Middletown Ohio Blog

Whiteout Snow Survival Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:51:00 +0000

Yesterday's whiteout snowfall caused at least 2 major pile up accidents in the area. And amazingly there was only one fatality with over 125 vehicles involved.

Whiteouts don't happen all that often but when they do they catch many people off guard and unprepared. A whiteout event might best be described as a weather event sometimes connected with a blizzard. It is when snow falls so heavily and quickly that you can't see even 10 feet in front of you. Typically it happens very suddenly and roads become snow covered and slick almost before you have time to realize it. People describe it as a curtain of white that you can't see through and people have actually gotten lost in their yards trying to find their house.

What can you do to prepare for such an event? There are several common sense, life-saving procedures to follow. By knowing some tips for driving in a whiteout you could potentially save your life and the lives of others. Not always mentioned in some driving manuals, but it is important to remain in your car. DO NOT get out and stand by your car or near the road. The accidents can occur in split-second intervals and would not give you enough time to run away - which is what your human nature might urge to do.

Click Here to read more about driving in whiteout conditions.

This Blog is moving to http://blog.middletownusa.com/

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:35:00 +0000

This Blog is moving to http://blog.middletownusa.com/

Middletown City Schools goes Social

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 20:07:00 +0000

As recently as this fall, Middletown City Schools has jumped into the local social community with Twitter and Facebook. I think Debbie Alberico is to blame.

Debbie Alberico is the Director of Community Relations / Communications at Middletown City Schools. Ms. Alberico has always reached out to the internet as a way to communicate to and from parents, students and the public

She sees her top most important job is to "Develop and supervise the implementation of strategic
communication plans". Source: Linkedin profile

The Middletown City School District is expected to see a reduction in state funding for next year. The reduction could be up to $5 million. The impact of the 20% reduction to the general operating budget could cause a reduction in services and programs offered in the schools. So how does Middletown City Schools communicate to the community while seeing a potential hit to her budget?

The answer is social communication. For years Debbie Alberico has informed the community via press releases to the local newspaper as well as other media outlets such as television, radio and local web sites.

Here are a few examples of important school news provided to MiddletownUSA by Debbie Alberico:

Budget Priority Workshop To seek Community Input

Elementary Students Celebrate Rosa Parks With Essays, Prizes And Role Model (0 Comments)

12/2/2010 Immediate Release Elementary students celebrate Rosa Parks with essays, prizes and role models Details: 1:30 PM, Friday, December 10, Rosa Parks Elemen...

Students With Special Needs Involved In Volunteer Community Work Program (0 Comments)

November 29, 2010 School or Department: Middletown High School Special Education Who: Students with special needs involved in volunteer community work program and staff assigned to pro...

WHASSUP WITH CHARACTER? (0 Comments)

WHASSUP WITH CHARACTER? Nov. 18, 2010 For Immediate Release Middletown High School Boy’s basketball players, along with other st...

COMMUNITY PEP RALLY (0 Comments)

COMMUNITY PEP RALLY Thursday, November 4 at 6:30 pm MHS - Paul Walker Gym Help the Middies celebrate their 10-0 season and build the excitement for the playoff games. C...

Red Ribbon Week “Say Boo To Drugs” (0 Comments)

Say “Boo” To Drugs Word Of The Day Each morning during the week, a riddle will be read during the morning announcements, the answer to which has the ...

Now Middletown City Schools is adding to their communication efforts by adding social accounts.

Follow Middletown Schools on their Twitter Account: http://twitter.com/#!/middletownOH
They have 143 Tweets and 200 followers at the time of this posting. With this feed you can hear as it happens such things as Middie Scores: EX: Middies over Beavercek - 61 - 41. GO MIDDIES!!
Also announcements and links to school news and spirit initiatives.

Follow Middletown Schools on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MiddletownCitySchools.
According to the Facebook Page: This is the official Facebook page for the Middletown City School District in Middletown, Ohio, Where Every Student is a Star! MCSD is an Asset Building District.
See what kids need to succeed.

Middletown City Schools also has a blog: http://www.middletowncityschools.com/blog/

The Middie Buzz Blog

The Middletown City School District is committed to open and honest communication with our community. In an effort to further that commitment, we have created the Middie Buzz Blog. We invite you to participate by submitting your thoughts using the box on the right.

An on-line SWOCA managed progress report and report card called Progress Book.

The School District has a very nice, updated website located here: http://www.middletowncityschools.com/

Kudos to Middletown Schools and their social initiatives. Also kudos to Debbie Alberico. I'm sure she is behind many of these initiatives along with many others she has encouraged to communicate the important news of the school.

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Mike Webber of W. Middletown Makes Exotic Pet Film

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Exotic Pet Film May Lead To TV Series

Posted by jkiesewetterNovember 5th, 2010, 7:09 am

Today a movie…. next year a reality TV show? Mike Webber’s documentary about the dangers and subculture of exotic pets called “The Elephant In The Living Room” opens today at the Rave Motion Pictures 18 in West Chester Township. Channel 12 would call it ”Pets That Kill!”

Much of the 94-minute documentary looking at all sides of the exotic pet situation was shot in Ohio with Tim Harrison of Springboro, who has been rescuing dangerous pets for 36 years, and with Terry Brumfield of Piketon, Ohio, whose lion attacked cars on US 23 near Portsmouth two years ago. Here’s a link to my story about the movie. Harrison and Webber will discuss the film after the 7 p.m. screenings Friday and Saturday.

