Middletown Ohio Blog

Butler County National Philanthropy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:58:00 +0000

The Community Foundations of Butler County and Butler County Development Roundtable will host its third biennial National Philanthropy Day later this month, on Friday, November 13. The luncheon will take place from noon until 1:30 PM at the Marriott in Hamilton. It is being sponsored by gold level sponsors: Duke Energy, First Financial Bank, Miami University Hamilton, and Cox Ohio Publishing and silver level sponsors: Atrium Medical Center/Premier Health Partners and US Bank.

National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is recognized all over the country and is a day to pay tribute to people who are active in the community and have impacted our lives, work, and community through their philanthropic work. Butler County nonprofit agencies have been invited to the luncheon to honor volunteers and donors who contribute to their organizations and the Butler County community. The agencies will have the opportunity to publicly recognize those individuals.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. O'Dell Owens, a native of Cincinnati. Dr. Owens is a graduate of Woodward High School and Antioch College and is no stranger to making a difference. He spent his years as an intern, resident, and chief resident at Yale and later went on to accept a position with Harvard Medical School as a clinical instructor in the OB/GYN department, as well as a Fellow in reproductive Endocrinology and infertility. In 1982, he returned to Cincinnati and established an in-vitro fertilization program, achieving the first successful conception, pregnancy and delivery from a frozen embryo. In 2004, he was elected as Hamilton County's coroner. He has won numerous awards and actively serves on a number of boards. He also spends time working to motivate disadvantaged young people to reach full potential.

The emcee for the event is John Lomax, co-anchor of Good Morning Cincinnati on WKRC-TV. The Knoxville, Tennessee native began working at the channel in 1983 as the Northern Kentucky Bureau Reporter. He serves on a number of boards and volunteers with many organizations. This is his third year as emcee for the NPD event. He has also hosted the Middletown Community Foundation's Crystal Apple Awards, Butler County MRDD and the Atrium Medical center's Hospital Gala in 2007.

For more information about the luncheon, contact Kelli Kurtz at 513-863-1717.

Middies to Make Fourth Playoff Appearance

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:24:00 +0000

The Ohio School Athletic Association announced, on Sunday, the 32 teams who will be part of the state football championships. The Middletown High School Middies, who are currently 9-1, made the cut. It's their fourth playoff appearance and the first time they've made the playoffs since 1990. On Saturday, November 8th, they'll play Moeller. Tickets will be $9.00 at the gate and $7.00 at participating schools.

The Monroe Hornets also made the cut. They are currently 8-2. This is their eight playoff appearance and in both 2005 and 2007, the team made it to the state semifinals. They will play at Chaminade Julienne on Friday night, November 6th.

Other nearby teams who made the playoffs include Valley View and Carlisle.

PPMD: Leading the Fight to End Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:51:00 +0000

Every year, 20,000 new cases of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are diagnosed in infants and children. Duchenne is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood and typically affects males, though it can occur in all races, genders, and cultures. It can be passed from parent to child but over a third of cases happen spontaneously, meaning there is no rhyme or reason as to why one person will contract it and another will not. There are many medical treatments that will help slow it down, but there is not yet a cure. That's where PPMD comes in.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Middletown, whose mission is to "improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy through research, advocacy, education, and compassion." The group has a number of objectives including identifying promising research, making state-of-the-art information about treatment options available to everyone, creating a supportive community for people affected by Duchenne, and encouraging policymakers to afford the same priority to Duchenne as they do other disorders.

PPMD focuses on research, advocacy, education, and compassion to help meet their goals and objectives. They also sponsor and take part in a number of campaigns and events that promote family empowerment and community awareness. Some of these events include a race called "Run For Our Sons," a monthly donation campaign called S.T.I.R, several annual national and regional conferences, and supporting grassroots efforts to raise money and awareness.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy's corporate office is located at 1012 North University Boulevard in Middletown. To get more information or find out how you can help, call 513-424-0696 or visit their website at www.parentprojectmd.org

Take a Fall Foliage Tour in Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:30:00 +0000

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has introduced a new feature on its website called "Hit the Road." The new map feature on the Ohio Fall Foliage website allows Ohio residents and visitors to the state to choose from 32 mapped routes that are known for their beautiful autumn views. The routes were chosen by natural resource professionals.

The map shows highlighted routes with place markers at the starting points of each route and identifies nearby state parks, forests, wildlife areas and nature preserves. To further help plan outings this season, the ODNR will update the website weekly with color updates.

Ohio is home to over 100 species of trees which makes for beautiful scenery when the leaves begin to change. To learn more about Ohio's fall foliage, you can call 1-800-BUCKEYE or visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Middletown Teachers Know Their History

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Just because school was out for the summer, doesn't mean the learning stopped. But this summer, the teachers were the ones being taught. In July, several Middletown teachers visited New York City to learn about and experience several notable locations such as the Statue of Liberty, the Tenement Museum, and Ellis Island. Much of the trip was focused on the historical aspect of immigration to this country and learning what many of our relatives went through to get to the United States.

