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Come Celebrate a Victory for Dayton

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Written By DaytonMostMetro.com guest contributor Val Hunt Beerbower – PR Specialist at Five Rivers MetroParks

Cyclists celebrate a victory for Dayton during Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights this Friday!

Cycling is taking Dayton by storm, and this pedal-powered movement has captured national attention.

The League of American Bicyclists has honored Dayton, Ohio, with its bronze-level status for a bike-friendly city. “Communities from all areas of the country, climates and populations see bicycling as an integral component of building livable communities,” said League President Andy Clarke. “The Bicycle Friendly Community program is recognizing those leading the way.”

To celebrate this designation and highlight the emerging prominence of bicycling in Dayton, a special escorted group ride is scheduled in concurrence with Urban Nights. Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a group ride, kicks off festivities at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Fifth Third Field. “This is a great way to bring cycling to the attention of Urban Nights patrons and raise awareness of bicyclists’ right to share the road,” said Andy Williamson, assistant outdoor recreation manager for the Outdoor Recreation Department at Five Rivers MetroParks, and spokesperson for the Drive Less Live More campaign. “It’s a bigger and bolder version of the regular Courteous Mass rides, in which we promote group cycling with an emphasis on learning the rules of the road. This is more of a parade – complete with local celebrities!” In addition to Dayton Police Department officers, Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights will host two Dayton City Commissioners.

There is much cause for celebration within the cycling community. The application process to become a BFC is rigorous; currently only 140 of the 359 total applicants have a BFC four-year designation. Communities vying for BCF status must establish records in two or more of the five categories which are known as the Five Es:

  • Education: Does the community have systems in place to train children and adult cyclists?
  • Engineering: Are bicyclists included in the city’s transportation plan?
  • Enforcement: Do police officers understand and enforce bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities?
  • Encouragement: Does the community participate in Bike Month, offer bike rodeos, host community bike rides, or otherwise encourage cycling?
  • Evaluation: Does the community have methods in place to ensure their bicyclist programs are making a difference?

Adding to the excitement of the occasion is the upcoming opening of the new RiverScape Bike Hub, part of RiverScape MetroPark’s latest development phase. The Hub will feature secured, patrolled areas with 40 bike lockers, four showers, 42 storage lockers, restrooms and food concession stand, making it convenient for bike commuters to head to work on two wheels as well as families in need of a pit stop while enjoying an afternoon on the recreational trails. “The Hub is only the third bike commuter facility to open east of the Mississippi,” says Five Rivers MetroParks Outdoor Recreation Director Greg Brumitt. “Washington, D.C., and Chicago are the other east coast locations, and we’re only the third in the Midwest (besides Chicago and Minneapolis) to open a hub. Certainly, we’re the first mid-size city to open a special bike hub, and that’s something to cheer about.”

Anyone who can ride a bike is invited to join the celebration at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Fifth Third Field. Participants are encouraged to enjoy the rest of the sights and sounds of Urban Nights. Five Rivers MetroParks will have its own bike-friendly activities—free bike rentals and pedicabs will be available from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.

Learn more about other cycling activities and opportunities by visiting the website www.metroparks.org/cycling or calling (937) 275-277-4374.

Rev. Cool Arkestra & Dance Ensemble * True Nature/FilmDayton After-Party

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RUCKUS ROBOTICUS, SCORPIUS MAX & THE REV. COOL ARKESTRA & DANCE ENSEMBLE provide a night of high energy dance music in a benefit for FILMDAYTON and an after-party for the film TRUE NATURE.

Although the Arkestra event begins at 10 PM there is an entire evening of dance party entertainment at Gillys as a part of the FilmDayton Festival. A Red Carpet reception takes place from 8PM to 10 PM with the famed Scorpius Max providing the beats.

Following the Neon showing of True Nature the after party goes into full blast with the internationally acclaimed Ruckus Roboticus.The boy robot has recently tour England and Korea, creates soundtracks for Nickelodeon and has played sold out crowds at clubs like NYC’s Mercury Lounge.

At 11PM the REV. COOL ARKESTRA & DANCE ENSEMBLE hits the floor with the most exciting show anywhere with live DJs, horns, drums, Afrobeat, House and Electronic Dance music as well as the most amazing hip-hop dancers in the Midwest. Scorpius will continue the dance party with you even after the professional dancers have left the floor panting.