Webber, a West Middletown native and 1988 Middletown Madison High School graduate, has so much footage (more than 200 hours) that he’s also talking to TV channels about a possible reality series about exotic pets, their owners and Harrison. In a way, that would bring the issue full circle for Harrison, who says calls to rescue/capture dangerous pets escalated from a handful to a hundred from all the exposure about dangerous exotic pets on Animal Planet and other channels.

Harrison says that everyone tells him the same thing: “I watch Animal Planet, and I thought I could do it myself.” Here’s what Harrison says: “There’s no happy ending to anyone owning a large predator. As soon as you get a python or tiger cub, you’re just signing a death certificate for you or someone you know.”

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No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency at Middfest International

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:08:00 +0000

by Christina Papakirk

Middfest International's Literature and Language Exhibit is sure to be a show-stopper this year. Under the direction of Middletown actor and director Christine Brunner, this exhibit will literally bring the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to life during Middfest weekend. Four area actors will portray the well-known characters of the HBO series--Mma Precious Ramotswe, her assistant Mma Grace Makutsi, her companion and owner of Speedy Motors, Mr. JLB Matekoni and the Orphanage Matron Mma Sylvia Potokwane--in a set designed especially for the event.

The exhibit is located next to the Manchester Inn, and the lot has been turned into the Kgali Shopping Center from the HBO series. Visitors can purchase books by Alexander McCall Smith and others, DVDs, and register for prize drawings for the Books of Botswana Reading Challenge. The HBO series will be shown in the Speedy Motors Garage, and there will also be an area for book discussion and a fan meeting area. Best of all, visitors can interact with the characters! They will be there 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Ms. Burgess Byrd (Cincinnati) as Mma Precious Ramotswe (Detective)
Ms. Edina Ndebele (Cincinnati via Zimbabwe) as Mma Grace Makutsi (Assistant)
Mr. Alan Bomar Jones (Dayton) as Mr. JLB Matekoni (Mechanic)
Ms. Marlene' Johnson (Indianapolis) as Mma Sylvia Potokwane (Orphanage Matron)
Project staff:
Christine Brunner...Producer
Helen Raymond...Scenic Designer
Angela Banks...Production Assistant
Joan Boring...Literature Committee Chair
Denise Bieleki...Literature Committee Member

Middfest's weekend celebration of Botswana will include an array of exhibits featuring many cultural, art, literary, science, history, and business aspects of the country. Live entertainment will be provided by groups from Botswana and local and regional acts, International Bazaar, Food Court, Youth Park and much more.

Friday, Oct. 1 - 6pm-10pm
Saturday, Oct. 2 10 am-10pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 12 noon-6pm

Admission is $5 per person and good for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

For additional information, please visit Middfest's website, www.middfest.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/middfest or call Executive Director Virginia Ritan at 513-425-7707, email middfest@siscom.net.

For media inquiries, please contact Christina Papakirk at 513-460-6647 or christina.papakirk@gmail.com.

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Gov Strickland "Steel town Speech" at SunCoke Bricklaying

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:53:00 +0000

Wednesday August 25, 2010 from 2:30pm to 4pm SunCoke Energy celebrated the new facility with the theme, "Laying the Foundation for the Future."

Note: This is the short version of Gov Strickland's speech.

Here is an excerpt from Governor Ted Strickland's speech at the bricklaying dedication.

"Middletown is a steel town and Ohio is a steel state and this coke plant will help keep it that way."

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Ohio Proud at the Ohio State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:07:00 +0000

If you're planning on visiting the Ohio State Fair this week, you'll definitely want to visit the Ohio Proud areas to get a taste of some homegrown Ohio goodness!

Chefs from across the state will be gathering for the annual Heartland Cuisine demonstrations, where they will showcase their best recipes. The demonstrations will take place at the Taste of Ohio Cafe and will feature many products from Ohio agriculture. They are sponsored by Ohio Proud, as well as Ohio's commodity organizations, agribusinesses, top chefs, and other Ohio-based supporters.

You'll also receive a free copy of the Heartland Cuisine cookbook, which will provide you with the recipes from the demonstrations. Categories in the cookbook include: Apple, Beef, Dairy, Fish, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, and Ohio Proud.

Finally, you can sample and purchase fresh produce, jams, ice cream, and salsa at the Ohio Proud Farmers Market located just inside the Cardinal Gate at the fairgrounds.

The Ohio State Fair began on July 28 and will run through August 8, 2010. It takes place at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. Gates are open from 9:00 AM until 10:00 PM each day except for August 8, when gates close at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults, ages 13-59; $8 for youth, ages 5-12; $8 for seniors, ages 60 and over; and children under five get in for free. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

Ohio Proud began in 1993 and serves as the Ohio Department of Agriculture's "marketing program that identifies and promotes food and agricultural products that are made in Ohio and grown in Ohio."

Right now, there are 410 Ohio proud partners in 77 counties across the state. Purchasing locally grown products help support the state's agriculture business and provides one in seven of your fellow Ohioans with a job. According to the Ohio Proud website, agriculture is the Buckeye State's biggest industry and each year, it contributes over $98 billion to the state's economy. You can learn more by visiting OhioProud.org.

Butler County Dog Lincenses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Each year, Butler County licenses about 36,000 dogs. Dog licenses are required by law and can be the key to a safe return home when your dog is lost or runs away. If you've lost your dog's tag or are not sure how to get one, you'll find all the information you need below.