The teachers were able to take part in this trip through Teach American History (TAH), a program set up by the federal government to help improve teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for American history, in order to help student achievement. The program provides grants to various school systems in hopes that they will improve quality and promote the teaching of United States history as a separate academic subject. The grant also provides school districts with the money to purchase books, DVDs, online subscriptions to educational website and student materials.

Future trips, paid for by the grant, are planned to Boston, Massachusetts and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where teachers will learn about the Civil War and America's early settlers. In addition to the federal program, Middletown Schools have partnered with the Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Social Studies Resource Center to provide classroom materials and resources focused on Ohio's state history.

This year, several Middletown teachers are involved with TAH. They are: David Hiteshew, Christina Pierett, Rachel Robinson, Megan Mihal, Barb Florence, Anna Bowman, Tiffany Aponte, Troy Rees, Michele Cochran, Lisa Slone, Cindy Centers, Jenny Clark, Joe Howard, Tara Kueker, and Michelle Puckett, Chad Bowers, Angie Bogenschutz, Matt Butler, Scott Colliflower, Greta Popp, Tara Kueker, Joe Howard, Ray Banks, Chris Brandt, Ray Banks, Anna Bowman, Michelle Puckett, Jenny Clark, Barb Florence, Richard Packert, Christina Pierett, Mary Lou Mooney, David Hiteshew, Joyce Leifheit, Cindy Centers, Jennifer Moon, Josh Shaffer, Rachel Robinson, Michelle Cochran, Cathy Hodson, Terry Shores, Tammy Roberts

Middletown Haunted House Voted One of the Best in the Country

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:28:00 +0000

With fall officially here and October just around the corner, people are already starting to make their Halloween plans and what better way to scare yourself silly than attending one of the best Haunted Houses in the nation? According to Hauntworld Magazine, Middletown's own "Land of Illusion" is one of the top 100 Best Haunted Attractions in the United States. Land of Illusion came in at number 31. Cincinnati's "Dent Schoolhouse" also made the list whose top honor went to "13th Gate Haunted House" in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This is not your average haunted house! Attractions include the Middletown Haunted Trail, "one mile of night terror;" the Temple of Terror a "winding catacomb of suspense;" Dr. Psycho's Haunted Estate, "a demented dwelling of madness;" 3-D Killer Klowns, a "maze of madness" and much, much more! Every Saturday, from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM, you also can experience live music and entertainment.

Land of Illusion is located at 8762 Thomas Road in Middletown and is open until November 1, 2009. Hours are dark until 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday, and dark until 11:30 PM on Sunday, rain or shine. Visit their website to learn more about ticket prices and the various attractions they have to offer: Land of Illusion Haunted House

Local Area High School Football

jzduncan@yahoo.com (zack duncan) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:57:00 +0000

Summer is coming to an end and the fall is creeping in. The leaves are starting to fall, the weather is cooling down and football season is starting up. All the local teams are gearing up for their seasons and each one is hoping to come out on top. Most teams are already two games into the season and some are doing pretty good.

Middletown is off to a good start this season. The defensive play for the local team has held strong leading them to two consecutive victories over Aiken High School (48-6) and an out of state team, East St. Louis Senior from Illinois (27-16). The Middies are away at Lima senior this Friday night with kickoff commencing at 7:30 pm.

Middletown Christian, who is playing as a club team this year, struggled with their first game against visiting Clark Montessori ending in an Eagle loss (6-37). But the Eagles stepped up the intensity in their second game against the Landmark Christian Eagles, also a club team. Middletown Christian played hard and had a terrific all around game ending in the Eagles' first victory of the season (34-10). The Eagles have their third game at Franklin's Atrium Field this Saturday night with a 7:30 pm kickoff.

Monroe's Hornets started the season off on fire cleaning out Meadowdale High School (41-0). However, the Hornets were unable to keep their momentum going for their second game against the Falcons if Fenwick High School ending in a loss (30-42). The Hornets play again this Friday night at home against Valley View with kickoff at 7:30 pm.

Madison High School's Mohawks started the season off rocky playing against Heath ending in a loss for Madison (14-41). But the Mohawks came into their next game hitting hard against Troy Christian. Their drive and determination lead the Mohawks to their first win of the season (42-13). Madison is away this Friday night at Finneytown with kickoff at 7:30 pm.

Franklin has also had a rough start going 1-1 in their first two games. The Wildcats fell to the the Indians of Carlisle in their first game (7-20) but followed up strong the next week with an impressive win over Ross (34-18). The wildcats are at home this Friday night hosting Greenville High School with kickoff at 7:30 pm.