At 10 the cover drops to a mere $5 or FREE with a stub from TRUE NATURE or a all inclusive FilmDayton pass.

WEAR YOUR DANCING SHOES — DON’T MISS IT!!!

Young Professionals in Dayton: Who, What and Why

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There are so many organizations that encourage involvement in the Dayton region – clubs and associations focused on topics from entertainment to networking to recreation to hobbies to philanthropy to professional development and more.  But there’s a certain niche of organizations that are specifically directed toward “young professionals,” and that’s what I’ll be sharing with you through DaytonMostMetro.com.

First, let’s get the *full disclosure* out of the way.  I’m on the team that put together the updayton “Young Creatives Summit,” so obviously this is something I feel passionately about.  I also volunteer as the co-chair of the Culture Works Associate Board that puts together deals and events to better connect young professionals to the many arts opportunities in the region.  I’ve been to events sponsored by DULYP, DCS, GenD, the Red Cross Associate Board, and more;  I like what’s going on in the region for YPs and I’m looking forward to keeping you in the loop.

Now for this term “young professional.”  Some people I’ve talked with have been turned-off by the stigma of the term “young professional” thinking that it still carries the negative Yuppie stereotype that it did in the 80s & 90s.  Others fear the term neglects those who love their careers and callings, but are not considered 9-to-5 “professionals.”  And people who are unemployed, in temporary positions as they search for their career, or doing amazing work as volunteers, may feel left out by not being “professional”  at all.  If you have better suggestions (remember, I’m part of the group who took a shot with “young creatives”) – leave them in the comments.  The term young professional is what we have, so that’s what you’ll see throughout these articles.  I’m talking to you if you’re in your 20s/30s – regardless of career choice or lifestyle.  And if there are any stipulations about the type of young professional you have to be to participate, I’ll let you know.

There are a lot of ways that people in their 20s and 30s are getting connected, making a difference, and having fun in the region.  And these organizations aren’t necessarily working against each other.  I’ve seen some true partnerhsips developing; just over the past year, a quarterly lunch has been held so that representatives from some of the local YP organizations can gather to coordinate schedules, cross-promote events, and share ideas and resources.  There is collaborration happening where groups are supporting one another and encouraging members to explore different events.  Although our region may appear super-saturated by YP organizations, I think it speaks to the critical mass of YPs in the region that so many unique organizations can exist and remain sustainable.

So, moving forward, I’m going to try and keep you up-to-date on opportunities specifically for young professionals throughout the region. For those who claim, “there’s nothing to do,” it’s because they’re not looking hard enough.  Lots of great YP organizations, events, and people making a difference will be highlighted in the future.   If there’s anything specific you’d like to see on these pages or if you’re interested in a certain topic, leave it in the comments.

Just a few events coming up this week for YPs:

Generation Dayton: May 11 at 5:30 at the Ohio Coffee Co. – Downtown Dayton: Present and Future– A great opportunity to hear about the role of YPs in changes happening downtown, learn about great opportunities to get active this summer through Five Rivers MetroParks, and talk about how DaytonMostMetro.com is working to bring the region together online.

United Way Young Leaders Series: Connecting Career with Community – Marketing yourself in the Dayton region
May 12th from 8:00 – 9:30 am at the Sinclair Ponitz Center

GenD keeps the week moving along with their monthly Thirsty Thursday.  On May 13 it’s at Brio at the Greene starting at 5:30 PM.

Dayton Urban League Young Professionals: check out the YP at Play night at Therapy Cafe on the second Friday of each month (May 14).  They pull out the old school board games, get active with Twister and Musical Chairs, and have an all out great time.

JumpstART:  JumpstART is the activity arm of the Culture Works Associate Board.  You know you’ve wanted to check out Urban Nights (Friday, May 14), but if you don’t know what to expect or where to go – they’ll take the mystery out with a hybrid art hop/pub crawl around the city.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours: Sharing the legacy of Downtown Dayton

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Historians Leon Bey and Nancy Roach of Gem City Circle Walking Tours

Some local historians are offering a unique look into the vibrancy of a city’s past, and the possibilities of an exciting, expansive future.

Leon Bey and Nancy Roach, of Gem City Circle Walking Tours, have recently begun their fifth season of walking tours for downtown Dayton, highlighting the famous and not-so-famous aspects of Dayton history.

Bey and Roach met five years ago in a manner that Roach characterized as “fate.”