Obtaining a License
If you have a new dog and haven't yet licensed him or her, you'll want to visit Butlercountyauditor.org and print out the application. You can mail the application and fee to the following address:

Butler County Auditor
130 High Street, 4th Floor
Hamilton, Ohio 45011

Lost Tags
In the event your dog's tag is lost, you can purchase another tag for a quarter through the auditor's office. Simply make a copy of your original receipt, tape the quarter to the copy and send it along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address above. You can also visit the auditor's office in person to get replacement tag.

License Transfers
Should you give your dog away or sell him or her, your dog's license can be transferred to the new owner. Visit Butlercountyauditor.org for the license transfer application and send the application, along with a quarter, to the address listed above.

Death of a Pet
In the event your dog dies, you'll need to contact the office so you will not be expected to renew your pet's license. The phone number is 513-887-3160.

Moving
If you move to a new home, you'll also want to contact the auditor's office to correct your information. In the event your dog is lost and found, it will be returned to the address listed on file and you will want that information to be as up-to-date as possible.

Kennel Licenses
If you want to obtain a kennel license, you'll need to make sure you meet the following requirements: you must be zoned A-1 Agricultural, you must have at least five acres of land, and the kennel must be at least 200 feet from all property lines. A letter from your local zoning board is also required. If your license is renewed by January 31, the cost is $70, however after January 31, you will be forced to pay a $70 penalty. The fee includes five dog licenses and up to five more can purchased for $1 each.

For more information on dog licenses, contact the Butler County Auditor's Office at 513-887-3160.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

2010 Summer Fun in Middletown

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:39:00 +0000

Summer may be half-way over, but there is still tons to do in Middletown and the surrounding area over the next month or two. Below you'll find all types of activities from sports to the arts, from activities for grown-ups only, to activities for the whole family.

July 6th - August 15th, 143rd Annual American Watercolor Society Exhibit: The exhibit takes place at the Middletown Arts Center on Monday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

July 24th, Greek Festival: Visit the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church for the Middletown Greek Festival! From 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, enjoy Greek foods, pastries, music and dancing.

July 25th - 31st, Butler County Fair: The Butler County Fair will take place at the Butler County Fairgrounds in Hamilton, from July 25 -31. Tickets for adults are $6, children ages 6-12 are $1, and multi-day passes are available. This is the 160th year for the fair that includes livestock, rides, food, music, and antiques.

July 28, Broad Street Bash: Visit Governor's Square on Broad Street and Central Avenue for BBQ, beer, food, and free live music from the band, After Midnight. Concert starts at 6:00 PM.

July 29, Children's Summer Reading Program: Bring your 5 - 12 year old along every Thursday at 2:00 PM to the Middletown Public library for summer reading fun. On the 29th, the program will feature Jim Kleefeld: A Splash of Magic, along with a water, beach, and fish magic show.

August 3rd, 2010 National Night Out Festival: From 5:00 to 9:00 PM at Jacot Park, the Middletown Police Department and other local business sponsors will be promoting community friendship and safety importance, while handing out free hotdogs, chips, pop, and water!

August 6th - 7th, Giant Radio Controlled Aircraft Show: Visit the Middletown Regional Airport from 8:00 AM on August 6th to 5:00 PM on August 7th, for the Giant Radio Controlled Aircraft Show. This is a great activity for the entire family!

August 11th, Broad Street Bash: Visit Governor's Square on Broad Street and Central Avenue for BBQ, beer, food, and free live music from the band, The Cleavers. Concert starts at 6:00 PM.

August 14th, Main Street Art & Music Festival: From 2:00 to 11:00 PM, you can visit downtown Middletown for the Main Street Art and Music Festival. See local and regional performers, purchase arts and crafts from local and regional artisans - there's even a kid's area.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

What's Coming Up at the Middletown Arts Center?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:36:00 +0000

There is a lot going on at the Middletown Arts Center this summer! From exhibits you can view to classes you can take, here is a look at what they have to offer in July and August.

Exhibits:

- Currently, the 143rd American Watercolor Society Exhibition is set up until August 15th.

- The Lobby Gallery is currently showing the artwork of botanical artist, Diane Harm, also through August 15th.

- The Atrium Dining Room is currently showing the Middletown Arts Faculty Show. Selections from the Middletown Arts Center Faculty show are currently being shown at the Gallery at the Atrium Medical Center as well.

Classes:

- Ceramics classes are held for both English and Spanish speakers. Tuition is $65.

- Drawing classes, using pencil, colored pencil, pastels, pen, and ink, are also offered. Tuition for these classes are also $65.

- If you wan to learn to make jewelry, the jewelry-making class will cost you $55 for six weeks or $65 for seven weeks. Lab fees are $10 and tools are about $100. You'll learn how to design, saw, file, solder, and finish various pieces of jewelry. Advanced students may use brass, copper, silver, and gold.

- Enameling classes are also offered at the Middletown Arts Center, for $55 for six weeks and $65 for seven weeks. Learn to manipulate power, lump and thread glass, as well as firing in the kiln to create jewelry and framed art. The lab fee is $10.

- Stained Glass classes are a great way of learning cutting glass, leading, assembly, and soldering with various types of tools and glass. Prices are $55 for six weeks and $65 for seven weeks, with the purchase of tools being necessary.

- Glass Fusing/Slumping is offered for $65 with a lab fee of $10. Students will have the opportunity to choose from several products and be instructed on glass-cutting as necessary.

