the living.  Also, there are a number of tales that have elevators running by themselves.

Leon Bey says, “A lady came to me and said that she saw a ghost on the elevator.  She said he was an African-American gentleman with a mule.  I did my research and discovered that the area used to have a railroad roundhouse, and that mules were used to turn the railroad engines around.”

Sinclair is easily the most haunted of all places in Dayton.  Have you had a ghost encounter of your own in Dayton?

Gem City Circle Walking Tours (Leon Bey and Curt Dalton) have two more downtown Dayton ghost walks scheduled for the season on Fri., Oct. 29 & Sat., Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person.
Please call or email Leon Bey to make a reservation: (937) 274-4749 or
grantsguru501c3@yahoo.com

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: dayton ohio ghost hunters society, ghost walks, ghosts, haunted, leon bey, Patterson Homestead, sinclair community college

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 Voices of Vision: Karaoke Fundraiser for the Arts 

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Community Clothing Swap

June 30 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Community Clothing Swap

Come join us at the Russ Nature Reserve for a fun day of swapping clothes with your neighbors! Bring your...

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Color Our World – The Art of Stories

June 30 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Recurring

Color Our World – The Art of Stories

Each session of this freeform art class will focus on a different children's book illustrators' works and provide children an...

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Rolling Easy

June 30 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Rolling Easy

Mobile food trailer w/ freshly made street food: crispy wonton rolls filled with fresh ingredients, prime rib sliders, grilled cheese...

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Bargain Tuesday: $6.50 Movie Day

Tuesday at the Neon in Downtown Dayton movies are just $6.50

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Cloud Park Food Truck Rally

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Lazy Baker Pizza Maker

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Patio Pounders

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July 1 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Tai Chi & Qigong at the River

Offered by Immortal Tree Qigong. Each hour-long Tai Chi & Qigong session will start with breathing exercises, warm up, and...

Free
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ILLYS Fire Pizza

July 2 @ 9:45 am - 3:00 pm Recurring

ILLYS Fire Pizza

We are a mobile wood fired pizza company that specialize in turkey products such as Turkey pepperoni, Italian Turkey sausage,...

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Fairborn Farmers Market

July 2 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Fairborn Farmers Market

The Fairborn Farmers Market was established with the intent to provide the Fairborn community access to fresh and wholesome products...

Free
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

July 2 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Trotwood Community Market (presented by American Legion Post 613)

A celebration of locally sourced foods and products from small businesses in Trotwood and the surrounding communities! Stop by and...

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

July 2 @ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Miamisburg Farmers Market

Miamisburg Farmers MarketAt Miamisburg Christian Church parking lot.1146 E. Central Ave in Miamisburg.Fresh Produce, sweet treats, food trucks and more..

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

What the Taco?!

July 2 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

What the Taco?!

Chipotle Chicken Taco GRILLED CHICKEN, SHREDDED LETTUCE, PICO DE GALLO, CILANTRO SOUR CREAM & MONTEREY JACK $10.00 Ground Beef Taco...

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Recurring

Yoga – Arcade Arts & Wellness

July 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Recurring

Yoga – Arcade Arts & Wellness

The 2025 Arcade Arts & Wellness Series is a rejuvenating journey with a variety of local yoga instructors amidst the...

Free
7:00 pm

Skeeball Tournament

July 2 @ 7:00 pm

Skeeball Tournament

**Skeeball Tournament – First Wednesday of Every Month!** J Welcome to the Skeeball Tournament at Level Up Pinball Bar! Get ready to roll...

$7.18
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

Trivia Night at Alematic

July 2 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

Trivia Night at Alematic

Grab some friends and join us every Wednesday night at the brewery for a pint of your favorite ALEMATIC brew...

+ 1 More
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

July 3 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Lebanon Farmers Market

The Lebanon Farmers Market is open 4 pm to 7 pm every Thursday mid-May through mid-October.  We are located in...

5:00 pm

3rd Annual Crab Rangoon Eating Contest

July 3 @ 5:00 pm

3rd Annual Crab Rangoon Eating Contest

It’s back—and bigger than ever. Join us for the 3rd Annual Crab Rangoon Eating Contest at Loose Ends Brewing. Last...

$15
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Grapes & Groves

July 3 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Grapes & Groves

Join us every Thursday to Taste Wine at your own pace. Each Thursday we will have one of our highly...

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Middletown July 3rd Fireworks + Festival

July 3 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Middletown July 3rd Fireworks + Festival

5-10 PM: Free Kids Zone, including face painting and inflatables 6-7:30 PM: Live Music 7:30-8 PM: National Anthem Flag Jump...

5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Centerville Americana Festival

July 3 @ 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Centerville Americana Festival

The Americana Festival Committee is excited to bring the Centerville – Washington Township community together once again for what promises...

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Member’s Group Crit Night

July 3 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Recurring

Member’s Group Crit Night

Thursdays / 5:30-7 p / Jun 12 / Jul 3 / Aug 7 Exclusive for Co Members / Become a...