Lebanon High School is yet another undefeated team in the area. The Warriors have two consecutive victories against Kings High School their first week (45-17) and then taking down Loveland in week two (28-14). The Warriors play host to visiting Trotwood High School this Friday night with kickoff at 7:30 pm.

The football season has already started off strong in the area and will only continue to get bigger. So go out and support your local high school's football team this season. With the way most of these teams are playing the season is shaping up to be a good one. Congratulations to all the teams that won last week and good luck to all the teams this coming week.

Fenwick has started off strong this season going undefeated through two games. The Falcons downed their first opponent Mariemont (54-13) and then pulled a close victory against Monroe High School the following week (42-30). The Falcons play at home this Friday night against Talawanda High School with a 7:30 pm kickoff.

Bill Becker: Deerfield Township's New Interim Administrator

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Bill Becker, a Middletown City Councilman, former police chief, and city manager, was appointed as Deerfield Township's new interim administrator on Wednesday. After being chosen from three potential candidates, trustees approved a contract that will start on September 1, 2009 and end on January 31, 2010. Becker will continue to serve the Middletown City Council.

Becker, who told the Middletown Journal that he was "looking forward to an exciting challenge," says his main focus will be controlling the growth in the Interstate 71 corridor. Trustees President Dan Corey says he believes Becker will provide leadership needed over the next five months. Dan Evers, the Township's previous administrator resigned on July 10, 2009.

Becker served in the United States Army in the Military Police Unit and has devoted his life to public service ever since. He went on to become a police officer and took on a number of roles in that capacity. He was a member of the SWAT team, Water Rescue Unit, Recruit School Instructor, a detective, and eventually became Chief of the Middletown Police Department, where he was responsible for 93 officers, 49 employees, and a $10 million budget. Eventually, he would become the Middletown City Manger. In 2007, he was elected to the Middletown City Council to serve a four-year term.

A Middletown resident, Becker has been involved with Fenwick High School boys and girls basketball, has served as a youth sports coach, served on the TV Middletown Board, the Butler Behavior Health Services Board, and the Warren County Municipal League Executive Committee. He is a graduate of Hamilton Badin High School and the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Administration. He is also a member of several law enforcement and civil service-related associations.

5 Dollar Meals On The Fith Of September And October

lewisrandy2008@yahoo.com (Randy Lewis) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:41:00 +0000

Join us on the 5th as A special menu item will be featured on this one day as a part of Middletown Pride in Action Participating restaurants are:

56 Degrees 1045 Central Ave

Brownies Café 55 S Broad St

China Garden 616 N University Blvd

Dad’s Family Restaurant 3131 S Main St

Friends American Grill 6147 SR122/Ramada Inn

Gold Star Chili 3214 S Main St

Grecian Delight 1300 Cinn-Dayton Rd

Java Johnny’s 3534 Central Ave

Lakeside Inn 2019 Tytus Ave

LaRosa’s 4900 Roosevelt Blvd

Manchester Inn 1027 Manchester Ave

Meadows 2102 Yankee Road

Taste Of Memphis Bar-B-Q University at Marsh Store

Micomanaco’s Pizza 3320 Dixie Hwy

Shaddock’s Pizza 4713 Central Ave

Stefano’s 2200 Central Ave

For other Middletown Pride in Action projects, email RMort@cinci.rr.com

For more information about this project email 5onthefifth@gmail.com
To discuss this and other happenings in Middletown visit our forum at

Rolling Thunder 1st Annual "Celebration of Our Veterans" 2009

lewisrandy2008@yahoo.com (Randy Lewis) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

Rolling Thunder Inc. is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating the public about many American prisoners of war that were left behind after all previous wars. The group is also dedicated to trying to correct the past as well as protecting future veterans from being left behind should they become POW/MIA's.

The Rolling Thunder 11th Chapter out of Dayton is hosting it's first ever "Celebration of Our Veterans". The event is 3 days long which includes a motorcycle ride Franklin to Middletown and then back to Franklin. The ride will stop only once at the Veteran's Memorial at Woodside Cemetery in Middletown. The Rolling Thunder will then present a wreath and place it on the memorial in remembrance of all our fallen veterans. There will be a festival that lasts from July 24th through July 26th at the VFW Park in Franklin Ohio which is located on Claude Thomas Road. The festival will include food, music, refreshments, a multitude of vendors, and special celebrations honoring our veterans with a special candlelight vigil Saturday evening. July 25th is also "POW/MIA Awareness Day" in Middletown.

There will be a gate cost which is undetermined as of now. There is also limited camping available at the park for those interested. For all the details on the ride and the festival go to the Rolling Thunder Chapter 11 website. The members of the Rolling Thunder are looking forward to seeing everybody there to support our Veterans and to remember those who were captured or lost in war.