- Glass Painting will be offered for $65 with a $10 lab fee. This "dying art" has been used for centuries and is still as beautiful as ever.

- If you want to learn to paint, the Middletown Arts Center offers those types of classes as well. Tuition ranges from $55 - 65 and classes include: Decorative Arts (with tole painting), Medium of Your Choice, Mixed Media, and several Watercolor classes.

- A digital photography class is offered for $65.

- If you want to learn about Art Journaling, tuition is $65. You'll learn to create a journal through art!

- Techniques in Collage and Assemblage teaches you how to create assembled artworks on paper, canvas, and wood frames, using found objects, papers, ink, and other mediums. This class is $65.

- If you have a child and they're wanting to take some art classes, never fear! The Middletown Arts Center offers these as well. Drawing, Clay, Pottery, Digital Photography and more are available for kids of various ages and range from $50 - $80.

Workshops:

- Doug Dawson, a master pastelist, will be holding a Pastel Landscape workshop From August 23 through August 27, 2010, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM each day. It will cost members $500 and non-members $550. To reserve a space, you'll need to make a $150 deposit, with the remainder of the tuition due July 31. Upon registration, you'll be sent a list of supplies needed, as well as a list of local motels, restaurants, and a map.

The Middletown Arts Center is located at 130 North Verity Parkway in Middletown, Ohio. They are open on Monday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and they are closed Friday through Saturday.

For more information on times and dates of classes, as well as when each term starts for various classes, visit the Middletown Arts Center website at MiddletownArtsCenter.com.

For more news about Middletown, Ohio, visit Middletown USA.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Steel Magnolia Nomination Deadline Extended

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:18:00 +0000

The deadline for the 2010 Steel Magnolia nominations has been extended through July 30, 2010.

For the second year in a row, the Middletown Community Foundation is accepting nominations for the Steel Magnolia Award. The award is for women who, according to the Middletown Community Foundation website, "have overcome obstacles to positively impact an AK Steel U.S. community." The award is funded by the AK Steel Foundation. Each year, up to ten awards are given out and the recipient's charity of choice receives a $1,000 donation. The award is available for women of all age, who, according to the website, "have faced personal adversity and have shown exceptional strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities."

Nominations should be submitted in the form of a 500 words or less essay and should be sent to the Middletown Community Foundation by 5:00 PM on July 30, 2010. While nominees must live in the vicinity of an AK Steel facility, they do not have to bee affiliated with the company. This includes Ashland, Kentucky; Butler, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Indiana; Rockport Indiana; and Coshocton, Mansfield, Middletown, Walbridge, West Chester, and Zanesville, all in Ohio.

For more information, call the Middletown Community Foundation at 513-424-7369, or visit their website at www.mcfoundation.org.

In 2009, the award went to eight magnificent women: Eleanor "Elle" Berry of Ashland, Kentucky and her charity, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Foundation; Etta J. Carver of Fairfield, Ohio and her charity, Citizens Against Domestic Violence; Martha Fitts Clark of Owensboro Kentucky and her charity, Impact 100 Owensboro; Kimberly Rae Fairchild of Mansfield, Ohio and her charity, Upward Bound Youth in Wooster; Jean Hooper of Zanesville, Ohio and her charity, the Ohio Genealogy Society; Shelly L. Reigle of West Lafayette, Ohio and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life; Tammy Robert of Middletown, Ohio and Berachah Baptist Church's Hands and Feet; and Renee Spohn of Butler, Pennsylvania and her charity, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Butler County.

You can watch a video of last year's ceremony below:

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Summer Fun & Festivals in Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:42:00 +0000

If you're looking for something to do this summer, Ohio is the place to be! Lots of fun festivals will be taking place, helping you celebrate and get into the summer mood. Below you'll find just a few activities for your family, whether you're looking to learn about history or celebrate the arts.

July 16 -17, the Marietta Sweet Corn Festival is the place to be! Fresh hot buttered corn on the cob will be served alongside delicious foods from local restaurants. You and your family can participate in or watch cornhole tournaments, historical re-enactments and more. You'll have the opportunity to pet your favorite farm animals, or take a hayride around historic downtown Marietta, along the Ohio River. Many local and regional artists will be performing, including Matt First Band, the Faculty, Todd Burge, and Odd Urges.

If you have twins, triplets or other multiples in your family, the Double Take Parade in Twinsburg is a must-attend event! With over 2,000 sets, this unique event is the world's largest annual gathering of twins and takes place this year from August 6 - 8.

If it's good German food you're looking for, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival is full of German heritage and takes place August 19 - 21. In addition to open-fire-roasted brats, you can watch parades, visit art shows, and participate in rides and games, or you can cheer on the annual bicycle race and the Bratwurst Festival Queen.

In the heart of Cincinnati, the Macy's Music Festival takes place from July 30 - 31 and has so much R&B, jazz, hip-top, and soul music to offer. Performers will include Charlie Wilson, Maze, En Vogue, Jill Scott, and others.

The Dublin Irish Festival is one of the biggest Irish festivals in the entire country. Attendees will experience over 60 musical acts, Celtic sports, hands-on workshops, an area to research genealogy, and a 10th-century authentic Irish village. The Irish Festival will take place August 6 - 8.

