Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Aslinger Wins Darke County District Spelling Bee

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Spelling Bee Winner Hallie Aslinger
The Darke County District Spelling Bee was held February 26th and hosted by the Arcanum-Butler School District. The individual champion was seventh grader Hallie Aslinger from Franklin-Monroe Junior High. Hallie ended the competition by correctly spelling the words "solitaire" and "miasma." Colleen Hiestand of Versailles Middle School was runner up. The other contestants (who all advanced through competitions in their own schools) were: Matty Noe (Arcanum), Brayden Drees (Ansonia), Emma Erwin (Ansonia), Alyssa Begoon (Tri-Village), Zara Snyder (Bradford), William Chadwick (Arcanum), Xavier Robinson (Arcanum), Hayden Dilworth (Versailles), Lydia Ayette (Tri-Village), and Sydney Baker (Franklin-Monroe).

There was also a team competition which was won by the host school Arcanum-Butler.

DCCA PRESENTS MUSIC AND HISTORY OF GREAT LAKES IN SCHOOLS

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Troubadour Lee Murdock will share songs and stories revealing
the history of the Great Lakes and the people who live, work,
and play around these freshwater highways with fourth- to
sixth-graders in all local public schools March 4 through 8. 
Troubadour Lee Murdock will share songs and stories revealing the history of the Great Lakes and the people who live, work, and play around these freshwater highways with fourth- to sixth-graders in all local public schools March 4 through 8. The final presentation of Darke County Center for the Arts’ Arts In Education series for this school year, this entertaining, informative program is presented without charge to students.

According to DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins, Lee Murdock’s research into the Great Lakes and the role of the waterways in the settlement of North America provides the background for an interactive experience that enhances the study of regional history. “Lee inspires listeners to visualize the history that lies on the pages of their textbooks, bringing to life the people of the Great Lakes-- farmers, sailors, canal builders, and woodsmen and their families, heroes, and legends,” Mr. Rawlins stated.

DCCA’s Arts In Education series annually presents high quality professional artists to students in every grade of all local public schools; these programs are free and open to the public. Arts In Education is sponsored by Bach to Rock, Richard Baker, Greenville VFW Post #7262, Greenville Federal, Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe, Midmark, Gordon Orthodontics, the Wes & Patti Jetter Fund, the Mandy Green Fund, Edison State Community College, The Early Bird & Blue Bag Media, Littman-Thomas Agency, and Wayne Health Care. DCCA also receives local support from the John R. and Miriam H. Knick Fund of the Darke County Foundation, The Ketrow Foundation, Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust, Harry D. Stephens Memorial, DCCA memberships, and all Darke County and Greenville City public schools, as well as funding from the Ohio Arts Council, the state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

Lee Murdock will also perform in concert at Arcanum Historical Society’s Wayne Trail House on Thursday, March 7, as part of DCCA’s casual and intimate Coffeehouse Series; tickets for this show, which begins at 7 p.m., cost $10. Start times for Lee Murdock’s Arts In Education programs are coordinated with school schedules; for more information, contact DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@darkecountyarts.org.

March Madness and More at the APL

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Come in to the Arcanum Public Library for some March Madness – Library Style. A list of 64 popular books has been put together, and patrons can participate in the voting each week by filling out a ballot available at the library. Voting will continue until there is a winning title.

The Arcanum Public Library, along with several other libraries in the area, is participating in the reading initiative One Book, Many Communities. The book, The One, by John Marrs has been chosen as the selection for 2019. There will be plenty of programs scheduled in the upcoming months based on the book, held at various locations. At the Arcanum location, there will be a book discussion held on March 28 at 6:30 and a program on DNA testing and ethics in April. Come on in to get a copy of the book, and a schedule of events.

The third “Brew Review” will be held on Thursday, March 28 at 6:30. David Nilsen, a beer writer and educator, will be presenting “Porters and Stouts” at this popular program. Patrons are asked to call the library to register in advance for this event.

There are weekly children’s programs at the library. StoryTime for preschoolers is held on Tuesdays at 10:00. Children listen to stories, sing songs, make a craft, and more. Kids in grade school can come to SPARK after school on Tuesdays from 3:45 – 4:45 to play games, meet with friends, and learn something new.

An adult coloring session on will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 4:00. Come in to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of coloring with other adults. No registration is required. The book club will be meeting on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30. Newcomers are always welcome to join this lively group as they discuss the book of the month. This is also a drop-in program.

The adult winter reading challenge is off to a great start. It runs through March 31st. Each title a patron reads will be an entry to monthly drawings and a grand prize. Come in to the library for details and to get an entry log sheet.

Did you know the library has an App? You can search for items, check your account, place holds, and have a digital copy of your card. It is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Search for “COOL Libraries”.

Patrons can call the library for more information at 937-692-8484, or check out the website at www.arcanumpubliclibrary.org. The library can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

MVCTC Students Win Regional SkillsUSA Contest Qualify for State

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Sam Rhoades (Welding student from Ansonia) placed 1st in the
SkillsUSA Regional Welding Contest and qualified for the State
SkillsUSA Contest in April.
Plain City, Ohio – Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) students competed and placed in the Regional SkillsUSA Contest on Saturday, February 16, at Tolles Career & Technical Center in Plain City, Ohio.

The following students qualified to compete at the SkillsUSA Ohio Competition on April 16-17, 2019, in Columbus. The state contests bring over 5,000 competitors, business and industry partners, instructors, and vendors together in over 100 contests in all 16 Career Pathways to showcase Career and Technical Education in Ohio.

  • Advertising Design - Chloe Thompson (Graphic Commercial Art student from Tipp City) placed 3rd and Rivers McShirley (Graphic Commercial Art student from Tri-County North) placed 1st
  • Architectural Drafting - Ian Stewart (Architectural Design student from Tipp City) placed 1st
  • Carpentry - Chris Conarroe (Construction Carpentry student from Valley View) placed 1st
  • Collision Repair - Garrett Burton (Auto Collision student from Northmont) placed 3rd
  • Welding - Sam Rhoades (Welding student from Ansonia) placed 1st
  • Esthetics - Kylee Moore (Cosmetology student from Eaton) placed 3rd and Katy Hood (Cosmetology student from Valley View) placed 2nd
  • Job Skill Demo A - Springg White (Cosmetology student from West Carrollton) placed 3rd
  • Job Skill Demo Open - Kash Roberts (Cosmetology student from Valley View) placed 1st
  • Nail Care - Blake Hall (Cosmetology student from National Trail) placed 2nd
  • Photography - Emily Smith (Graphic Photography student from Wayne) placed 1st
  • Opening & Closing Dental Assistant Team placed 1st- Lindsey Westergerdes (Versailles), Alina Brown (Wayne), Opening & Closing - Taryn Kiracofe (Eaton), Amanda Duffy (Carlisle), Brooklyn Murphy (Preble Shawnee), Maddyn McQueen (Twin Valley South), Jayla Hill (Vandalia Butler).
  • Promotional Bulletin Board Digital Design Team placed 3rd - Katie Trout (Carlisle), Makaylee Kemen (Wayne), Makayla Litteral (Tipp City)
  • Team Works Team placed 2nd - Chris Logel (Construction Carpentry student from Wayne), Jordan Lockhart (Electrical Trades student from Northmont), Ethan Robertson (HVAC student from Vandalia Butler), Shawn Wilges (Construction Carpentry student from Northmont).

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens as it improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce. The nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. SkillsUSA helps every student excel through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. The association serves more than 360,000-member students and instructors per year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited by the U.S. Department of Labor as “a successful model of employer-driven youth development training program.” SkillsUSA offers technical skill assessments and workplace credentials through the SkillsUSA Career Essentials program, a cutting-edge solution that defines, implements and measures career readiness skills for students. For more information: www.skillsusa.org

For more information about MVCTC, please visit www.mvctc.com.