2009 Midfirst Ohio Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Sellers) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:03:00 +0000

The 7th annual Midfirst Ohio Challenge is set to be held in Middletown, Ohio on July 17-19. It will be held at the gorgeous 100-acre Smith Park. This event features hot air balloon competitions and lots of festival fun such as the Team Fastrax professional skydiving team, live musical entertainment, a classic car show, arts and craft vendors, hot air balloon rides, a variety of fun festival food, airplane and helicopter rides, carnival games, and so much more.

It only costs $5 per carload or $2 per person if you walk in for everyone 13 and up. 12 and under are free. There are a variety of events that will be held throughout the festival ranging from early morning balloon launches to the Mega Arena set up for a mess-free version of paintball to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast served by the Guinness World Book of Records “Fastest Flipper” Chris Cakes.

Come out for a fun-filled weekend with the family at the 2009 Midfest Ohio Challenge! Click here for more information concerning the Midfest Ohio Challenge.

Vortex Struck Down By Diamondback?

jzduncan@yahoo.com (zack duncan) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:12:00 +0000

The newest thrill seeker sensation at Cedar Park's King's Island is on it's way to becoming the most popular debut for a ride at the park in over 20 years. Diamondback is the biggest investment in the park's history, coming in at $22 million. This 230ft high, 5,282ft long hypercoaster tops out at speeds of up to 80mph with 10 drops and a splashdown area at the end of the ride.Diamondback is one of only five rollercoasters in the world to feature a splashdown area.

As of Tuesday, July 7, the ride had attracted over 800,000 riders. The current record holder for the biggest debut is Vortex, which opened in 1987. When it opened, Vortex had an hourly rider count of 1,500 people and topped out at an incredible 2,183,642 riders in its first year. However, Diamondback is hot on it's trail, amassing and hourly rider rate of 1,600 people. Diamondback has accumulated 15,000 more riders than Vortex did at this point when it opened some 22 years ago.

Diamondback is the second attraction to be added to the park in two years following the transfer of the ride Firehawk. Firehawk was originally located in Six Flags worlds of Adventure under the name X-Flight. It was moved in 2007 to King's Island and given a new name and a new paint job. Firehawk has also seen big success at King's Island but nothing comparable to what is happening with Diamondback. At the rate it is going now, Diamondback could very likely be the biggest debuted ride in King's Island history. The ride has been getting very high praise from riders saying it is doing for riders now what The Beast and Vortex did for riders of their times.

Visit the official website for Photos of the Diamondback Roller Coaster

Fun Things To Do In Middletown on July 4, 2009

jzduncan@yahoo.com (zack duncan) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:38:00 +0000

July 4th is approaching, and fast. The day we take to honor our nation's independence is a day of remembrance and pride in our country. But it is also a day I look forward to to spend with friends and family. With everybody getting ready for their cookouts, parties, and family gatherings and looking for fun things to do, I thought I might give you a list of some of the fun things I like to do during the 4th of July.

Go to a Parade - Going to a parade is the easiest things to do, and its free. I always love going to a parade, hearing the marching bands, seeing all the floats and people. I just love getting that sense of pride from seeing all the patriotism that's right here in our local community. No matter where you live, there will undoubtedly be a parade in your town or one near by.

Middletown holds an annual parade on July 4th. The parade starts between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., beginning at Woodside Cemetery and ending at Smith Park. Other parades include the City of Hamilton 4th of July Parade, which begins at 10:00 a.m. The parade will begin at the Butler County Fairgrounds, proceed to Route 4, and end at High Street. Following the parade is a patriotic ceremony which will take place at the historic Butler County Court House. Go to the City of Hamilton Website for more information.

Have a Cookout - The good 'ol backyard cookout is one of the simplest and most enjoyable things to do on the 4th of July. Dust of the grill and break out the apron because its time to start cooking. Invite your friends and family for a good time of fun and fellowship. Nothing is more 4th of July than throwing some burgers and hot dogs on the grill (or steak and chicken if your fancy) and relaxing while enjoying some good food.

If you don't want to have it at your house, or can't, then go to a local park. Take the family out to a park, grab a picnic table and have fun. The playground equipment and wide open spaces in local parks is also a great place for the kids to play. Give them a soccer ball, a football, a baseball, anything and they can go out and have a blast! And if it's hot, then a park is a good place to pull out the super soakers. Most of the parks in Middletown have playgrounds, numerous picnic areas, and now they even have splash pads for the kids.

Have a Block Party - You all remember block parties right? It's where you gather all your neighbors on your block, they all bring food, you block off the street, and you all gather to eat, socialize and meet your new neighbors. Block parties used to big a big thing some years ago, but now everybody seems to busy. But this 4th of July, try something new, have a block party, especially if you, like myself, have a few new neighbors you haven't met. Get together with a close neighbor and plan out something that will be fun for everyone.