Another musical celebration that will take place that weekend is the Lebanon Blues Festival on August 7. You'll get to see live performances from groups including No Saints No Saviors, Bryan Lee, Robin Lacy, Them Bones and DeZydeco. In addition you'll want to check out the Blue, BBQ, and Bumpers car show for delicious food, hot cars, and more! Admission is free to this exciting event.

The Juneteenth Cincinnati festival in Eden Park celebrates the end of American slavery and fight for freedom. You'll see a unique parade of flags of the African Diaspora, as well re-enactments of speeches from Abe Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. There will also be live musical entertainment from jazz, gospel, blues, reggae, and R&B performers. this event takes place July 19 - 20.

August 6 - 8, Zanesville infamous Y Bridge will turn into an outdoor gallery, which showcases multi-media artwork and contemporary crafts from over 50 artists. In addition to the art, the Y Bridge Arts Festival will include live entertainment, gourmet treats from local restaurants, pottery, blacksmith, fiber arts demonstrations, and a children's activity area.

Festival Latino in Columbus' Genoa Park will take place August 14 - 15 and will feature Ohio's Hispanic culture. There will be multiple stages of continuous salsa, cumbia, meringue, norte no and banda music. You can dance to the Mexican beats or explore the marketplace for Ecuadorian crafts and Mayan Jewelry.

If history is your thing, the Tall Ships festival returns to Cleveland July 7 - 11. You'll see vessels representative of maritime history from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, Great Lakes trading Schooners, Baltimore Clippers, and so much more! The event is great for the entire family, and even offers a children's play area in addition to live entertainment and the maritime marketplace.

The Summer Moon Festival in Wapakoneta will take place July 15 - 17. Wapakoneta is the hometown of Neil Armstrong. The Festival features a moon rock hunt and a rocket building demonstration among other fun, unique activities. Participate in the moon pie eating contest, wiener dog races, festival rides, live music entertainment and more.

Celebrate Dayton's aviation heritage at the Vectren Dayton Air Show July 17 - 18. Watch as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds display skill, power, and precision in their F-16 Fighting Falcons. You can also watch world-class aerobatic champions, military jet demonstrations, and other entertainment for the entire family!

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

PAWS Adoption Center in Middletown

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:14:00 +0000

The PAWS Adoption Center is located on Cincinnati-Dayton Road in Middletown. They are a no-kill, non-profit shelter for unwanted dogs and cats and their goal is to provide care and homes for those animals, as well as to promote adoption and responsible pet ownership, which includes spay or neutering your pet. At any given time, they have 80 animals looking for a good home. PAWS has been around for over 25 years and offers many community events to help serve their purpose.

In addition to the PAWS Yard Sale that was held last month, the shelter does traveling mobile adoptions several Saturdays each month. For June, adoption days are on the 5th at Voices of America Park, the 19th at the PetSmart in Mason, and the 26th at the PetSmart in Bridgewater.

The weekend of June 12th and 13th, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the shelter will hold their annual PAWS Dog Fest. The event will take place at Voice of America Museum Park in West Chester, on the soccer fields behind the museum. Cost of attendance is $8 per person. The goal of Dog Fest is to educate families about how many animals are in shelters across the Cincinnati area. Dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and ages are on exhibit at the event and many are adopted each year. In addition, there is lots of fun to be had at Dog Fest. You can have your own dog participate in games, contests and even the doggie parade!

In addition to taking donation, PAWS is always in need of volunteers and there are many ways you can help. Some of these include: walking and playing with dogs, bathing dogs before adoption events, brushing and providing human contact for cats, helping around the shelter in the office or by doing maintenance, helping take pets to various adoption events, helping with big events such as Dog Fest, and helping with technical things such as grant writing and computer issues.

If you'd like to volunteer with PAWS, you can contact them by email at volunteers.paws@gmail.com. Volunteers much be 16 years or older. Those 7-15 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown Site is One of State's First Job Ready Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:43:00 +0000

Ohio's Job Ready Site program is aimed at creating and building more development sites that can be readily offered to companies who would like to move to or expand within the state and a new Middletown office development by Al Neyer Inc. is one of the first sites to be certified.

The program was approved by Ohio voters in 2005 and was started with a $2 billion bond issue.

In a press release, Lisa Patt-McDaniel, the director of the Ohio Department of Development said, "The Job Ready Site certification requirements have heightened standards, making Ohio an attractive choice for leading industries to relocate for job expansion and company growth"

Smart Offices at East Point Centre, located in Middletown, was among the 18 sites first selected for a grant about four years ago. The state awarded $2.2 million to what is being marketed as a "technology district" near the Atrium Medical Center.

The area includes a 50,000 square foot office building and it has been awarded a Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In addition, there is room to build two more buildings of up to 90,000 square feet each. Right now, 114 jobs have been created from the site.

In addition to the Middletown site, another technology site has been built and certified in Clark County. Named the Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park, the 55,572 square foot building is open for leasing and there is room to build an additional 111,000 square feet.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

What Next? Ohio Career Sim for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced the launch of "What Next? Ohio Career Sim for Students. What Next? is an interactive career website designed to encourage students to explore career opportunities in the high-growth industries in Ohio.

Of the website, Strickland said, "Today's students are tomorrow's creators and entrepreneurs. By encouraging our young people to match their interests with potential career paths, we're helping them discover growing industries right here in Ohio while also preparing them for a purposeful and productive future."

The website allows students in middle school and high school to explore and try careers interactively. It focuses on "STEM" careers - those in science, technology, engineering and math, and what steps in education students need to take to reach those career goals. It was created in collaboration with Scholastic, a leader in educational technology, as well as a large publisher and distributor of children's books.