Two Perspectives from Camp Encourage

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Attend Camp Encourage just once and it could change your life forever. This is how Abigail Jutte of Ft. Recovery feels. Abigail has been volunteering at Camp Encourage as a camp buddy and group leader for the past few years, but she has been involved with camp since she was just a child. She first attended camp at the age of five. Her mother had heard about State of the Heart’s then Camp Bearable within their community and decided to sign up Abigail. After her first year, Abigail continued to attend camp throughout her whole childhood. As a child, she recalls how hard it was living in a small town and not having many people to connect with that could relate to losing a loved one. Camp Bearable allowed her to realize she wasn’t the only one who had lost a parent, and opened up the door for her to make many new friends that she could share similar feelings and memories with. To this day Abigail is still friends with several of those same campers.

When looking back on some of her favorite memories of attending camp as a child, Abigail specifically remembers the balloon launch held during Camp Bearable and receiving small keepsake items that she still has to this day. Abigail shared that those activities and topics demonstrated during camp helped her learn coping mechanisms she could use in her grieving process. “When you are five you don’t realize what death is but camp helped with feelings of loneliness.” Camp also taught her it was normal to feel angry, sad, or upset and provided tools on how to manage those feelings like using breathing techniques. Abigail said it is important for youth that have experienced or been affected by a loss to attend camp to learn these habits and to see “they aren’t the only kid in the world to have close losses in the family.”

Abigail, now a teacher’s aide at St. Marys, knew she wanted to remain involved with camp since attending as a camper had left such a huge impact on her life. This year marks her 5th year as being a camp volunteer. When asked why she wanted to come back as a volunteer Abigail stated she wanted to “truly give back to camp for what they gave me. Helping kids is my passion and this had one of the biggest impacts on my life.” She also enjoys volunteering because of the opportunity it gives her to pay it forward and help as many kids as she can through this process, and maybe seeing some of the campers come back one day as volunteers themselves. To Abigail, Camp Encourage is humbling and she wants to stay involved with it as long as she can. She said it best when she explained what Camp Encourage means to her, “Family. Although only one weekend, it is a family for a lifetime. It’s a safe place to let feelings out and a place to feel loved and accepted.”

This year’s camp will be held July 12-14 at The Spiritual Center Montezuma Retreat House in Montezuma, Ohio. Camp Encourage continues to strive to bring the children it serves the resources they need to fully express themselves and know that they are not alone in their grief. Our camp began in 2000 with 15 children and over the past eighteen years, we have served more than 730 youth in our communities. If you have any questions or would like more information regarding attending or volunteering for Camp Encourage please give us a call at 800-417-7535. Ashlee Slavin, Camp Director or Sarah DePoy, Assistant Camp Director would be happy to speak with you.

Greenville BPW Club to Choose Scholarship Finalists at March Meeting

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Greenville, OH. The Greenville Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW) Scholarship Committee will host their monthly dinner meeting on Thursday, March 14th.. The committee consists of Chair Kristi Strawser and members Vicki Cost, Brenda Miller, Sue Huston and Jenny Bruns. The meeting will be held in the Brick Room at the Brethren Retirement Community at 6:30 PM.

Committee member Brenda Miller will introduce Darke County high school students vying for the scholarships that are available from the local BPW Club this year. The students have met certain criteria to qualify for the scholarships and will give a short presentation on their accomplishments and goals. The Club will be awarding four $750 scholarships this year. Several fundraisers are held throughout the year to obtain money to grant the scholarships.

The Greenville BPW Club’s mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The cost of dinner is $12.00. For reservations please contact Vicki Cost by noon on Monday, March 11th at vcost@coxinsurance.com.

Edward Jones Investment Representatives Sponsor DCCA IRISH WAVE Fundraiser

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DCCA recognizes Edward Jones Investment Representatives left to right: Zachary Bruening, Todd Subler, Dave Connelly and Ryan Carpe for their contribution to DCCA and the arts in Darke County. 
Darke County Center for the Arts (DCCA) recognizes Edward Jones Investment representatives Zachary Bruening, Dave Connelly, Ryan Carpe, and Todd Subler, for their sponsorship of the Irish Wave fundraiser, set for Friday, March 15, 6:30 P.M. at Montage Cafe. As well as, the recent sold out A Taste of Wine & Jazz held in January. According to DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan, DCCA thanks Edward Jones Investment Representatives for their continued support of the arts in Darke County, we are looking forward to the 7th annual Irish Wave to be an opportunity to celebrate all things Irish.” “The monies generated will help enable our organization to bring high quality performing artists to our community,” concluded Jordan.

Music will be performed by Lone Raven, a group that DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins describes as one of the top bands in the Midwest. “Lone Raven performs an eclectic blend of traditional music as well as their own originals,” Rawlins explained. “They'll tear through peppy Irish reels, play haunting Gypsy fiddle tunes, and render soulful airs, leaving the audience breathless and begging for more,” Rawlins said.

Attendees can count on a diverse choice of beers; four tastes and a commemorative beer glass are included in the price of admission. For non-beer drinkers, other beverages including wine will be available; Irish-themed food prepared by Montage proprietors Aaron and Michele Cox will also be provided.

Additionally, the lucky winner of the “Off to the Isle” limited edition raffle will be announced at “Irish Wave.” Raffle tickets costing $100 each are now on sale for a chance to receive a trip for two to Ireland through AAA and Brendan Vacations, and can be purchased by contacting DCCA; only 75 raffle tickets will be sold.

Additional sponsors for “Irish Wave” who make possible the performance by Lone Raven are Second National Bank, Dr. Thomas and Suzanne Brown, The Andersons, Inc., and Midmark Corporation.

Tickets for “Irish Wave” are $40. Purchase yours today by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@darkecountyarts.org, or purchase on-line at DarkeCountyArts.org. Tickets are also available at Montage Cafe.

March events at Bradford Public Library

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Spring is just around the corner now and our staff have been busy planning some exciting events for you. Here is what we have coming up in March…

Can Your Fines will be on Monday, March 4. Our fine forgiveness event happens the first Monday of each month allowing our Bradford cardholders the chance to waive their overdue fines by bringing in nonperishable food items. One dollar for each item donated will be waived. You can also have fees for one lost item waived at the same rate. Please see our staff for details. All food collected will be donated to the Bradford Resource Center and will stay in Bradford. Last year we collected nearly 500 items to help those in need.

We are having a Winter Reading Challenge through March 11. Patrons can simply check out books at BPL, read them, fill out a slip with name, phone number and title of the book you read, and turn it in at the library. Prizes will be awarded March 11 with a drawing of our top 5 readers in each age division. Winter Reading Challenge is open for all ages!

Preschool Story Hour will begin a new session on Wild Animals starting February 26. This 6 week session will end on April 2. Story Hour is open for children 3 years old to those not yet in kindergarten. Sign-ups are required. Please come in or call to register your child.

STEAM workshop for homeschoolers will be held on March 14 from 10:15 to 11:30. These hands on workshops are suitable for students in grades 1-8. Registration is not required.

We have a new book club at Bradford Public Library! Rush’s Rowdy Readers focuses on young adults and adults with learning challenges but all are welcome to join. This enthusiastic group will meet every Thursday evening from 5-6. Current selection is “James and the Giant Peach.”

One Book, May Communities is a reading initiative for Northern Miami Valley residents. This is the first year for this community read! We invite you to read “The One” by John Marrs and participate in the events sponsored by several local libraries. A list of scheduled events is available at Bradford Public Library. The kick-off event, An Intro to Genetic Geneology, is scheduled for Friday March 1, 5 pm at New Madison Public Library. No registration is required to attend. Please contact the library to receive a copy of the book.

Bradford Public Library will also be hosting these regularly scheduled activities in March:

  • Cardio Drumming on Monday evenings 7-8 and Wednesday mornings from 9-10. Registration is required, participants provide their own equipment for these free classes.
  • Cozy Hen quilt Club will meet on March 7 at 6:30.
  • Senior Citizens will meet March 14 and 28 from 1:00-3:00 to play cards.
  • Bradford Historical Society will meet March 18 at 7:00 pm.
  • Knit and Crochet Club will be meeting on March 26 at 6:30.
  • Non-denominational Bible Study meets Sundays at 6:00.

Visit our webpage at www.bradfordpubliclibrary.org, like us on Facebook or Instagram or call 937-448-2612 for more information on these or any upcoming events!