6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

July 3 @ 6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

Winner of 47 International Awards! Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and special powers. She's unloved by...

$39 – $79
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Open Collage Night

July 3 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Open Collage Night

Admission is $10 per person at the door / Free for Co Members / Become a Member at codayton.org/membership Join...

$10
+ 4 More
8:00 am - 9:00 am

West Milton Red, White & Run 5k

July 4 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am

West Milton Red, White & Run 5k

Description The Red, White, and Run 5k in West Milton will be held on July 4th!  This fun and enjoyable...

$30
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

July 4 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Cruise In at the Roadhouse

Cruise In at the Roadhouse is taking place at Rip Rap Roadhouse, which is located at 6024 Rip Rap Rd. in Huber Heights....

4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival

July 4 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival

The Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival is Xenia’s signature Independence Day celebration, held at Shawnee Park. This event is hosted alongside the Red, White &...

4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

What The Taco?!

July 4 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

What The Taco?!

Chipotle Chicken Taco GRILLED CHICKEN, SHREDDED LETTUCE, PICO DE GALLO, CILANTRO SOUR CREAM & MONTEREY JACK $10.00 Ground Beef Taco...

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Wheel Fresh Pizza

July 4 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Wheel Fresh Pizza

Pepperoni Pizza Classic pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone and fresh-made sauce $17.00 Cheese Pizza Mozzarella/Provolone blend, and fresh-made pizza sauce $16.00 Sausage...

6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

July 4 @ 6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

Winner of 47 International Awards! Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and special powers. She's unloved by...

$39 – $79
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Recurring

LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark

Join us every Friday night at 6pm for Dayton's Best LIVE TRIVIA with Trivia Shark at Miami Valley Sports Bar!...

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Kettering Go Fourth!

July 4 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Kettering Go Fourth!

Go Fourth! is Kettering’s premier Independence Day celebration, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, bounce houses, and a spectacular fireworks and drone show. Hosted...

+ 5 More
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Cars and Coffee

July 5 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Cars and Coffee

Join SW Ohio's most passionate car enthusiasts with this nationally recognized gathering. As the largest Cars and Coffee gathering in...

Free
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

July 5 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Yellow Springs Farmers Market

For over 20 years this market has been made up of a hardworking group of men, women and children, dedicated...

8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

July 5 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market

Join us every Saturday through Sept 13, 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. for local products including fresh produce, honey/jams, and...

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

July 5 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Oakwood Farmers Market

The 2025 Oakwood Farmers’ Market will be held Saturdays, June 7th thru October 11th, from 9 am until 12pm. The...

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

July 5 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Recurring

Greene County Farmers Market

The outdoor Farmers Market on Indian Ripple Rd. in Beavercreek runs Saturdays, 9-1 even during the winter months. Check out...

9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

July 5 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Shiloh Farmers Market

The farmers’ market is located on the corner of Main St. & Philadelphia Dr, in the parking lot of Shiloh...

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Buzz about Bees

July 5 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Buzz about Bees

Dive into the fascinating world of bumblebees and bees as we explore the vital roles and ecosystem services that these...

$3
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Farmers Market at The Heights

July 5 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Recurring

Farmers Market at The Heights

Join us for the Farmers Market at The Heights Saturdays 10a-2pm. All products are either homemade or homegrown or support...

+ 9 More
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

July 6 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Recurring

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market

Downtown Troy Farmers' Market will run Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm from June 22nd, 2013 through September 21st,...

11:30 am - 5:00 pm

Filled Pasta Class

July 6 @ 11:30 am - 5:00 pm

Filled Pasta Class

Join Chef Casey in a hands-on culinary adventure and learn what makes our pasta so delicious! You'll try your hand...

$128
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Recurring

Mozzarella & Mimosas

July 6 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Recurring

Mozzarella & Mimosas

$30
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Montgomery County Fair – Red White & Bloom

July 6 @ 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Montgomery County Fair – Red White & Bloom

Summer's biggest celebration is just around the corner!  This year's theme, "Red, White & Bloom," promises a week-long celebration of community,...

6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

July 6 @ 6:00 pm Recurring

Matilda: The Musical

Winner of 47 International Awards! Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and special powers. She's unloved by...

$39 – $79
7:00 pm

24K Magic: #1 Tribute to Bruno Mars

July 6 @ 7:00 pm

24K Magic: #1 Tribute to Bruno Mars

All concerts are free. Food trucks and beer sales will be available for guests to enjoy. Friday night Party in the...

Free
7:30 pm Recurring

Dayton Poetry Slam

July 6 @ 7:30 pm Recurring

Dayton Poetry Slam

Dayton's longest running poetry show is celebrating it's 24th year.  Open mics, competitions, and featured poets await you twice a...

$3
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Becca’s LOTD Dart Tournament

July 6 @ 7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Recurring

Becca’s LOTD Dart Tournament

Every Sunday night at Miami Valley Sports Bar -- a Luck of the Draw Dart Tournament hosted by Becca. $10...

$10.00
+ 3 More
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