“It was meant to be,” said Roach. “I was doing research in the local history room at the [Dayton Metro] library. I asked the librarian down there if he could help me with some of the information. It was Leon, who just happened to be working as a substitute that day.

“We starting talking about our interest in the community. So I asked him, ‘Would you like to research with me and do a walking tour of downtown?’  He looked at me and said, ‘I have a walk and I’m looking for someone to do it with me!'”

The walks were born on that day.

The duo’s excitement and enthusiasm for Dayton’s rich heritage is evident to anyone who goes “walkin’ and talkin'” with them on one of their leisurely downtown walking tours, which are given on the first and last weekends of the month.

Bey and Roach weave together historical accounts, personal recollections and photographic images to create a vivid experience.  That experience is often reciprocated when local residents share recollections of their own visits to downtown theaters, department stores and businesses long gone. “Some of the people on the tours, the older people, they have great memories,” said Bey.

The old Journal Herald building at 111 E. Fourth Street. Look familiar? It's currently occupied by the night club Hammerjax.

The tours, however, do more than simply highlight the city’s past – they also offer glimpses into possible strategic re-uses of some of downtown’s historic structures like the Dayton Arcade, which was purchased last year by two developers who are intent on restoring the beautiful, five-building complex to its former glory. (Leon Bey founded “Friends of the Dayton Arcade”, a non-profit group dedicated to raising awareness and money for the future development of the Dayton Arcade.)

Far from just revisiting the glories of days gone by, the walks also examine the cultural, social and economic contributions of various ethnic groups and nationalities in the area.  The tours provide a very street-level perspective of Dayton history. Many topics are discussed: The 1913 Dayton Flood, Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Dayton and the history of department stores founded in Dayton are explored.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours offers these programs (partial listing):

  • Oregon Arts District
  • Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders
  • Miami & Erie Canal Walk of Downtown Dayton
  • Historic Downtown Dayton’s Main Street
  • Ludlow Street

The fee for each walk is $10. Tours are approximately 3 hours long, with scheduled breaks, including an hour for lunch.  Advance reservations are required. Groups are welcome.

For walk reservations or additional information, contact Leon Bey at 937-274-4749 or [email protected].

Stivers Choreographers Showcase Fundraiser

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Here is an opportunity for you to have an evening of entertainment and help a great cause.  Thursday, May 13, the Seedling Foundation is hosting a private preview at 7:30 pm in Stivers Centennial Hall to raise funds for the dance department.

• Meet the choreographers

•Hear about the creative process from idea to dance

• Learn how the dances are created, practiced and performed

Stivers School for the Arts
2010 Choreographers Showcase

The evening starts with a 6 -7:30 pm hors d’ oeuvre buffet served by Coco’s bistro
$30 for buffet and preview
(includes $15 tax deductible donation to the seedling Foundation)
Call 937.430.6402 for reservations

Call for art for Urban Nights: Street Gallery @ Jefferson Place!

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Yes, I know it’s very last minute, but artists, do you have art laying around your studio that you wish was on public display? Send me a digital image to OK with management, and then drop it off Sunday or Wednesday with a way to attach it to wires. I’ll hang & light it in the windows of Jefferson Place (corner of 2nd & Jefferson) downtown, just in time for Urban Nights! The details can be found below & printed here (I’ll bring extra copies): http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AU2J6AlHg0AlZHg4N3N6OF82N2c2Y3Btc2dj&hl=en ___________________________________

The Living City Project’s

Street Gallery @ Jefferson Place

Guidelines for Artists Thank you for your interest in showing your work at the Street Gallery @ Jefferson Place! This is a community service of the Living City Project and Jefferson Place intended to bring more life to the streets of downtown Dayton and is not a commercial endeavor. Please notify Kate of your intent to submit by e-mailing a digital image and dimensions to [email protected]. Below are some items to consider:

  • Liability – The Jefferson Place apartment building is providing their storefront for artists wanting a public presence on the streets of Dayton. The storefront will not be open to anyone but the building owners and designated associates. However, the owners cannot 100% guarantee the security of your art, though they will make every attempt. If you are concerned, we encourage you to make a print to display instead of the original. Owners and Management is not responsible for stolen, lost or damaged pieces. Due to the space being unoccupied, there may be showings to prospective tenants in the retail space. Management has the right to give 15 days notice to have the art removed by the artist. If artwork is not removed within the 15 days notice period given, management will not be responsible for keeping or storing the artwork.
  • Installation and Tear-Down dates – You will be given two opportunities to install your work – Sunday, May 9 from 2-5PM and Wednesday, May 12 from 4:30-7PM. There are 25 windows ranging from 15″ to 52″ wide (most are 34″) and approximately 5 ft tall. Work will stay up through June 26th or 27th; you may pick it up either day from 2-5PM. Management will allow access to space through the coordinators of this project, but is not responsible for setup, takedown, or any utilities outside the agreement.
  • Installation methods – 2-D work should be mounted on a rigid surface and you should provide a way to attach wires to hang it from above (otherwise we’ll provide duct tape). The work will hang from wires attached to dowel rods above. The Living City will provide methods of hanging but you must provide a way to attach wires to your work.
  • Content – Since the art will be on view for the general public walking down the street, work must be “family friendly” in nature and not intended to offend. Final discretion will be given to the building owners. Please discuss with Kate (see contact info below) if you are not sure whether your work would be appropriate.
  • Self-promotion – Since the Street Gallery will not directly handle the sale of your art, artists are encouraged to creatively self-promote with labels to direct viewers to your website or other means to contact you and purchase your art.
  • Lighting – The Living City will provide rope lighting above your work so that it brings life to the streets of Dayton at night. If you would like to provide your own additional lighting and extension cords, let us know. Works will be lit for a few hours after sunset through the month of May.
  • Contact Info – The Project Manager is Kate Ervin of the Living City Project. She can be reached at [email protected] or 554-8865.

Please print this document, sign it, and bring it with you to the Installation. I, the undersigned, have read and understand the above guidelines. I will not hold Jefferson Place, Tower Commercial Group LLC, owners, or Living City Project, Inc. liable for any loss or damage to my property. Signed ______________________ Date ____________________ Print Name _______________________________

Wayne Avenue Widening Project – Good or Bad

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The following was submitted by Hilary Ross Browning – resident of the South Park neighborhood.  We invite comments from affected residents AND city staff – what do YOU think?

Wayne Avenue - Click to view map

Along Wayne Avenue, lawn signs scream “Stop the Widening Project” and “City Unfair to us.” A seemingly simple infrastructure upgrade has angered many, and leaves Wayne Avenue residents with an uncertain future. There is no doubt, however, that the intersection of Wayne and Wilmington Pike needs improvement.
Congestion, speeding, street light timing, and pedestrian access are just a few concerns that the City should address when improving the intersection. The City’s solution, however, is to widen the road from Anderson Road to Wilmington Pike and from Wilmington Pike to Beckman Street. Widening will start in June, with an estimated completion date in July 2011. The city will use funds from Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission and Ohio State Issue 1 funds from Ohio Public Works.

The current plan involves taking a portion of land from property owners using eminent domain. The use of eminent domain is legal in this case, and likely necessary, as property owners do not want to cede land voluntarily. The Supreme Court has upheld the use of eminent domain for infrastructure upgrades as a form of economic development. Kelo v. New London (2005) and Berman v. Parker (1954) have established that governments can take land for public purposes provided just compensation for affected property owners.

From the perspective of Wayne Avenue residents, however, the Wayne Avenue project infringes on property owner rights. These residents are forced to accept the project, whether they want to cede land to the City or not.  Residents have lingering concerns about diminished property values, safety, and the justness of the City’s actions.

It is equally concerning that the City’s plan may not improve the intersection, and widening may have undesirable long-term ramifications. The widening project could affect citizens for decades- and the quality of the plan should reflect the importance of Wayne Avenue as a central traffic artery.

To be successful, the Wayne Avenue project should be a measurable improvement over the present design. The project should benefit the majority of citizens, and should take into account any negative long-term consequences.

Unfortunately, the City’s plan for Wayne Avenue may not be an improvement over the old design. City of Dayton traffic engineers believe widening the road will relieve traffic congestion and promote safety.  Urban design proponents, however, argue that street widening causes more problems than it solves. For example, urban design studies performed by Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany have shown that street widening encourages greater traffic volume. Increased traffic on Wayne Avenue would negate the traffic calming effect of widening the road.

Additionally, the widening project does not benefit all road users. Widening the road clearly benefits drivers, not cyclists and pedestrians. The City plans to replace the sidewalks and tree lawn, but it is unclear if traffic lights and cross walks will be updated to better serve pedestrians as part of this project. As for cyclists, the widening project will not make room for a bike lane.