Greenville City Schools – Reading Matters By Laura Bemus

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Like developing anything important, building better students requires providing the right environment. School is filled with teachers, staff, and materials that serve the purpose of encouraging students to learn. Frequently the question is asked by parents, grandparents and community members, “What can we do we do outside of the classroom to encourage learning?”

Having books at home encourages students to spend time reading, and learning. Richard Allington, author of Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor Achievement Gap, states that a handful of self-selected books could have a dramatic impact on a child’s learning over time.

In a multi-year study, Dr. Allington discovered that just adding 12 self-selected books to a home every summer can have the same learning impact that summer school offers. When books are convenient, it is more likely those books will be used by the students and parents. It creates a home environment that shows that reading is encouraged, especially when there are books within easy reach at all times.

Greenville City Schools have programs in place to give students continuous access to books and to help families develop home libraries, so students have easy access to books at all times, even when school is not in session. We have an annual Family Reading Night. This year it is scheduled for May 7th at Greenville Elementary School. It is the night that we kick off summer reading and provide books to students to encourage reading and having access to books at home. The PTA and community partner with the school district to make this event a successful night with nearly 100% participation.

Here are some reasons having access to books is important:

  • Topics of their choosing – Everyone is more likely to read books about topics that interest them. Teachers and parents work together to build a home library of books that will encourage children to read not only through the summer but also during the school year.
  • Familiarity with the material – Children enjoy things that are familiar. They love their favorite toys and clothes. That same love of the familiar can apply to books, especially a favorite character in a series. A beloved character can expose them to new vocabulary over the course of that series, elevating their understanding of the language.
  • Builds family literacy – Reading can be contagious. Once a family member develops a passion for reading, it can spread to siblings and others in the home. This has a multiplying effect of bringing more books into the home, creating a virtuous cycle of overall improved literacy for the family.
  • Improved academic performance – Research shows that more books in the home leads to greater academic performance. Owning 500 books can add 3.2 years of educational gains over time, according to Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. Even the addition of one book can have an impact on educational gains.

As families get ready for Kindergarten registration (April 2-4 at Greenville Elementary School), during days off of school, including snow days, summer and weekends, reading is the most important way to help students be successful for school and their future.

Local Maple Syrup at the Prairie

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The sugar shack is a great place to warm up this time of year at Shawnee Prairie.
After countless hours of collecting sap and boiling it down in the Sugar Shack, the Friends of Darke County Parks’ gift shop will have a limited supply of pure maple syrup ready for you to take home by the March 2nd festival. Believe it or not, maple syrup is a very healthy food. Maple sugar is 3 times as sweet as cane sugar, and it has fewer calories and a lower glycemic index. A tablespoon of maple syrup has around 40 calories where a tablespoon of cane sugar has around 55. As an added benefit, pure maple syrup is also an excellent source of the minerals manganese and zinc which are important immune system allies. Many of the commercial syrups available in the grocery store do not contain ANY maple syrup; their main ingredient is corn syrup with added maple flavoring.

All maple syrup available in the Nature Center’s Gift Shop was made from sap collected from trees here in Darke County and cooked by the staff and many volunteers of the park district in the Sugar Shack. Prices range from $8 to $10, so come out to the Nature Center gift shop on March 4th to purchase your pure maple syrup. Support the Darke County Park District and its mission of education, conservation, and preservation.

At the Maple Sugarin’ at the Prairie Festival on March 2nd, The Friends of the Parks will once again be serving up a hearty breakfast of waffles, sausage, juice, coffee, and of course pure Ohio maple syrup! Breakfast will be Saturday, March 2nd, from 8:00am-12:00pm. Tickets are available at the door on the day of the breakfast for only $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 3-12, or presale is available at the Nature Center from 9am-5pm Monday through Saturday. Educational tours will also be held throughout the morning.

For more information call the nature center at 937-548-0165 or email info@darkecountyparks.org.

Monday, February 25, 2019

State of the Heart Care 5K Set for April 6th at Eldora Speedway

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Walking with a Purpose

Do you find yourself saying 5Ks aren’t for you? That you could never run or even walk that far? Instead of throwing in the towel before even giving it a try, you may want to find some inspiration from a man named Harry Fetter. We first became aware of Harry a few years ago when he attended the Heart and Sole 5K with Al Groth-a volunteer, current board member, and past board President for State of the Heart Care. Al assisted Harry in walking the entire course, and this has since become an annual tradition for the two of them. What makes this truly special is that Harry is completely blind, and has been most of his life. Yet he doesn’t let this stop him from enjoying some of his favorite hobbies, which include walking five miles near his home in Winchester every morning.

Al said he has known the Fetter family for years, since he and Harry are neighbors and Al farms some land Harry owns. Harry enjoys spending time on his farm. His visual impairment does not stop him from tackling any task that may come his way. When he was still farming his own land Harry would drive the tractor with some assistance from his mother. Harry has painted his own house, and even continues to shovel his own drive when it snows. Although currently his favorite thing to work on at home may just be his garden, which Al says, “is the best garden you will see in the county and has the straightest rows.” Harry uses strings in his garden with knots in them to help him know where to set up and plant the rows.

When asked what he’s gained from their tradition of walking in the Heart and Sole 5K Al stated he and Harry have become closer friends. And according to Al, Harry really enjoys the opportunity of getting out of the house and spending the morning and afternoon of the race socializing. Harry has been an inspiration to Al, and Al plans to continue helping Harry stay involved with our 5K. We would love to see you come out and run or walk alongside Harry and Al this year on April 6th, 2019 at State of the Heart’s 6th annual Heart and Sole 5K at Eldora Speedway. You can find a link to register at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/NewWeston/HeartandSole5KOH. The Heart & Sole 5k is the second race in the Darke County Wellness Challenge. For information about the Challenge go to www.darkecountywellnesschallenge.com. For any business or individual interested in sponsoring the race, or for any race day questions, please contact Erica Wood, Race Director, at ewood@stateoftheheartcare.org or 937.548.2999.

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans at Library Film Series

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The Greenville Public Library Third Floor Film Series will screen the 1927 silent classic Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans in March. Directed by F.W. Murnau, Sunrise tells the story of a failing marriage that finds new hope and energy.

The film opens on an unnamed farming couple who are clearly miserable in their life together. The husband (George O'Brien) is having an affair with a "woman from the city" who is vacationing in the countryside. She convinces him to murder his wife (Janet Gaynor) and run away with her to the city.

He agrees, but when remorse stays his hand, he and his wife rekindle their love. The film is an exploration of love, grief, and the meaning of happiness, told in the gothic style Murnau helped pioneer as a major director in the German Expressionist movement.

Join us at the Library on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m., as we screen Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Free popcorn, candy, and soft drinks will be provided, and David Nilsen will lead a brief discussion after the film. We hope to see you there.

SPONSORS STILL NEEDED FOR BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE

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Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County's Community-based youth mentoring program participated in Bowl for Kids' Sake last year at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney and Treaty Lanes in Greenville. 
Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County’s largest fundraiser of the year, kicks off Friday, March 1, at Belmar Lanes in Sidney starting at 4:00pm, and at Treaty Lanes in Greenville starting at 5:30pm. This two-day bowl-a-thon will continue on Saturday, March 2 at both locations with Belmar bowling times starting at 11:30am and Treaty starting at 2pm. Bowling lane reservations are filling up quickly, so please call to reserve a lane for your team.

Participation is open to the public, and community members are asked to form teams consisting of 5 team members. Individual bowlers are asked to raise a minimum of $50, or $25 if under the age of 18, to be eligible to participate in this event. Contributions allow admission to the party, a Bowl for Kids’ Sake t-shirt, pizza, snacks, and the chance to win many door prizes.

The money raised goes directly towards establishing one-to-one mentoring relationships between positive role models and children in need. Last year alone the agency served nearly 600 children throughout Shelby and Darke County. All funds stay in the county in which they are raised! The goal for this year’s event is $53,000, and the agency is currently short of that goal by $22,075. Bowl for Kids’ Sake is an affordable advertising opportunity for local companies and businesses, not to mention a wonderful chance for employee team building. There are a variety of sponsor levels available.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit United Way partner agency. If you would like to become an event sponsor, donor, volunteer, or learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life, contact our local agency at 937-492-7611, 937-547-9622, or go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.