The hope for the website is that it sparks students aspirations and helps them prepare for a career by matching their passion and curiosity with particular high-growth industries and careers in Ohio.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Housing Prices Up in Metro Cincinnati

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:43:00 +0000

Today, the National Association of Realtor (NAR) reported that the median price of homes in metro Cincinnati are up from year-over-year first quarters. That said, prices have dropped from 2009's fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2010, the price of a home in the Cincinnati-Middletown area was $121,900. Compare that to 2009's first quarter, when houses were $106,500. That's a 14.5% difference. In the last quarter of 2009, the median home price was $125,000.

The median home price for the entire country is $166,100, which is down 1% from 2009's first quarter. The NAR looked at 151 metro areas across the country. 91 of these saw higher prices in the first quarter of this year compared to that of 2009 and 29 even saw a double digit percentage increase.

Even so, NAR's chief economist said this is a positive sign for the economy. "This flattening in home prices is something we’ve been seeing in all of the home price measures lately, and quite clearly in this metro area price report. The tax credit has been very effective in drawing down excess inventory, with about 1 million additional sales resulting directly from the stimulus," Yun said in a press release.

The state of Ohio as a whole saw prices rise from 2009's first quarter. In Akron, the median price of a home jumped an astonishing 90%, while the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor area saw an increase of about 54%. Dayton saw a 23% increase from 2009, while Toledo saw a 13% jump. Even Columbus, whose housing market wasn't as bad off as other cities in the state, saw a 6% increase.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Levy Vote Down to the Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:25:00 +0000

The levy will be decided tomorrow, Tuesday May 4 during the Ohio primaries and it's down to the final push for parents and students who are in struggling Ohio school districts. It's less than 24 hours from election day and Middletown residents are urging each other to vote while Middletown City Schools officials cite their fiscal responsibilities in tough economic times. The most important issue about this vote is whether school officials and levy supporters are correct in their claim that rejecting this issue will have a devastating impact on the district and the city as a whole by essentially eliminating 26 percent of the district’s approximately $70 million operating budget.

“If this levy doesn’t pass, it will be a death knell to a city trying to turn itself around,” said Marcia Andrew, school board president. “Schools make the community what it is. Without this levy, we are looking at some big changes.”

Since the fiscal year 2007, Middletown has cut nearly $4.8 million in costs for the district but is currently at risk of losing more than 20 percent of its total revenue. Middletown currently has two emergency levies totalling $18.3 million but they expire at the end of this year. That is why Middletown is asking district voters to approve a $18.3 million substiute levy that would cost individual taxpayers approximately $575 every year per $100,000 in property value. The substitute levy will be a continuing levy, which means the district will no longer have to return to the ballot every three to five years for what voters could perceive as more money.

There have been many warnings across Ohio from School districts saying the levy is an absolute necessity. Franklin school district is considering cutting the amount school days to state minimums, reducing bus transportation, increasing class sizes and increasing sports, music and other extracurricular fees should the levy fail.

“When you take away more than $4 million — nearly 20 percent of our operating budget — then you’re going to have to make some significant cuts in personnel and programming. Our first priority, of course, is to not impact the quality of education in our classrooms. We try to hold off on those cuts as long as possible but there really won’t be an area that will be untouched should this fail.” — Superintendent Arnold Elam

Areas like Reynoldsburg Ohio, where the schools have lost nearly $20 million in the last five years, are the most likely to have the strongest advocates for the levy. Karen Wilson, who's son and daughter face school days without proper physical education, art, or music, desperately wants this levy to pass.

"The day for our kids is pretty much sitting in the classroom. No extra activities -- nothing to stimulate them as far as physically and creatively," Wilson said.

If the levy were to pass, several programs and services would be phased back into the school day in Reynoldsburg. Busing for all students would return in the fall and students in grades K-6 would be able to expect art, music and physical education. The district also said they would not be returning all programs and services immediately, instead choosing to be a bit more judicious with taxpayer funds.

In our own hometown of Middletown, which saw an operational levy voted on three times in 2007, the consequences may be more apparent. After the levy failed in May and August 2007 the district cut nearly $6 million in staff and services, including transportation, athletics and academic programs and even shortening the school day to lessen operational costs. In the case of tomorrows vote however, over $18 million will be decided by a democratic vote.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Greater Miami River Clean-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:18:00 +0000

If you'd like to make an impact on your community, there's a great volunteer opportunity for you on Saturday, May 1st.

The Sixth Annual Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River will take place this Saturday from 8:00 AM until 12;00 PM. The clean-up consists of the lower 54 miles of the Great Miami River, which includes the area from Middletown to the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg, Indiana and the work site at Shawnee Lookout in North Bend.

Volunteers should meet at the part at 2012 Lawrenceburg Road. You will receive a free t-shirt and bottled water. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. For more information, contact Brian Bohl at brian.bohl@hamilton-co.org or 513-772-7645, extension 15, or Kristine Roselle at 513-728-3551, extension 245.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown Youth Symphony to Perform Tuesday April 27

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 05:16:00 +0000

The Middletown Youth Symphony’s spring concert will be held at the Middletown High School and will be free and open to the public. As usual, there will be a short showcase preceding the main concert featuring soloists and small ensembles which will begin at 7:00pm. At 7:30 p.m., the Middletown Youth Symphony will serve up some of the most challenging pieces these young musicians have ever played.