Another concern is the potential destabilization of the housing block along Wayne. Homeowners face hard choices about the safety and value of their properties; many have chosen to sell their properties. The alienation of Wayne avenue residents is damaging to the neighborhood and city, as they may choose to leave the City of Dayton for good. Losing long-term residents is an undesirable consequence of a public infrastructure project.  The widening project will decrease the market value of homes along Wayne, potentially inviting landlords instead of owner-occupants.

The City should address these concerns before moving forward with the intended project. It may be difficult or impossible to address the immediate concerns of residents living along Wayne. However, the City should not settle on an inferior design because of these challenges. With a new road design, Wayne Avenue could be a vibrant corridor. It may not be within the City’s reach to create a tree-lined boulevard or divided road, but beautification could ease some concerns.

A little creativity and extra effort could turn Wayne Avenue around for the better. Widening the road does not promote bike or pedestrian traffic; nor is it a long-term solution to better Wayne Avenue.  As it stands, City residents must accept an inferior road upgrade instead of a sustainable, long-term solution.

Calzones, Community & Culture Works: Help Milano’s support local arts in Dayton

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On select days in May, Milano’s Atlantic City Submarines will be doing their part to help support Dayton’s rich and vibrant arts community.

Every Wednesday in May, Milano’s will donate 20% of each sale to Culture Works, the united arts fund and service agency that provides funds and services for many non-profit art agencies in the Greater Dayton area.

All three restaurant locations are participating in the promotion.

Present this flyer to a staff member at Milano’s on the designated days to donate a portion of your sale to Culture Works.

9572 Springboro Pike, Miamisburg

2260 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek

1834 Brown Street, Dayton

May 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Family (Farm) Planning

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Hello, I’m Holly Michael –  farm wife, mother, blogger , DMM crazy headline writer and communications professional who has worked at some of Dayton’s largest companies. I straddle the sometimes equally stinky worlds of agriculture and corporate life, so you don’t have to

Our young but enthusiastic barn crew

Our young but enthusiastic barn crew

It’s absolutely incredible but the farmer I married, a man who can visit the entire grocery and emerge only with the food he needs for the next 20 minutes of his life, chose gilts in August to breed in September to birth in February to sell in April–all so they can be shown at the county fair again in September. Whew.

The output of all that planning ahead culminated in our annual spring pig sale (auction) last weekend. We sell young pigs (about 30-80 pounds) to 4-H members and their parents from across the country. After they leave our sale, the pigs are raised all summer by 4-H kids and then shown at county or state fairs.

As I mentioned above, ensuring you have the right pigs on hand for the sale  involves months of pre-planning. In the weeks leading up to the auction, we also had a lot of work to do. And when I say “we,” I really mean my husband and his helpers.

Each pig selected for the sale was groomed beforehand. My husband and his pig clipping guru, Claude’, gave each pig a haircut. Yes, pigs have coarse hair that is clipped short to make them look more appealing to pig buyers.

My husband and Claude’ spent the week leading up to the sale giving 125 pig haircuts. The morning of the auction, a crew of farmers came over to load five trailers full of pigs to head to the Preble County Fairgrounds. Once they arrived, my husband, kids, nephews and other 4-H members washed all 125 pigs.

Washing a pig is kind of like washing a car–if the car was running in circles and pooping on your boots.

Spring Spectacular Club Pig Sale

Spring Spectacular Club Pig Sale

By afternoon, customers started arriving to check out the pigs and make notes on which ones they want to bid on. I arrived about two hours before the sale to set up my 20 year-old laptop and dot matrix printer that I use, along with a great team of family and friends, to clerk the sale. We give out buyers numbers and take the money as people cash out.

We hire an auctioneer, although, my son is getting pretty good at selling pigs to his brother in the play room.

The sale was a huge success. We sold pigs for $100 to $1,000 each.

Unbelievably, selling 125 pigs didn’t really make a dent in the number of pigs we have here on the farm. My husband still has all the sows (mothers) that had these little pigs. Once we see how they did at the pig shows this summer and fall, it will be time to start this process over again and the man who starts his Christmas shopping on December 21 will plan ahead for yet another spring sale.