Tickets Available for First Friday Culinary Tour

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During the Culinary Tour, ticket holders enjoy the demonstrations and samples featured at downtown dining establishments. 
GREENVILLE, Ohio- If you love great food you won’t want to miss Main Street Greenville’s First Friday event in March, the Culinary Tour!

This ticketed event, held on Friday, March 1st, allows you to eat and sip your way through the urban-spirited district. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore downtown dining locations you have not yet tried or an old favorite you need to be reintroduced to.

Tickets for this guided tour are $25 each and are available now at the Darke County Welcome Center (421 S. Broadway). There are only 120 tickets available for this exclusive event, so get yours before they're gone!

The tour will consist of small groups, led by energetic tour guides. Each group will visit the businesses featured on the tour, enjoying a sample from each location.

The tour will begin promptly at 6:00 pm, allowing plenty of time to shop and explore in the historic district at the end of the tour. If you purchase tickets, it is very important you arrive in time for the tour to begin exactly at 6:00 pm. To remain fair to the other ticket holders, groups will be unable to wait for those who arrive late. Each ticket will list a starting location, based upon which group you have been placed with. Report to the starting location listed on your ticket to join your tour guide and group.

First Friday events are presented by Main Street Greenville, a non-profit organization that supports downtown Greenville, Ohio through stimulating and supporting revitalization efforts, historic preservation and economic growth. Learn more about the organization on their website, www.mainstreetgreenville.org, or follow them on social media. You can contact them at info@mainstreetgreenville.org or 937-548-4998.

Coldwater Library Author Visit

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Camp Canopy Registration is Open for 2019

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COLUMBUS, OH – Registration is now open for the popular Camp Canopy, which runs from June 9-14, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Coordinators for Camp Canopy are developing brand-new classes and new adventure-themed recreational activities, in addition to the traditional learning topics and fun activities from previous years, according to Jeremy Scherf, camp co-director and service forester with the ODNR Division of Forestry. Topics for Camp Canopy this year include tree identification, wildlife management, silviculture and invasive species.

“This year’s camp is going to be better than ever,” said Scherf. “We are excited to share new knowledge and outdoor skills with the students, focusing on the wonders of forests and wildlife in Ohio.”

Students who have completed the eighth grade through high school seniors graduating the year of camp are invited to attend Camp Canopy, which was previously known as the Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp. The camp will be held at FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake in Carroll County.

For more information about Camp Canopy, visit their website at campcanopy.com. The Darke Soil and Water Conservation District might also be able to help. Please call 937-548 -1715 extension 3 for more details about possible camp cost assistance and other information.

The ODNR Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Instagram at @odnrforestry instagram.com/odnrforestry).

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

DCRTA to meet on March 21

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The first 2019 general membership meeting/luncheon will be held on March 21 in the Brick Room of the BRC, Greenville, at 11:30 a.m. The program, “Healthy Eating for Today’s Seniors”, will be presented by Lacie Grosch, Registered Dietician from Family Health. Cost of the lunch is $8.00 and checks are payable to DCRTA. Reservations must be made to Jean Kelly by March 14, 2019. The menu will consist of homemade soup of the day, 2 cookies, chips, and a box lunch of: club croissant OR club wrap with ham, turkey, cheese, bacon, tomato, and lettuce, OR a chicken Caesar salad. Please indicate your choice of luncheon item when you make your reservation!

Make reservations using any of this contact info:

Jean Kelly, 606 W. South St., Arcanum, OH 45304
937-423-0274 (leave message if no answer & note this is a phone # change from previously) mjkelly@woh.rr.com










DCCA PRESENTS GREAT LAKES TROUBADOUR LEE MURDOCK

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Great Lakes troubadour Lee Murdock will sing seafaring
songs and share stories of ships that go down and ships that come
in when he performs at Arcanum Historical Society’s
Wayne Trail House on Thursday, March 7; a part of
Darke County Center for the Arts’ Coffeehouse Series.
Great Lakes troubadour Lee Murdock will sing seafaring songs and share stories of ships that go down and ships that come in when he performs at Arcanum Historical Society’s Wayne Trail House on Thursday, March 7; a part of Darke County Center for the Arts’ Coffeehouse Series, the show starts at 7 p.m. “Lee has uncovered a boundless body of music and stories about the Great Lakes,” said DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins. “These timeless tales of hard work and hard living epitomize the power of music to touch hearts, souls, and minds with universal truths,” Mr. Rawlins explained.

According to the Artistic Director, Lee Murdock is a fluent instrumentalist who combines ragtime, Irish, blues and folk styles with his flair for storytelling in songs. “Lee says that he looks for songs with interesting stories that will not only appeal to folk music enthusiasts but also to people who think they don’t like folk music,” stated Mr. Rawlins. “His talents are perfectly suited to our intimate Coffeehouse shows which are similar to sitting in a comfortable living room with friends and neighbors who interact with each other and the performer,” Mr. Rawlins concluded.

DCCA’s Coffeehouse Series which presents artists performing in an inviting social setting where food and drink are also available is sponsored by Rodney Oda, Steve and Eileen Litchfield, and The Andersons. Additionally, the Ohio Arts Council helps fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. DCCA also receives operating support from the Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial as well as funding from the Ketrow Foundation, Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund, and the John R. and Miriam H. Knick Fund of Darke County Foundation. DCCA membership contributions also help support this series.

Tickets for this concert by Lee Murdock are $10, and can be reserved by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@darkecountyarts.org; tickets are also available online at www.darkecountyarts.org and will be sold at the door if any remain by showtime. Mr. Murdock will also be performing the music and history of the Great Lakes for fourth through sixth graders in all local public schools March 4 through March 8; these performances are free and open to the public.

Arcanum Trojan Homecoming Event 2019

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The Arcanum Alumni Association cordially invites all alumni to the Trojan Alumni Homecoming (formerly called Arcanum-Butler Alumni Banquet) to come enjoy a good meal and the fellowship of classmates and friends in a relaxed, casual atmosphere on April 13, 2019, no suits, ties or high heels necessary. Under the new name and format, hosted by the Arcanum Alumni Advisory Committee and the AHS Class of 94, classmates are invited to come early and take a tour of the new school. Honored classes are 75th year – class of 1944; 50th year – class of 1969; 25th year – class of 1994; and the current senior class of 2019. Additionally, the Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society at 123 W. George Street in Arcanum will also be open on this day from 1 to 4 p.m. for those who may wish to view Arcanum memorabilia, displays, and view the lovely restoration of the house.

The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with light appetizers and registration; tours will be available to anyone wishing to see the new school. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. served by Catering by Michael. The menu will consist of Appetizers, Italian salad, fired chicken or roast beef, potato, green beans, and dinner roll, followed by an assortment of cakes and pies for dessert. Drinks will include coffee (regular and decaf), sweet iced tea, lemonade, and ice water. Entertainment will be provided by the “Two for the Road” – one member of this duo is the grandson of the former AHS Principal and Band Director Bill Combs. Speaker for the evening will be Class of 69 grad, Mr. Dave Gray. This is the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Championship State Basketball team and the State Track Team.

Invitations were mailed last week to honored classes and also emailed if the alumni association has an address on file for you. The invitation is also available on the school website at http://www.arcanum-butler.k12.oh.us/alumni.aspx. The website will also allow anyone to register their address. Everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are $22 per person; reservations are due by April 1st. Chairpersons for this event are Linda (Yount) Newbauer (Class of 65) and Tom Fourman (Class of 63) leading the committee of many Arcanum Alumnus including members of the 1969 and the 1994 classes.

To date, the Arcanum, Alumni Scholarship fund has provided scholarships and student support worth over $100,000 to 153 promising AHS graduates who demonstrated financial need, academic promise, and community involvement since 1966. The 2018 scholarship recipients were Samantha Aukerman, Madison Goubeaux, Paige Kreusch, Julia McCullough, and Sarah Riley. Again this year, the group plans to honor five seniors with a $1,000 scholarship. The Arcanum Alumni asks that you consider sending a donation to the Scholarship Fund to further the education of our current senior class. The scholarships are funded by local businesses and the alumni base. Donations are encouraged and accepted by Nancy (Perrin) Ady, 108 Sierra Lane, Arcanum, Ohio 45304. If you have any questions you may contact Nancy via email at neady@woh.rr.com or phone at 937/269-6318.