Take a Family Trip - Nothing extravagant is necessary, just a small weekend trip. Go camping, go to a lake, somewhere close but relaxing. Just getting away from the house and the busy day-to-day of life and going off somewhere and enjoying your time away from work and school is one of the best ways to spend your time. It is also a great way to become closer as a family. Spending that quality time with your family is one of the best experiences you can have.

Some great places to go and relax are places like Hueston Woods, Caesar's Creek, or Put-In-Bay. Hueston woods has a marina, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, paintball fields, and tons of other things to do. At Caesar's Creek you can enjoy camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, and other nature activities. Put-In-Bay offers some of the most fun and interesting things to do. You can sail in the marina, go fishing or even serve on the US Brig Niagara, a restored 1812 Naval War ship designed for the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.

Watch/Do Your Own Fireworks - The most time honored tradition of any 4th of July celebration, fireworks are one of the best ways to celebrate your holiday weekend. Most cities have a fireworks celebration the night of July 4th. Sitting outside watching the colors explode before your eyes is a very beautiful sight to see.

The city of Hamilton will be holding a fireworks celebration after it's 4th of July celebration, visit the Hamilton City Website for more details on those. Monroe also has their own celebration, "Light Up The Sky". I went to this last year and it really was quite good. Monroe promises this year to be abundantly better than last years. Also at "Light Up The Sky" are a number of different food stands, a ton of games and rides for the kids, and live bands. Go to Light Up The Sky Monroe.com for all the details. But maybe one of the most amazing fireworks displays is at Cedar Park's Kings Island amusement Park. Kings Island puts on their fireworks display every year and it is always a spectacle to watch. Kings Island really takes pride in their fireworks and aims to please every year. If you have never been to one then I suggest you go this year because it is definitely worth it. Fireworks start at 10:00 p.m. and the park is open until midnight. Visit the Kings Island Website for all the details.

Between picnics, camping, block parties, parades and fireworks I hope you agree there is something fun for everybody. Hopefully this ideas will come in handy for your holiday and I hope no matter what you do this 4th of July weekend, that your weekend is safe and fun!

Bull's Run Sanctuary and Arboretum in Middletown

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:44:00 +0000

The Bull's Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum in Middletown features eleven acres of woods and rolling hills with short nature trails throughout and provides a relaxing get-away from the city, no matter the season. Within the sanctuary is the last free-flowing section of Bull's Run Creek. The creek was used as one Middletown's original boundaries and the area as a grazing pasture for bulls in the 1800's. The park is currently managed by a non-profit corporation, Bull's Run Corporate, which is, according to their website "dedicated to developing and maintaining the Sanctuary as an educational and visual establishment for the benefit of the community."

A visit to the park will bring you closer to nature as you may see squirrels, birds, maybe even a deer or a turtle. In the springtime, see a variety of woodland wildflowers or a garden of plants native to Ohio blooming in the fall. During the winter, the park maintains eight bird-feeding stations. At the front of the park is an arboretum with specific species of trees labeled with information. Inside, you'll find a picnic shelter and mulched trails along the creek that run about 1/3 mile as well as a meadow area that is under restoration. They also offer several nature-based education programs for students of all ages and offer free school field trips.

The Bull's Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum in Middletown is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. The park is located on Rosedale Road.

Kings Island Shuts Down "Son of Beast"

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:36:00 +0000

The Cincinnati area amusement park Kings Island has temporarily shut down its Son of Beast roller coaster. A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Agriculture says a woman who was visiting the park on May 31 has come forward, saying she was injured while on the ride. An investigation is currently pending.

The roller coaster opened in 2000 and is said to be the world's tallest, fastest wooden roller coaster. In July 2006, the ride closed for a year to repair and remove a vertical loop that caused an accident that sent 27 people to local hospitals.

Kings Island Spokesman, Don Helbig says the park closed the ride immediately after being contacted by the reportedly injured woman because Kings Island "takes all guest comments seriously." He also added that he did not know why the woman waited so long to say anything or how long the ride would be shut down.

Ohio Deparment of Health Prescribes Summer Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:28:00 +0000

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is focused on keeping Ohioans safe this summer. At their website, Ohio.gov, they have listed several ways to help make sure you have a healthy but fun-filled summer.

Healthy Swimming: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the ODH regularly tests state parks and Lake Erie beaches for the presence of bacteria that may be harmful to your health. They recommend that beaches that receive results with higher levels of bacteria post warning signs, and results can also be found at the Ohio Department of Health website or by calling 1-866-OHIO-BCH (644-6224). If you are swimming in a lake, reduce your chances of getting sick by staying away from visible discharge pipes, keeping your head out of the water, showering after swimming, and waiting 24 hours to swim after heavy rainfall.