Wright State & Downtown Dayton

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Ohio State, University of Kentucky, and even University of Dayton are all located in the middle of a city. Clubs, restaurants, and bars are all in walking distance from the campus and students are offered much to do close by. Having a large number of non-traditional students, Wright State students seek different forms of entertainment. Being located in a suburb rather than downtown of a city, WSU students turn to downtown Dayton as an option to go out. I personally have been downtown numerous times to go out. I feel fairly safe with a group of friends and have a lot of fun at the local dance clubs. But, I wanted to see what other WSU students thought of downtown. So I turned asked some questions regarding downtown and got some answers. I thought that many people would not like downtown, but I was surprised by students actually going downtown.

Junior Caitlin Buenning, enjoys going down for the theater productions. “I generally like Downtown–I think it’s come a long way. The Schuster Center and Victoria Theater bring in a lot of business and really bring a rich variety of arts to Dayton.”  Along with theater productions the festivals and shows bring her downtown. “I’m pretty familiar with Downtown. I love Riverscape in the summers, and I really love going to the Schuster Center. There are some good places to eat, too.” Buenning doesn’t worry too much about the crime, she says that “there is some crime in some of the parts of the city, but mostly just in neighborhoods.”

Sophomore China Taylor has some thoughts regarding the crime downtown. “I really think that people should visit Downtown more. The crime rates scare people away, but in all honesty crime happens any where. Downtown is a fun place to hang out even as college students and I really think people and students should take advantage of all the events Downtown, Dayton.”  Just as Buenning, Taylor enjoys the festivals and shows downtown has to offer.

A fairly positive response to downtown if I do say so myself. From Dragons games to clubbing and theater performances to fireworks shows, Dayton really does have a lot to offer for college students to do. We just have to get up and go rather than expecting the entertainment to come to us. Some WSU students commute up for 45 minutes to come to class, we are all different students. The “traditional” student isn’t necessarily “traditional” for Wright State.  Downtown offers much variety for us when we need to close the books and have some fun.

Grab a glass, a degree and skip town

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Remember freshman year: running through the dorms, partying in the student neighborhood and a little bit of school work thrown in. Now it’s senior year. The hangover has subsided, school is ending and you need a job. Stay in Dayton? This is not the first choice among many University of Dayton students.

Many UD students are forgoing any opportunities to work in Dayton after graduating and prefer to move back home or to a more scenic location. Bigger cities like Chicago, New York and Cleveland continue to draw students away every year.

Even though the university attempts to get its students to stay in Dayton, some of them just don’t like the appeal of the city and how hard it is getting hit by the recession.

Former NCR Corp. office in Dayton, Ohio, in 2009 AP Photo/Dayton Daily News, Ron Alvey

“The city of Dayton doesn’t have a strong job market,” said UD alumni Anthony Fantone. “There are few things that the city could do outside of warming up the economic environment to encourage business back to the greater Dayton area.” With NCR Corporation leaving Dayton last summer, the biggest opportunity for graduating seniors seems to be Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and even that has few openings to students other than ones involved in engineering.

While UD has done more over the past few years to help out its students with various job fairs and internship openings for companies in the Dayton area, a more intensive effort needs to be made. Professors make internships known by mass e-mails and in-office flyers, but many students find it hard to secure themselves an internship close by. “I’ve seen a lot of internship opportunities for the entire semester, but not many really for the summer, which I think would be more logical for UD students,” said UD finance major Matthew Cuculic.

UD created a site called the Hire a Flyer Network that allows students to search for jobs and internships in their specific field. The site was developed to help students find work, but many job postings are for out of state or out of the area work.

The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center in downtown Dayton where various shows and concerts are performed

The city of Dayton could also do its part to keep students from leaving. “They should highlight some of the gems of the city of Dayton, and try and get people more involved in the community,” said graduating senior Lauren Kort. Some organizations like the Downtown Dayton Partnership try and get students involved in activities other than those found on campus, and make a conscious effort to get them to stay. UD students rarely venture beyond Miami Valley Hospital when it comes to downtown Dayton, so a little push needs to be made to get them involved in the surrounding community.

The university should make it a requirement for each student to apply for an internship, or at least discuss after school plans with their academic advisor. If the university and the city of Dayton do not make some kind of increased effort over the next few years, they will see a further decline in students interested in staying in The Gem City.

Dayton is going to the dogs: Furry Skurry 2010

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The Humane Society of Greater Dayton will hold its 19th annual Furry Skurry fundraiser on Saturday, May 8.