Again this year A Distinguished Alumni and an Honorary Trojan will be inducted into the Trojan Hall of Fame at the April Homecoming. Nominations for this award are accepted year-round. The deadline for each year is February 1st. Applications can be found under the Alumni page, under Alumni News on the school’s website at www.arcanum-butler.k12.oh.us. Applications received after the 1st of February will be considered for the following year. Applications can be sent to Arcanum-Butler Schools, Board of Education Office, 2011 Trojan Avenue, Arcanum, Ohio 45304.

Members of the Hall of Fame that began in 2016 are: Mrs. Joyce Colville, Mr. Keith Furlong, Mr. Richard Mathias, Dr. Jeremy Mills, Mrs. Saundra Finkbine, Mr. Carl “Bud” Gray, and Mr. Eugene Cullers.

Still trying to decide whether or not to attend? Maybe you would love to see some old friends but are hesitant because you need to lose 50 pounds and get a hair transplant first – not to worry, your friends from high school are all thinking the same thing! Reconnecting is good and powerful. You realize some of your friends you grew up with are pretty darn cool, still to this day. It is hard to believe that you made it through those tumultuous years. Remember the too-fast car rides? The tests you forgot to study for? The teacher who insulted you?

You talk to a classmate who had a really tough time growing up, and you knew nothing about it. You see the pain... and you had no idea. You miss the friends who are not attending but are still around, and wonder where they are or how they are. You see old friends in a new light, a wiser light. You realize how much wiser you are today. You laugh a lot. Your emotions surprise you. You are exhausted from all the energy it takes to see everyone.

Guess what - the peer pressure is gone. You see your classmates now as you saw them years ago. They don’t look old; you still see them as 18. You realize life is short. Enjoy the moments now. You can be yourself. You don’t have to prove anything. Remember you thought you were invincible? You get to share pictures of your grandchildren, and talk about this new journey. You wonder, “Will I ever see some of these people again?”

You get to hear all that great music that you loved, and you remember what those songs meant to you. And you may even dance. Have a great time and remember as a member of the alumni at good ole’ AHS – we are always “Loyal and True”.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Wayne Hospital Auxiliary to Sponsor "Books are Fun" Book Sale

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The Wayne Hospital Auxiliary will sponsor the 2019 "Books Are Fun" Book Sale on Monday, March 4, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Tuesday, March 5, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Book Sale will take place in the Wayne HealthCare Main Lobby. Come check out the great books at awesome prices!

Friday, February 22, 2019

Greenville BPW’s Desteni Mason Promotes ‘Rising Above’ Program for Women

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Pictured left to right: BPW members:  Annette Sanders, Susan Fowble, Speaker Desteni Mason, members Melissa Barhorst, Peggy Foutz and Sue Huston.
Greenville, Ohio February 22, 2019. Desteni Mason was the featured speaker at the Greenville Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) meeting on February 14th. The meeting was held at the Brethren Retirement Community and hosted by the Public Relations Committee consisting of Chair Susan Fowble and members Peggy Foutz, Annette Sanders, Melissa Barhorst and Sue Huston.

Committee Member Sue Huston introduced Desteni Mason who is following her life-long passion of helping people ‘be better and do more than they thought they could ever do’. She co-founded KTL Performance Mortgage with John and Kristina Heath in Greenville in 2003. She completed her undergraduate studies at Urbana University, achieving dual Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and Human Service Leadership. She also earned her Master’s Degree in Business from Bluffton University while growing her company to one of the top achievers in Ohio and Indiana. In 2015 and 2018 she was named one of Mortgage Professional America Magazines ‘Elite Women in Mortgage’. In 2016 Desteni was awarded the honor of being named one of Mortgage Professional America Magazines ’42 Young Guns’.

Mason opened her talk on the story of her life and struggles of her childhood and being a child of divorced parents with no plan. Her father instilled a strong work ethic. She believes everyone should have a financial and personal plan. She and her husband (prior to marriage) made a five year plan. Their power is their plan! They are married and revise the plan every year. They are debt free and celebrate their successes. She now is helping other women with her Rise Above on-line program. Mason reiterated from her presentation: It’s your life. It’s your Money and it’s all in your control. It doesn’t matter what your life looks like now! With the right planning and the right mindset…You can Rise Above anything. A free tool ‘The Money Manifesto’ is part of the Rise Above program.

To learn more about Desteni and her Rising Above programs for women, visit her website at www.destenimason.com and follow her story on Facebook at
facebook.com/destenimason

The Greenville Business & Professional Women’s Club is the leading advocate for working women achieving equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education, and information. The local Club meets once a month to present programs to provide members with professional development programs, networking, participation in grassroots activism, and opportunities to support scholarships for the young women of Darke County.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Greenville BPW Club or becoming a member can contact Membership Chair Sonya Crist at 937/423-3657 or sonyacrist@gmail.com.

Retirement of Wreaths at Greenville Union Cemetery

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Despite the frigid weather, the retirement of approx. 300 Wreaths Across America wreaths at Greenville Union Cemetery took place on Jan. 21. Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR would like to thank the community and all the donors for their support in this patriotic event.

On Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 12:00 PM, Wreaths Across America will be at Greenville Union Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.

The chapter is now taking donations for the Wreaths Across America Program that will take place at Greenville Union Cemetery on December 14, 2019. More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/fortgreenevilledar/.

To donate a wreath go to https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/search?searchType=group and sponsor a wreath there. (Type in FORT GREENEVILLE DAR or OH0151P, choose Greenville Union Cemetery.) If you would like to sponsor a wreath for a specific veteran, please contact Fort GreeneVille Daughters of the American Revolution on Facebook, any Fort GreeneVille member or email FtGVille@gmail.com

National Wreaths Across America Day is a free event and open to all people. For more information on Wreaths Across America, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Rodney Oda Sponsors DCCA Sold Out Holiday Special Event The Texas Tenors & Coffee House Series

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DCCA Sponsor Rodney Oda with Keith Rawlins, Artistic Director and Andrea Jordan, Executive Director of the Darke County Center For the Arts.
Darke County Center for the Arts recognizes Rodney Oda for his contributions to the DCCA 2018-2019 season. Oda is an Angel member of DCCA, and sponsors DCCA's Coffee House Series as well as the recent Special Event holiday performance of The Texas Tenors "Deep in the Heart of Christmas" at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville on Sunday, December 9th.

“On behalf of Darke County Center for the Arts, I want to express our appreciation of Rodney Oda and his patronage to the arts in Darke County. Oda has been long time supporter of DCCA, and it’s mission of providing cultural enrichment and the preservation of St. Clair Memorial Hall as an important cultural center for the community,” stated Andrea Jordan, DCCA Executive Director. "Darke County is fortunate to have a vibrant arts presence, thanks largely to individual supporters, including Rodney Oda , who help make our community a great place to live."

The Texas Tenors is an award-winning trio, a top four finalist in the fourth season of “America’s Got Talent” and the highest ranking vocal group in the entire history of the show combine country, classical and pop influences in their highly popular performances, which attract enthusiastic crowds around the nation. Their popularity is reflected locally, as the Special Holiday Event sold out in record time. “DCCA is thrilled to be able to bring this delightful and entertaining show to our community.”shared DCCA Artitic Director Keith Rawlins “What a wonderful gift to the community! Rodney Oda’s generosity is inspiring,” continued Rawlins, “We appreciate Oda’s long term support of the arts, and eagerness to give back to our community,” he concluded.