The program is coordinated by co-director, Deborah Dornon and will open with “A Mighty Fortress”, arranged by Vaclav Nelhybel, which will be “a big, massive workout for the orchestra.” Another quite difficult song being performed is called "Scheherazade" by the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and based on the famous “Arabian Nights.”

“I’m very excited about that." said orchestra co-director Lucy Firlie Ginther "It’s a piece a lot of youth symphonies are afraid of, but we have the personnel to do it,” he said. “We have a really talented and very well-developed bunch of kids.”

Also on the roster is “Poem” by C.T. Griffes, for flute and small orchestra, and Mendelssohn’s “Octet,” which is for eight string players. The show’s finale is a work by Robert Smith called “The Great Locomotive Chase,” which tells a story in music about the theft of a train during the Civil War.

One of this year’s graduating seniors, Alex Lindon of Middletown, who plays first trumpet with the Middletown youth symphony had this to say about the concert. "It’s definitely going to be a good show,” he said, citing “Scheherazade” as a piece he thoroughly enjoys. “It’s mostly strings, but it sounds really cool".

Remember, by attending this free concert you will be supporting the Middletown community and the Middletown Youth Symphony. Hope to see you all there!

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

The Ohio Council on Women and Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:29:00 +0000

Last month, Governor Ted Strickland established the Ohio Council on Women and Girls. He signed the executive order at Momentum 2010 - the Ohio Women's Summit. The purpose of the Council is to work to advance the health care, economic development, and education for women and girls.

Upon signing the order, Strickland commented, "I am pleased to announce the creation of this council, which will bring together voices from across state government to help develop a coordinated policy response to issues that affect women and girls. Over the past decades, women have carved out opportunities in politics, business and society that will impact women and girls for generations to come, but we still have work to do. This council will play a vital role in helping engage individuals, organizations, and communities across the state to further strengthen the role of women in our society."

The Council will meet each quarter and will include a number of representatives from all across the state's government. Together, they'll work on policy that has an impact on the issues females often face. They will also work on recommendations to the governor regarding legislation and policy that affects women, support public outreach, and work with local governments and non-profit organizations.

Momentum 2010 was a two-day event that brought hundreds of Ohio women and girls together to promote their own health, economics, and education Attendees were given the opportunity to network, be educated, foster collaborations, and come together to support women's policy. Speakers included the Governor and the First Lady, advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Pulitzer Prize-winner Connie Schultz of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and diversity and inclusion expert Audra Bohannon.

Fore more information on the Ohio Council on Women and Girls, visit OhioWomen2010.com.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Robot Joins Surgical Team at Atrium Medical Center

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:42:00 +0000

The name da Vinci may be synonymous with art, but for Middletown residents the name may soon mean so much more.

Atrium Medical Center is expanding its surgical options through the acquisition of a da Vinci Si HD robot, which utilizes a minimally invasive approach to assist surgeons in operation. The robot boasts the use of smaller incisions when compared to traditional open surgeries meaning shorter hospital stays, reduced pain and faster recovery times, according to hospital officials.

Dr. David Miller, a urologist at Atrium and one of two surgeons capable of operating the da Vinci Si gives his opinion about the robot. "(Robotic surgery) is better for the patient, better in a lot of ways. What used to land patients in the hospital for three days, they are now going home the next day. I can see better and have better control.”

Of course, the da Vinci robot was a major investment for the hospital costing nearly $2 million. The da Vinci Si HD comes equipped with state of the art technology and an intuitive interface with breakthrough surgical capabilities. There are four arms that control up to three surgical instruments and a high-definition camera which allows for up to 10x magnification and provides highly accurate depth perception. In addition, Intuitive® motion technology replicates the experience of open surgery by preserving natural hand-eye coordination and intuitive instrument controls. When coupled with the EndoWrist® instrumentation, which gives the surgeon a far greater range of motion and dexterity than a human hand, the da Vinci Si HD is an unparalleled piece of medical technology that provides enhanced precision, dexterity and control for many complex surgical procedures.

For David Miller, robotic surgery is the future of medicine.

“I don’t plan to do another open prostatectomy again,” he said. “Patients aren’t afraid of (the robot). They are demanding it, so we are preserving the amount of patients that would otherwise go somewhere else.”

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Madison Girls Go to State Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:25:00 +0000

The Madison High School girls basketball team has had a phenomenal season and now they'll be taking it to the state championship game. The girls 50-43 win over Ironton in the state semifinals at Ohio State University puts them at 27-0 for the season. They'll face Findlay Liberty-Benton or Smithville in the title game on Saturday at 10:45 at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for
Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

2010 Census Form - 10 Questions in 10 Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:16:00 +0000

After months of preparation the United States government is finally ready to put the census in the hands of local residents and will mail over 120 million census forms across the United States within a month. Even though the 2010 census will contain only 10 questions and take approximately 10 minutes to fully answer, the residents of Middletown will be affected by the outcome for the next 10 years to come.

During the last census 10 years ago, nearly a quarter of Butler County residents failed to complete and return this form. In Hamilton and Middletown the census response rate was 70 percent and 67 percent respectively. Of course this is absolutely normal as there are challenges reaching every single person in Butler County and there are those who mistrust the federal government. Donna Marsh, regional Census Bureau spokeswoman, expects the rate to be higher this year. “That is a challenge,” she said. “So we spent more time trying to educate them on why the census is important.”