Mosquitoes: Take extra steps to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites. West Nile Virus has infected people of Ohio for the last seven years and is spread only by mosquito bites. Be aware that mosquitoes are the most active during the early morning and late evening hours. If you must be outside during those hours, wear extra bug repellent and protective clothing - mosquitoes are least likely to bite people wearing lighter colors. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Around your home, remove discarded tires, unused flower pots, and other water-holding containers. Keep roofs and gutters clean and outdoor pools and saunas chlorinated. Change birdbaths weekly.

Cookout Safety: Every year, about 140 cases of E. coli are reported in Ohio. Most of these cases come from eating undercooked , contaminated ground beef, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. Wash your hands often, especially after changing a diaper, using the bathroom, touching animals, and before cooking. Cook your ground beef to 160 degrees and do not eat beef that is pink in the middle. Keep raw meat away from other foods while you are cooking. Drink only pasteurized milk and juice and drink water only from safe sources that have been treated with chlorine. Do no swallow lake or pool water while swimming. Make sure you wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Middletown CodeRED Emergency Notification System

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Middletown has implemented the CodeRED Emergency Notification System, a communication service that notifies residents by telephone in the event of an emergency. The system is very high-speed with the ability to call up to 50,000 phone numbers per hour. Once a live person or answering machine has picked up the call, it delivers a recorded a message.

The system makes three attempts to call each phone number and the number "999-911-9999" will appear on your caller ID. If you use any type of "Privacy Manager" service on your home telephone, it is possible that it will block the CodeRED telephone call. Residents who use those types of services are encouraged to use a different phone number such as their cell phone.

CodeRED telephone calls will only notify you in the case of an emergency when rapid information is necessary for community safety. Some examples of when this notification could take place include contaminated drinking water, utility outages, evacuation notices, missing persons alerts, fires, floods, bomb threats, hostage situations, chemical spills and gas leaks.

Sign up for CodeRED's Middletown Residential Notification Enrollment.

Middletown Christian Selects New Head Coach For '09 Season

jzduncan@yahoo.com (zack duncan) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:02:00 +0000

Six year coach Eric Gwinn has stepped down as the head varsity basketball coach at Middletown Christian. Gwinn, who led the team to a 14-8 season last year, will continue to teach at the school.

Stepping in to take over for Gwinn is 18 year coaching veteran Ed Davis. According to athletic director Ray Cox, "We had seven applicants for the position. After discussing things with our board and several other coaches. we decided Davis was the best fit for us." Davis has spent a good portion of his coaching career in Christian schools, coaching two seasons at Cincinnati Christian and three seasons at Landmark Christian. I love the Christian school environment" said Davis, "When this opportunity became available I decided to go for it."

Coach Davis had his first face-to-face meeting with his players for next season and their parents. Davis gave a brief testimony in his life and his coaching experience, which includes a sectional and district championship, an induction into the Lockland High School Hall of Fame for coaching, and numerous Coach of the Year awards. Coach Davis then gave a quick rundown of how he coached and how he wanted to play the game. Davis likes to play a more fast paced get-up-and-go style game.

The varsity squad graduated seven of its eight players this year, giving Davis a fresh start with the team. Next year's team will be made up of primarily sophomores. I asked coach Davis how he felt about the younger team, "I'm excited. I know we are young and with that inexperience comes some mistakes, but I feel that all the guys are hard workers and that if they work at it then we can do some great things this season." Another way the MCS team will differ from previous seasons is in its size. The past two seasons for MCS has yielded a strong post presence and having players with some good size about them. This years players are on the smaller size, being made up of primarily guards and shooters. When asked about the drop in size in the players, Davis was optimistic. "I think we are going to be o.k. MCS has had some good post players in the past but in my experience, some big guys have trouble getting up and down the floor. These smaller guys have a lot of speed and quickness, which goes along perfectly how I like to play. I plan on using that speed and quickness to our advantage."

Nate Cox, who is the only returning player from last year's varsity squad and who played under Gwinn for the last three seasons, is happy with the decision made in choosing coach Davis. "I like him, I think he's a good coach and that he is going to be good for our team. I look forward to playing with him." Cox said. When asked about the season, Cox was also optimistic. "I think we are going to have a good season. We have a lot of good players and we all seem to fit together pretty good and play well together."

It is going to be a different season for the Eagles next year. Players and fans have become accustomed to Gwinn and his style of coaching and it will be interesting to see how the season goes.

Middletown High School Graduation 2009

jzduncan@yahoo.com (zack duncan) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:48:00 +0000

The 134th graduating class of Middletown High School received their diplomas Monday June 8th, 2009, at Princeton Pike Church of God in Liberty Township. The more than 330 student class gathered for one final meeting before stepping out and taking on the world. The auditorium, packed with friends and family members of the graduates celebrated the achievements this class has accomplished over their four years at Middletown.

Clad in white and purple gowns, the graduates listened and reminisced about their time at MHS with help from the two commencement speakers, graduates Alex Landen and Myka Lipscomb. Landen reveled about the Middies football team and their 42-39 victory against Colerain High School and the basketball teams amazing 19-3 season as well as the accomplishments of the High School band and the drama department with their many plays and musicals.