Oda also sponsors DCCA’s Coffeehouse Series which presents artists performing in an inviting social setting where food and drink are also available, in smaller venues across Darke County. Upcoming Coffee House Series events include returning Darke County favorites, Singer/songwriter Lisa Biales and her trio at The Bistro Off Broadway in Greenville on Thursday, February 28 “Lisa’s past appearances in our community have earned her a well-deserved enthusiastic local following,” stated DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins. “Her genuine warmth and friendliness establishes a rapport with her audience that enhances listeners’ glowing response to her versatile voice and amazing guitar skills, making for a memorable experience for all concerned,” Mr. Rawlins explained. As well as Great Lakes troubadour Lee Murdock. Murdock will sing seafaring songs and share stories of ships that go down and ships that come in when he performs at Arcanum Historical Society’s Wayne Trail House on Thursday, March 7. “Lee has uncovered a boundless body of music and stories about the Great Lakes,” said DCCA Artistic Director Keith Rawlins. “These timeless tales of hard work and hard living epitomize the power of music to touch hearts, souls, and minds with universal truths,” Mr. Rawlins explained. Tickets for Coffee House Series shows are $10 for DCCA Members and start at 7 p.m.

DCCA presents and promotes performing and fine arts encouraging cultural enrichment. For information on upcoming events, further information on the Darke County Center for the Arts or to purchase tickets, contact the DCCA office (937) 547-0908 or visit their website at www.darkecountyarts.org.

Upcoming spaghetti dinner at Greenville Masonic Lodge #143

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CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT DCCA’S “IRISH WAVE” FUNDRAISER

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Darke County Center for the Arts will host “Irish Wave” at Montage Cafe in downtown Greenville on Friday, March 15; music will be performed by Lone Raven, a popular Ohio-based band known for its eclectic blend of traditional Irish music and original tunes.  
Darke County Center for the Arts will host “Irish Wave” at Montage Cafe in downtown Greenville on Friday, March 15; an annual DCCA fundraiser, “Irish Wave” features Irish music, Irish food, and an assortment of beers. According to DCCA Executive Director Andrea Jordan, the proceeds will benefit DCCA's many programs including Arts In Education and the Family Theatre Series. “We promise a good time for a good cause, a win-win situation for everyone,” Ms. Jordan said. The fund-raising party begins at 6:30 p.m.

Additionally, the lucky winner of the “Off to the Isle” limited edition raffle will be announced at “Irish Wave.” Raffle tickets costing $100 each are now on sale for a chance to receive a trip for two to Ireland through AAA and Brendan Vacations, and can be purchased by contacting DCCA; only 75 raffle tickets will be sold.

Music will be performed by Lone Raven, a popular Ohio-based band known for its eclectic blend of traditional Irish music and original tunes. In addition to the diverse choice of beers offered for tasting, attendees will receive a commemorative beer glass to take home. For non-beer drinkers, other beverages including wine will be available. Sponsors for “Irish Wave” who make possible the performance by Lone Raven are Second National Bank, Edward Jones Investment representatives Dave Connelly, Ryan Carpe, and Todd Subler, Dr. Thomas and Suzanne Brown, The Andersons, Inc., and Midmark Corporation.

Tickets for “Irish Wave” are $40. Reserve yours by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or dcca@darkecountyarts.org, or purchase on-line at DarkeCountyArts.org. Tickets are also available at Montage Cafe.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Sure Shot Tap House Coming Later This Year to Downtown Greenville

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A new dining and drinking experience is on its way to downtown Greenville, as soon as the fall of 2019...

Personally, I can't wait to see this one completed. It's going in the old chamber of commerce building at the south end of Broadway. That means that in the relatively near future, the south end will be home to the new YOLO park as well as this new establishment.

You can like Sure Shot's facebook page and also sign up for emailed updates on the project by visiting http://sureshottaphouse.com.

Shrine Hosts Italian Night

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MARIA STEIN, Ohio (February 14, 2019) –On Sunday February 10th, Matt Hess, Director of Hospitality & Ministry at Maria Stein Shrine, shared highlights from his “Roman Holiday” last September during Italian Night at the Shrine. Despite the snowy weather over fifty people attended the special event, which included dinner and a presentation.

The evening started with delicious food from Bella’s Italian Grille in Celina. Guests enjoyed Caesar Salad, bruschetta, Italian vegetables, chicken in garlic cream sauce and a rustic Italian bake paired with some of Bella’s house wine, followed by a delicious cannoli dessert.

The presentation, led by Hess, featured various sights around Rome. These included ancient monuments, ornate basilicas, off the beaten path churches, and sites pertaining to St. Gaspar and the Society of the Precious Blood.

The event was held in the Shrine’s newest space, The Upper Room. This unique space is available for party or event rental. A free art exhibit titled “Throne of Wisdom”, from Via Lucia, is currently on display in the room and will be available for viewing through June of 2019.

The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics provides faith nourishment and spiritual renewal through opportunities for prayer and pilgrimage and inspiration from the lives of the saints. People from around the world visit the shrine to explore and enjoy this environment rich in holiness and history. The Shrine is located at 2291 St. John’s Rd. in Maria Stein. To learn more about the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, visit mariasteinshrine.org.

Rotary Club of Greenville Accepting Applications for Grant Funding

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Once again, the Rotary Club of Greenville will allocate grant funding to non-profit, charitable organizations for general operating needs or other programs related to your organization’s mission.

If you wish to apply for grant funding, please contact, Lindsey Gehret, Committee Chair, at 564.3016 or email, lgehret@versaillesrehab.com , for an application or any other questions you may have. Please note the application deadline is April 15, 2019. All applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding.

Requests are reviewed by the club’s Charitable Committee and are then approved by the club’s Board of Directors. While we strive to provide support for all organizations who apply, please keep in mind that not all requests can be met. If your organization received funds in past years, it is not guaranteed that you will receive funds in the future, as all requests are reviewed new each year.

Funds distributed to organizations are made possible by the Greenville Rotary Lemon Shakes sold at The Great Darke County Fair, as well as our Election Machine Project.

ANNA BIER GALLERY PRESENTS SECOND ANNUAL ELEMENTARY ART EXHIBIT

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This past Sunday, February 10, marked the Second Annual Elementary Art Exhibit in the Anna Bier Gallery. There were nearly 50 entries submitted collectively by Greenville, Versailles, St. Mary’s, DeColores Montessori and the Homeschool Community. The open house took place on Sunday between 12-2pm with the award ceremony held at 1pm. The exhibit reflected the works of children between Kindergarten and Sixth grades and their work did not disappoint. It was such a beautiful display of creative talent across the board and despite the weather, parents, teachers and patrons came out and filled the gallery with overwhelming support. We would like to encourage all Darke County schools to participate in the future as this has been a wonderful platform for young artists to express their creativity and share their work with our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to put on such a wonderful exhibit and would like to offer a special thank you to the Darke County Foundation, the Ketrow Foundation and all of our gallery members for their continued support.

The gallery invited two outside judges to take on the difficult task of award placement for each grade. We would like to congratulate the following place-earning artists: (2D Category) KINDERGARTEN: Ashlyn Gibson/1st Place; Sadie Schilling/2nd Place; Charlie Hunkin/Honorable Mention – FIRST GRADE: Troy Gehret/1st Place; Claire Poeppleman/2nd Place; Sofia Royer/3rd Place; Leah Rindler/Honorable Mention – SECOND GRADE: Drew Porter/1st Place; Xander Jones/2ndPlace; Kyra Bergman/3rd Place; Tara Seger/Honorable Mention; THIRD GRADE: Scarlet McNulty/1st Place; Kayla Jay/2nd Place; Trina Tuente/3rd Place; Erin Winner/Honorable Mention; FOURTH GRADE: Kayla Magoto/1st Place; Ava Rismiller/2nd Place; Sami Elam/3rd Place; FIFTH GRADE: Zachary Ward/1st Place; Haley Mescher/2nd Place; Rachel Wright/3rd Place; Brooklyn Kreusch/Honorable Mention; SIXTH GRADE: Jeremy Reece/1st Place; Liam Jasenski/2nd Place; Tyler Barga/3rd Place; Kassondra Gambill/Honorable Mention - (3D Category) Tessa Beatty/1st Place; Madison Billig/2nd Place; Elijah Bowers/3rd Place; Ella Bowers/Honorable Mention - BEST OF SHOW: Space Bubbles by Scarlet McNulty.