Check-in for the annual event begins at 8:30 a.m. at Miami Valley Hospital South (off Wilmington); the walk begins at 10:00 a.m.  Participants can walk solo (with their pet) or form teams of walkers.

The walk, which starts at Miami Valley Hospital South Campus and ends at the Dayton Care Center in Centerville, will  take place rain or shine!

Furry Skurry 2009. Photo courtesy of Humane Society of Greater Dayton.

Festivities will include:

  • Food from City Barbeque
  • A Flea (less) Market
  • Pet/Person Look-alike, Best Pet Kisser,
    Best Costume and Best Trick contests
  • A raffle, with a chance to win a 50″ flat panel TV, an Apple Ipad, and a $250 gift card to Complete Petmart

You can register for this event in person at the shelter on 1661 Nicholas Road, online at www.humanesocietydayton.org, by mail or by calling (937) 262- 5920.

The Furry Skurry raises funds that provide for the food, shelter and veterinary care of  dogs in the Dayton area.  Last year’s walk attracted more than 1,400 participants.

Click here to download a brochure for Furry Skurry 2010!

East End, Twin Towers, and Dayton’s New Colossus

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Twin Towers, Dayton OhioUnder all is the land. A simple statement that begins the Realtor’s Code of Ethics, but a larger idea that is beginning to drive my thoughts, this idea that real estate creates freedom. I’m not talking about financial freedom, although that is certainly a possibility. I’m thinking of the specific, unique, and completely human independence that land ownership creates. We are a nation of land owners- a remarkable thing, would you agree? Property ownership in America removes dependence on a landlord, or a government, something that many of us take for granted, however, the right to own property, and a government created to protect its citizen’s right to own property, is extraordinary.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Leah Werner from the East End Community Development Center and she told me about the changes that home ownership was bringing to the Twin Towers neighborhood in East Dayton. You know that neighborhood, don’t you? History has not been kind to this community as property values have plummeted, and development and reinvestment has been minimal. A high percentage of renters can create a large community of people who are dependent on someone else for the very basic human need of shelter. The East End CDC is working within the neighborhood to recreate a community of home owners. By tearing down the worst of the blight, by rebuilding property that is secure, safe, healthy, the Twin Towers Community is creating a neighborhood that once again celebrates a citizen’s right to own property. As Leah told me, “Housing plays an integral part in the success of families.”

Leah told me about a young mother and her sons who are moving back to Twin Towers from the suburb of Kettering. This mother wants to live next to her father, a long term renter who lives in rehabbed bungalow. Her sons will take advantage of Ruskin Elementary and the sense of ownership that Ruskin has created among the parents in that area. The mother will live in one of the homes that the East End CDC helped to build- infill housing that will plant roots for a family, and seeds of development for a community.

This work of transforming neighborhoods is hard work. It’s knuckle-busting, red tape slicing, cultural divide leaping work that in older neighborhoods throughout Dayton, can only happen family by family, house by house. In other parts of the country entire neighborhoods are built, one neighborhood right after another. Tidy rows of stucco and red tile roofs, for miles and miles- *Poof* a neighborhood is created. *Poof* a community of like minded people, all with similar experiences moves in and it’s rather comfy that way, isn’t it? The story of Twin Towers, however, is a personal journey taken by each resident, one family at a time: This home is 100 years old, this home is brand new: This family is from Appalachia, that gentleman is from Rwanda: This path to freedom is messier, taken in small steps and private victories.

I’m thinking of what land ownership must have meant to the immigrants in my own family. How did the hills of Kentucky hold the key to freedom for the Irish patriarch who went into the mines every day? What did the home on the banks of the Ohio River mean to the Austrians who left everything they knew, just for the opportunity to create a life from their own hard work?

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. …

The Twin Towers of St Mary stand as Dayton’s New Colossus- a melting pot of Latino, Eastern European, African, Middle Eastern refugees and immigrants who are transforming this neighborhood one family at a time, creating new generations who are beginning to understand that the right to own property is the key to independence and freedom.

… Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
-Emma Lazarus

Ten to Fourteen

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WSUFall of 2012, Wright State will join the rest of Ohio universities on the semester school schedule. Nearly 90% of Ohio’s higher education institutes are on the semester schedule. With everyone on the same school schedule, transferring credits will become easier. A semester credit hour weighs more than a quarter’s credit hour. Wright State is doing everything they can to ensure that the students who will be affected by the semester change don’t fall behind. It is encouraged to meet with university advisers to create a plan to stay on track. I have my own transfer story.