Lipscomb spoke on the words she heard from her principal, Dennis Newell, and his role on molding the class of '09 into the leaders of today. "Every day he told us to be leaders" Lipscomb said. The more than 330 graduates of Middletown High School are taking many different paths in their lives, but one thing is for sure, this class, who received $1.8 million in scholarships, will certainly have an impact on the world of tomorrow.

Below is a video of Lipscomb's speech, we hope you enjoy it.

Crane At Work On Lone Star in Middletown, Ohio

adam@adamwlewis.com (Adam Lewis) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:22:00 +0000

It's been almost a year since the Lone Star in Middletown, Ohio caught fire in the early morning hours of August 8, 2008; as the anniversary quickly approaches, construction on the the new restaurant has picked up significantly. Today we were greeted by a large crane, taller than our 4 story office building. It has been working hard to move trusses to the roof of Lone Star where a crew of men are attaching them to the structure. Below are photographs and a video from today.

Middletown Area Teacher Recieves Cristo Self Esteem Award

mhoward@xponex.com (Mike Howard) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:22:00 +0000

Today at Middletown's Fenwick High School, Scott Walker is being appluaded for fostering self esteem in students. Mr. Walker has been received the Cirsto Self Esteem Award from the Cristo Group through the Middletown Community Foundation.

Walker teaches U.S History, Algebra II, Advanced Algebra, and Trigonometry along with coaching girl's basketball and boy's soccer at Fenwick Highschool.

The Cristo Self Esteem Award was founded by the Cristo family and comes with a crystal prism, a plaque and $1,000. Fenwick Principal Cathie Mulligan, told the Middletown Journal he (Walker) is always available to students for extra help, is more involved every year and brings out the best in students.

On behalf of MiddletownUSA: Congratulations Mr. Walker.

Check out the original story about the Cristo Self Esteem Award at www.middletownusa.com.

Insurance Coverage Information Available for Ohioans

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Sellers) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:33:00 +0000

The director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, Mary Jo Hudson, is determined to provide information to Ohioans who are facing the loss of health insurance and are seeking new coverage options. The Ohio Department of Insurance has constructed an on-line toolkit to assist those Ohioans who have lost their health and life insurance benefits. This toolkit contains coverage options, tips on finding insurance, consumer publications, and links to health insurance, life insurance, employer bankruptcy, and unemployment material.

This kit encourages Ohioans to talk with insurance agents, compare different insurance policies, and above all to not assume that they can go without insurance. It also can contact and outreach information for the Department of Insurance, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The toolkit and all the information you could possibly need can be found at www.insurance.ohio.gov. Also anyone with question about any of their coverage concerns can call the Ohio Department of Insurance consumer hotline at 1-800-685-1526.

Check out the original story about the Ohio Department of Insurance Toolkit at www.middletownusa.com.

June 2009 Happenings at the Middletown Arts Center

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:14:00 +0000

The Middletown Arts Center is starting the summer off with a full schedule of activities and events. Currently - until June 15 - artist Kevin Macpherson's "Reflections on a Pond" exhibit is on display at the Center. June 26-July 25, the Arts Center will hold its 52nd Annual Student Show.

If you would like to have your own artwork critiqued by a professional, bring one or two pieces in on Friday, June 5 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Todd Butts will be on hand to offer his professional critique and light refreshments will be served.

Rain or Shine, this year's annual Garden Tour will take place on June 27 and 28. Visit five beautiful neighborhood gardens and the Arts Center Courtyard. Tickets are $7.00 each and can be purchased at a variety of locations including the Arts Center, Kathryn's Home Accents, Flowers by Roger, and Bern's Landscaping. Tickets can also be purchase at the garden sites on the days of the tour.

During the weekend of the Garden Tour, the Arts Center will also hold a number of workshops. Workshops are $30-50 and you may call the Arts Center at 513-424-2417 to register. They will include:

Pottery Garden Stakes with Jean Ann Bollinger - Glaze pottery garden stakes for your own garden in the colors of your choice! Each attendee will get the opportunity to decorate five garden stakes and the stakes will be fired and picked up at a later date.

Oriental Brush Painting with Jean Vance - Experience the ancient art form of "Sumi-e" and use inks and tools that were used centuries ago. You will be able to complete your own piece to take home for framing!

Flower Arranging with Mary Jo Burns - Learn the art of making gorgeous flower arrangements and create your own arrangement to take home!

Basket-Making with Katherine Lawson - A unique approach to basket-making, this class will allow you to use natural objects such as roots, sticks, seed pods, and more. Weave the baskets using soft sea grass and take home your finished piece!