This exhibit will run through March 2019. The Anna Bier Gallery exhibits and events are made possible through the gracious support of Second National Bank, Darke County Endowment for the Arts, Ketrow Foundation, Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund, Harry D. and Esther Stephens Memorial, Darke County Foundation, and through all the generous contributions of our loyal members and sponsors. We thank them. All exhibits are free to the public. The Gallery will be open every day by appointment. Please contact Tamera McNulty, Executive Director, at 937-564-5863 to visit the gallery or for any questions. You may also visit us on Facebook for more information.

SARA Title III Chemical Reporting Deadline March 1, 2019

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The Darke County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in conjunction with the Darke County EMA would like to remind Darke County companies/facilities that the SARA Title III (Emergency Planning Community Right to Know Act) chemical inventory reporting deadline is fast, approaching. The annual reports are due to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) c/o Ohio EPA, the Darke County LEPC and your jurisdictional fire department by March 1, 2019. A filing fee is associated with the annual chemical inventory reporting and is to be submitted to the SERC only. Approximately eighty percent (80%) of the total fees generated under this program are redistributed back to the local LEPC for administrative costs and training of our first responders. These reports are required by Ohio Revised Code 3750 and financial penalties can be imposed, up to $10,000 per day, if you are required to file and do not.

Who should file? The owner or operator of a company/ facility must submit a report when all the following conditions are met:


  1. Facility is subject to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard; and
  2. Facility uses, produces, and/or stores a Hazardous Chemical and/or has an “Extremely Hazardous Substances” above the listed Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ ); and
  3. The quantity of one of the Hazardous Chemicals and/or an “Extremely Hazardous Substance is in excess of the “Threshold Quantity” (TQ). For Hazardous Chemicals, the TQ is 10,000 pounds or more for any given day (Examples include, but are not limited to, gasoline, diesel fuel, Kerosene, Propane, Toluene, etc.); For Extremely Hazardous Substances the TPQ is chemical specific for 359 listed chemicals and varies from 1 to 500 pounds. Examples include, but are not limited to, chlorine, ammonia, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.

Complete information is available at: http://epa.ohio.gov/Portals/27/serc/SERC_Manual.pdf

It is the responsibility of each business to know if they meet the above criteria for reporting. Please remember this information is vital in the emergency planning and response for Darke County and all of its residents.

More information is available by contacting Darke County LEPC at 937-548-1444.

Conservation Camp Counselors Needed

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Darke Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is seeking responsible, energetic high school and college students to serve as counselors for the 1st Annual Conservation Day Camp at Chenoweth Trails on June 12th and 13th. These counselors will serve as guides for the groups of elementary students or as helpers for one of the activity stations. The goal of this camp is to provide students the opportunity to get outside and learn about how their daily actions affect wildlife, water, soil and the people around them.

Serving as a camp counselor is a way to develop leadership, responsibility and teamwork skills. It is also a great way to build a leadership portfolio for future goals such as 4-H Camp Counselor, Junior Fair Board member and applications for college, scholarships and jobs. Application forms are available online at www.darkeswcd.com or at the Darke SWCD office located at 1117 Southtowne Ct. in Greenville. The application deadline is April 19th at 4:00pm.

For questions, please contact the Darke SWCD office at 937.548.1715 ext. 3 or email Elizabeth.farver@darkeswcd.com.

Guest Speaker - DNA Tests & Genealogy Research

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New Madison Public Library is proud to host Kellen Freeman from Delaware County District Library, on Fri. March 1 @ 5:00PM.

Freeman will share how DNA tests can enhance your genealogy research. He will compare feedback from the top four companies as well as discuss some of the pros and cons of sending your DNA out into the world of genealogy research. This event kicks off our ONE BOOK; MANY COMMUNITIES events and is being held in conjunction with the following libraries in Darke and Miami County: Arcanum, Bradford, Edison State Comm. College, J.R. Clarke, Milton-Union, Piqua, Tipp City, and Troy-Miami County. Please join us at 142 S. Main St. New Madison, OH 45346. Light refreshments will be provided by Friends of NMPL.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Craft Beer Series at Library

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Winter is the perfect time of year to enjoy porters and stouts. These styles feature dark malts that evoke coffee, chocolate, and other comforting, warming flavors, and they can be the perfect companion to a cold winter night.

As we will discuss in this class, porters were the first style of beer to be brewed on an industrial scale during the early days of the Industrial Revolution, and they were once the most popular beers in the world. Our class will look at the history of porters, learn how they evolved into stouts, and unpack what sets the two families of beer apart from each other. We will then taste through 5 excellent examples of porter and stout substyles.

These Craft Beer Education Series classes will be lead by beer journalist and Certified Cicerone David Nilsen and will be held on February 28 and March 7 (identical classes). These classes are free, but seats are limited and registration is required. Please call the Greenville Public Library at 937-548-3915 to reserve your seat. We hope to see you there!

On the Trail: Weather by the Sky

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Hot or cold; wet or dry; all is revealed with a glance at the sky! Find out if cows really lie down before it rains or if pink skies at night really guarantee sailors’ delight. Learn how to tell the weather forecast, identify pressure fronts, and predict storms by keeping a head in the clouds. Join us at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center Thursday, February 21 at 6:30PM for this informative session to help your future trail-time run more smoothly. Registration is required for this free event.

Maple Sugarin’ at the Prairie

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The sap is flowing and the fire is roaring in the sugar shack; that means it’s time to enjoy nature’s sweet treat! Saturday, March 2nd beginning at 8:00am is Maple Sugarin’ at the Prairie!

The Friends of the Parks will once again be serving up a hearty breakfast of waffles, sausage, juice, coffee, and of course pure Ohio maple syrup! Breakfast will be Saturday, March 2nd, from 8:00am-12:00pm, and carryout is available. Tickets are available at the door on the day of the breakfast for only $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 3-12, or pre-sale is available at the Nature Center from 9am-5pm Monday through Saturday.

This festival at Shawnee Prairie Preserve offers guided tours through history and science to learn the process of turning sap into syrup. After the tour through the woods, visit the sugar shack and warm up in the steam-filled evaporator room as the sap spends countless hours on a boil to reduce it down to syrup. Then head out to the log house and blacksmith shop to visit with the pioneers from two-hundred years ago and learn historical maple sugar uses. Finally, complete the day at the Nature Center where the gift shop and bake sale will be full of maple goodies for anyone’s sweet tooth!

If you have any questions about this or any other program offered by the Darke County Parks, please call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165 or visit the website at www.darkecountyparks.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County Secures Local Funding for Purchase of Healthy Snacks for After School Programs

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County's Executive Director,
Jennifer Bruns, accepts a check from Lauren Henry,
Wilson HealthCare Foundation's Director.
Wayne HealthCare Foundation recently partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County to assist with the purchase of healthy snacks for their after school Big Buddies programs. Big Buddies is a nine-month commitment where high school students volunteer two times per month to mentor elementary students. During these meetings, high school students, under the supervision of Big Brothers Big Sisters staff, work with one or two children on different educational and recreational activities. This year’s curriculum is entitled “Mindfulness: Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” and focuses on brain development, social & emotional growth, nutrition, and exercise. In Darke County, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts Big Buddies programs at Ansonia, Greenville, and Versailles schools.

High school mentoring programs have become a widespread component of many nationally affiliated Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies. Studies prove that children who spend time with a positive role model are more likely to become healthy, productive adults. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a vision for all children to achieve success in life. Their mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. By partnering with parents, guardians, volunteers, and others in the community; BBBS is held accountable for each child in their program achieving higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors, and educational success. The Big Buddies program has proven beneficial not only for the “Littles”, but for high school volunteers as well.

Wayne HealthCare Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that began in 2007 in order to perpetuate and advance the highest quality of healthcare services in Darke County. Their mission is to provide quality care and promote wellness close to home. It is a mission, that at the heart, strives to strengthen community health. Providing funding for healthy and nutritious snacks for Big Buddies is one step toward achieving this mission.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit United Way partner agency with over 25 children waiting to be matched with a caring adult. If you would like to become an event sponsor, donor, volunteer, or learn more about how you can make a difference in a child’s life, contact your local agency at 937-547-9622 or go to www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.