I began my college career at Miami University Middletown, a semester school. When I made the decision to transfer to Wright State I had a year and a half of credits earned. My parents and I were highly concerned that I would lose some, if not all, of the credits I had just earned. Luckily for me, I did not lose a single credit and kept on track for graduation. I didn’t mind the semester schedule. I actually really enjoyed the semester schedule. Being in a class for 14 weeks allowed me to really get to know my classmates and feel comfortable with my professors. I felt like I had all the time in the world to accomplish work and things were slower-paced. Once I transferred to Wright State it was a huge shock. I had been used to having four extra weeks to accomplish work and get used to my classes. Now I was down to ten weeks to do everything I was used to doing in 14. But after one quarter I was hooked on the quarter system. I felt like time flew by, my classes never felt as though they were dragging on and just as they began to, it was time for finals and either winter, spring, or summer break.

AJohn Parkinson lthough he won’t be affected by the change, senior John Parkinson said “I think  overall the change to semesters will help Wright State University. It will allow transferring to be done more smoothly as well as making classes not so rushed. Students will be able to breathe and not always rush to get things done.”

Michelle Coale But for sophomore Michelle Coale, an education major expected to graduate in 2013 the semester   switch is a bit fearful. “I absolutely am fearful that the semester switch will affect my grades. I care a lot about my academic performance, and I try to keep my grades high. However, I’ve often found myself in a class where I’m slowly slipping farther and farther towards a lower grade. I feel semesters will only worsen this habit.”

Watch out Ohio, all of the college kids will be away at school and back at home during the same time soon! Brace yourself!

Will Dayton be among the Bike Friendly?

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images-88Dayton is making it’s move to become the 2nd Bike Friendly Community in Ohio.  In the last few months the City of Dayton has formed a community wide bike and pedestrian task force lead my Commissioner Nan Whaley, striped bike lanes on downtown roads, produced a transportation based bike map for the entire city limits, and most of all, completed and submitted a Bike Friendly Community Application to the League of American Bicyclists.

In the next few weeks the League of American Bicylists plans to announce the 2010 Bike Friendly Community award winners.  Currently only 1 community holds this honor, Columbus, who was named just last fall as the first Bike Friendly Community in Ohio.  Other communities such as Riverside have submitted an application yeilding only an Honorable Mention (meaning, “Not there yet but keep up the good work!”).

2010 submissions were made from two Miami Valley communities, the City of Dayton and the City of Troy.  Both have a very active cycling community and are invested in working toward making the entire Miami Valley a more bike friendly region.  The only other submission in Ohio, to my knowledge, was from Shaker Heights, in the Cleveland Area.

Keep your eyes open for the announcements coming soon.  Good Luck to both Troy and Dayton, the Outdoor Evangelist is rooting for you both.

If you are looking for other exciting cycling related events, visit Drive Less Live More for exciting new programs and event in 2010 such as Bike to the Dragons Games, an expanded Bike to Work Day event list, Bike to It Concert Series at Dave Hall Plaza and of course, one of my favorites, the Courteous Mass and Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights Rides .

3rd Annual Hunks in Heels Event coming May 8th

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hunks_heels-1161An event created so that men in our community can honor the women in their lives and the balancing act they perform by racing around the track at the Greene on Saturday, May 8th at 2pm. While this sounds like great fun, and in fact is, what makes these hunks even more special is that they do all of this to support Clothes That Work. CEOs, community leaders, firefighters, and even that guy down the street are undeniably hunky when strapping on a pair of heels to help provide interview appropriate clothing and image training for those looking to enter or reenter the workforce. Swooning and giggles, guaranteed.  You can enter Hunks In Heels as an individual or a team, contact Lacie at 937-416.8503 for more information.

Last years Best Legs champ, Vince Corrado

Last years Best Legs champ, Vince Corrado

New this year is the online BEST LEGS competition. Nineteen of our true community leaders have let us turn them into eye candy  for a great cause.  With help from photographer Andy Snow, each of our hunks has two photo’s on line for your viewing pleasure.  Help us pick the winner with your votes!  Each vote is $5 and  benefits Clothes That Work. The cost to aid one job-seeker with wardrobe and image assistance is about $135, so vote early and often!

UPDATE!!

Here is a video of the event – special thanks to our friend Sherif Hedayat (always good for a laugh!)