Other events coming up at the Arts Center include a Watercolor Workshop with Judy Carducci on June 29, 30, and July 1st. "Young Artists" Workshops will be held, starting June 22nd and youth classes will start the week of July 13th. There is something for everyone at the Middletown Arts Center!

History of Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Anderson) — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Memorial Day is many things to many people: an extra day off from work or school, the perfect opportunity for a three-day weekend, a chance to bring out the old grill, or the unofficial beginning of summer. But few realize it is all of that and so much more, nor do they realize the history behind it.

Originally called "Decoration Day," Memorial Day was created to remember and honor the men and women who died during the Civil War. The first "official" Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868, after being proclaimed by General General John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. On this day, flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Five years later, in 1873, New York would become the first state to recognize the day as a holiday and by 1890, all of the Northern states did the same. The Southern states were not as quick to catch on and honored their fallen soldiers on various other days throughout the year. It wasn't until after World War I that Memorial Day became a day to honor all fallen servicemen, not just those who died in the Civil War. The South would soon acknowledge the date and today, all 50 states observe the holiday.

No one knows exactly where the idea of Memorial Day originated but dozens of towns and cities take credit for its creation. While much evidence ironically points to women's groups in the South, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York the official birthplace of the day in 1966. More than likely, after a hard-fought battle, many Americans had the desire to honor the dead after the Civil War and no one town is single-handedly responsible.

Today, Memorial Day has lost much of its meaning. Towns no longer hold parades, the day's unique flag etiquette goes unnoticed, and the graves of those who died serving our country go unvisited. Of course, that is not the case for all American citizens. Every year, 1,200 soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry place small flags at each of the 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and patrol the cemetery to make sure the flags remain standing. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts all over the country place flags and candles at the graves of fallen soldiers in their local cemeteries. In 2004, Washington D.C. held the first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years. In December 2000, a resolution was passed that asked all Americans to stop at 3:00 PM on the day and observe a moment of silence.

Members of Congress have made many attempts, in recent years, to return the country to its roots and encourage people to celebrate Memorial Day the way it was intended: as a day to honor those who died protecting our lives and our freedom. No one knows for sure how Americans can be encourage to remember the true meaning of the day, but it is very important to be sure that those who died are kept alive in our memories forever.

The Beach Waterpark - Opening 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Sellers) — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:09:00 +0000

The fun-filled, tropical themed Beach Waterpark located in Mason, Ohio is now open for the 2009 season. This tropical oasis, with its live palm trees, rolling waves, Reggae music, and white sand, has something fun for the whole family. Whether guests prefer to splash in the Kahuna Beach Wavepool, relax on the 1,200 feet long Lazy Miami, or test their adventurous side on one of the many pulse-pounding water slides, they are sure to have a wonderful experience at the Beach.

The Beach has a multitude of fast paced, breath-catching water slides for those looking for a thrill. The Aztec Adventure is the only water coaster in the Midwest area. It features 500 feet of hairpin twists, surprising turns, and an ultimate plummet through the gaping mouth of a jaguar. The newest slide, Volcanic Panic, is the longest slide at the Beach. It sends you crashing through 360-degree spirals and along 180-degree horseshoe turns before plunging to the end. The Cliff is the most visible waterslide adventure at the Beach. It has been voted one of the best slides in the country because of its three seconds of pure air as you plummet down its five-story free fall flume. Other featured rides at The Beach include: Typhoon Twist, Banzai, Hidden Rapids, and Twilight Zone.

For the kids, The Beach offers more toned down sorts of adventures. To start their fun-filled day, they can head on over to Splash Mountain or Jolly Mon’ Shores. Splash Mountain features kid-friendly water fun including a miniature inner tube rapids ride, a 30 foot water flume slide, and a smooth belly-flop slide. They can also enjoy a kid’s pool with lots of fountains and waterfalls to enhance their water play experience. Over on Jolly Mon’ Shores, the kids can enjoy a water play world filled with rope ladders, swinging bridges, and a water slide ending in a shallow splash pool just begging to be played in. Also for the kids there is the Kahuna Beach Wavepool, Lazy Miami, and a variety of other tropical spots.

Tickets for this hot summer spot can be purchased on line at The Beach’s website or at the front gate. General adult admission is $27.99 at the gate, but can be bought for $22.00 online. Senior and child’s admission (individuals over the age of 60 or children under 48” in height) is $10.50 a piece at the gate or $9.00 online. Children under the age of 2 are free.

Season passes for The Beach can also be purchased online or at the front gate. An adult general season pass can be purchased for $75.00, a senior or child’s season pass can be purchased for $25.00, and a season long parking pass costs $25.00.

The Beach Waterpark is celebrating the opening of its 25th season, so head on down for a fun-filled day with the family. There’s something for everyone at The Beach Waterpark.

Address: 2590 Water Park Dr, Mason, Ohio 45040

Phone: 800-866-SWIM