Apart from determining how many Ohio representatives will be in congress, an accurate count is important due to the $400 billion in federal funds that will be awarded based on the census data. In addition, completing and mailing back the form in a timely manner will save taxpayer money and local residents a hassle. "Enumerators” will begin going door to door in late April visiting the homes of those who haven't yet returned the form.

For people who would like help filling out the form, the Census Bureau will open 31 questionnaire assistance centers in Butler County by Friday, March 19. There will be 12 in Middletown, 13 in Hamilton and 4 in Oxford. These will be conveniently located in places such as senior centers, libraries, government offices and churches.

Residents needing Braille or large-print questionnaires, or needing a foreign language assistance guide, may call toll-free (866) 872-6868. Residents are also encouraged to call that number if they fail to receive a form by April 12.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Ohio Attracts the Most New Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:50:00 +0000

For the fourth year in a row, Ohio beat out every other state in the country in attracting new businesses. This according to Site Selection Magazine, who has awarded the state its annual Governor's Cup Award for "leading the nation in new and expanded facilities in 2009."

The Ohio Business Development Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment, says the award, "demonstrates that Ohio's purposeful redesign of its business climate is making the state an ideal location for businesses to compete in a 21st century global economy," according to a press release.

The March issue of Site Selection Magazine highlights Ohio's achievements. Not only does it show how the state leads development and expansion in both the micropolitan and metropolitan categories, but it also points out the state's overall achievements in economic investments.

Governor Ted Strickland believes the award can be attributed to a number of efforts made by the state, including lower taxes, less regulations, and more, "One of the reasons I believe in Ohio is that companies know Ohio is a great place to do business. We have reduced taxes and regulations, we have increased the skills and education of our workforce, and we have been recognized once again by setting the pace for the nation in new and expanded capital investments."

The magazine arrived at the ranking by looking at the number of private capital investments for new or expanded facilities. They had to have an investment of at least $1 million, create at least 50 new jobs, or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Ohio had 381 of these types of projects. Texas came in at a close second with 374 projects, followed by Michigan with 371, and Pennsylvania and Tennessee rounded out the top five with 333 and 234 respectively. Ohio has won the award eight times, in the years 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Ohio Business Development Coalition Executive Director Ed Burghard had this to say about the award, "Winning the 2009 Governor's Cup for the last four years in a row means that, after completing due diligence, CEOs decided Ohio was the ideal location for their business more often than any other state in the country. What's also appealing is the lack of congestion in Ohio allows executives and employees to enjoy professional success without having to sacrifice personal aspirations. Ohio provides people the opportunity for a life in perfect balance."

In addition to winning the award, Ohio had a number of cities that ranked in the top ten metropolitan and micropolitan categories. Cincinatti/Middletown ranked sixth among metropolitan areas with a population over one million. For the second year in a row, Dayton came in second in the mid-sized metropolitan areas with a population between 200,000 and one million category. In the category for micropolitan cities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000, Wooster, Ashtabula and Findlay ranked 2nd, 6th, and 10th respectively.

For more information, visit SiteSelection.com

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown in March

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:21:00 +0000

If you're tired of snow and cold weather and need to get out of the house, never fear; March is a busy month for the city of Middletown! From concerts to events that will get your hearts pumping, get yourself or your family out of the house and out on the town with these fun events!

March 5th: On the first Friday of each month, the First United Methodist Church and Middletown Community Foundation sponsor a concert that is free to the public. The March performance, which starts at noon, will feature Ron Esposito playing Tibet singing bowls, thumb pianos, drums, and vocals!

March 6th: On March 6th, The Middletown Symphony Orchestra will perform at Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University. The concert starts at 8:00 PM and will include music such as Samuel Barber's "School for Scandal Overture," Beethoven's "Symphony No. 2," and Brahms "Double Concerto for Violin and Cello." Tickets are $25.00 for adults and $20.00 for students.

March 7th: The Southwest Ohio Symphonic Band will perform at the Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University in Middletown. The concert is free and it starts at 2:30 PM. Refreshments will follow.

March 11th: Keep your health in check with a free blood pressure screening at the Middletown Community Center. Sponsored by Hospice Care of Middletown, the event lasts from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

March 12th: Help raise money for earthquake victims in Haiti at the Machester Inn. The Rescue Haiti Charity Ball begins at 6:00 PM and features dinner, guest speakers, music and more! It cost $25.00 to attend.

March 20th: Mayhem & Mystery presents: "Are You Brighter Than a Night Light" at the Manchester Inn. The show plus dinner will cost you $26.95 plus tax & gratuity. Seating and cash bar open at 6:30, show starts at 7:00 and dinner is served at 7:30, upon the completion of Act One.

March 20th & 21st: The Middletown Spring Blast Soccer Tourney will take place that weekend from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. 200-300 teams will play! The event takes place at Jacob and Smith Parks in Middletown.

March 20th: The St. Patrick's Day 5K Run/Walk is a great way to get outside and get some exercise! The race starts at Middletown High School and circles to Breiel Blvd, North to Manchester Rd, East to Marshall, South to Rosedale, West to Breiel Blvd, and back to the high school. The event starts at 10:00 AM.

March 27th: The Tea, Vintage Style Show with the Middletown Symphony Orchesta will take place at 2:00 PM at the Manchester Inn. The event is designed to help raise money for the orchestra and will feature tea, a fashion show, silent auction, and Vintage Style by Linda Van Arsdal.

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.