Garst Museum Hosts February Speakers Series

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Dr. William Trollinger
On Sunday, February 24, 2019, at 2 p.m., Garst Museum welcomes Dr. William Trollinger from the University of Dayton as a guest speaker. Dr. Trollinger’s program “Terrorizing Immigrants and Catholics: The Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s” will reflect on this sensitive and difficult time in American history.

Having virtually disappeared in the late nineteenth century, the Ku Klux Klan exploded onto the national scene in the early 1920s with perhaps 5 million members at its peak. While the original Klan concentrated its animus against the newly freed slaves, this “second” KKK had an expanded list of social scapegoats that included immigrants, Jews, and Catholics. While the original Klan was based primarily in the South, the second Klan had its greatest numerical strength in the West and Midwest. In fact, Ohio may have had more KKK members than any other state in the Union with an estimated 400,000 Klansmen and Klanswomen.

In this presentation, we will explore why the Klan was so strong in Ohio, what activities the Ohio Klan engaged in, and in what ways the folks targeted by the Klan fought back. Darke county was not immune to Klan activities. On June 14, 1923, there was a Ku Klux Klan rally at the Darke County Fair Grounds. Garst Museum has photos documenting this rally. Discrimination and hatred towards ethnic groups, Jews, and Catholics were not uncommon in the 1920s. Is history repeating itself?

Dr. William Trollinger is professor of history in the History and Religious Studies Departments at the University of Dayton. He is also director of UD’s Core Integrated Studies Program, which features an innovative five-semester interdisciplinary curriculum. He earned his B.A. in English and History from Bethel College (MN) and his M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of WisconsinMadison. His research has focused on twentieth- and twenty-firstcentury American Protestantism, particularly fundamentalism, creationism, and Protestant print culture. His publications include God’s Empire: William Bell Riley and Midwestern Fundamentalism (University of Wisconsin Press, 1990) and Righting America at the Creation Museum (John Hopkins University Press, 2016); the latter he co-authored with his wife, Susan Trollinger. He has also done significant research on the Ku Klux Klan in Ohio in the 1920s; one result of this work is “Hearing the Silence: The University of Dayton, the Ku Klux Klan, and Catholic Universities and Colleges” (American Catholic Studies, Spring 2013) for which he won the 2014 Catholic Press Award for Best Essay in a Scholarly Magazine. He enjoys speaking on the 1920s Ohio Ku Klux Klan.

All Garst lectures are free and open to the public. However, regular admission will apply to tour the museum, which includes the outstanding National Annie Oakley Center, Crossroads of Destiny, Lowell Thomas exhibit, and Longtown display. Funding for this program was made possible, in part, by the Harry D. Stephens Memorial Foundation and by the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Director John Vehre Retires

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The Greenville Public Library staff and board held an Open House for retiring Director John Vehre on Friday January 18th with many well-wishers stopping by to chat and enjoy refreshments. State Representative Susan Manchester presented John with a proclamation celebrating his career and accomplishments.

A dinner was then held at the Bistro where both current and former staff and board members congratulated John and regaled him with funny stories and heartfelt praise. The highlight of the evening was “burning the mortgage” where John lit a copy of the loan paperwork to symbolize paying off the building expansion loan in record time.

One Book, Many Communities at the APL

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The Arcanum Public Library, along with several other libraries in the area, is participating in the reading initiative One Book, Many Communities. The book, The One, by John Marrs has been chosen as the selection for 2019. There will be plenty of programs scheduled in the upcoming months based on the book, held at various locations. At the Arcanum location, there will be a book discussion in March and a program on DNA testing and ethics in April. Come on in to get a copy of the book, and a schedule of events.

There are weekly children’s programs at the library. StoryTime for preschoolers is held on Tuesdays at 10:00. Children listen to stories, sing songs, make a craft, and more. Kids in grade school can come to SPARK after school on Tuesdays from 3:45 – 4:45 to play games, meet with friends, and learn something new.

An adult coloring session on will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 4:00. Come in to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of coloring with other adults. No registration is required. The book club will be meeting on Tuesday, March 12 at 5:30. Newcomers are always welcome to join this lively group as they discuss the book of the month. This is also a drop-in program.

The adult winter reading challenge is off to a great start. It runs through March 31st. Each title a patron reads will be an entry to monthly drawings and a grand prize. Come in to the library for details and to get an entry log sheet.

Did you know the library has an App? You can search for items, check your account, place holds, and have a digital copy of your card. It is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Search for “COOL Libraries”.

Patrons can call the library for more information at 937-692-8484, or check out the website at www.arcanumpubliclibrary.org. The library can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE IS SET FOR MARCH 1 & 2

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Big Sister, Tami Fogle, poses with her Little Sister, Kayleigh Turner, during last year's Bowl for Kids' Sake at Bel-Mar Lanes.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is gearing up for their annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake which will be held March 1 & 2 at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney and Treaty Lanes in Greenville. Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a nationally-recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters event and open to the public. Bowl for Kids’ Sake serves as a fun and easy way for community members to support the life-changing work of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Last year’s event hosted 88 sponsors, 69 teams, 348 bowlers, and raised $39,783. This year’s goal is set at $53,000, which is attainable, but not without the help of community members and sponsors. Bowl for Kids’ Sake serves as the largest annual fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County, and the public is invited to help make this year’s event the largest to date. Hundreds of area bowlers team up every year to support this exciting fundraiser and take part in the self-proclaimed “bowling event of the year.”

Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $50 per bowler, or $25 for those under 18 years old, through peer to peer fundraising. Teams can consist of friends, family, and/or co-workers and high school students are encouraged to participate. Participation includes a t-shirt, snacks, one hour of bowling, and chances to win prizes. Lanes are available Friday, March 1, at 4:00pm, 5:30pm, and 7:00pm at Bel-Mar Lanes in Sidney and 5:30pm at Treaty Lanes in Greenville. Then on Saturday, March 2, lanes are available at 1:00pm at Bel-Mar Lanes, and 2:00pm at Treaty Lanes. Online registration, peer-to-peer fundraising details, and more can be found at www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org or call 937-492-7611 or 937-547-9622 to register by phone. Registration deadline is Friday, February 22.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event as well. This is an affordable way to promote your business and help an organization that gives back to the community. Different sponsorship levels are available, and prize donations are greatly appreciated. If you would like to take advantage of sponsorships opportunities, please contact the Big Brothers Big Sisters office prior to Friday, February 15. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit, United Way partner agency, and is supported through financial contributions and annual fundraisers.

Friday, February 15, 2019

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Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum Schedule of Events for 2019

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Hours April- October: Saturday 10 am- 3 pm.

April 6
Salute to the railroader's 2- 4 pm. Current and Former Railroaders Welcome to share stories and visit the BF Tower.

We will be showing Edison Railroad movies from the 1890's.

May 4
Dining By rail 6- 9 Pm. Silent and Live auction of items from Wine Tasting Tours, to gift Baskets to tickets for train rides and Center Of Science and Industry or Cincinnati Reds Games. The Dinner is from Dining Car Service recipes. This year Diners get to tour the museum before Dinner as it will be held in the Community Club across the street from the museum.

June 1
10 -4 pm. Railroad Heritage Festival Thomas the train Play Area, Thomas the tank Ride and Carillon Park Portable Train Ride, Model train layouts. Drone Race in the Y aprk, Military vehicles to celebrate the 75 th anniversary of D- Day. Children's Play area at the museum Hobo Language and crafts, Railroad History Essay contest.

October 12
Run for the Rails 5 K Pumpkin Show Saturday 8 am rain or shine. Runners get to enjoy the museum following the race.

November 9
Honoring our Veterans Active and retired Military Service members are admitted to the museum Free of charge as a Thank You for their service to our Nation!

December 14
North Pole Express 11- 2 pm. Enjoy a visit with Santa, Hot cocoa and a special cookie and craft.
Meet the railroaders and Santa's helpers and be greeted by the Conductor and served by the Porters.
This year the museum is working again with Exhibit Concepts and Swafford Construction to restore the BF Tower.

The project has been supported by the Ohio Humanities Council, The State of Ohio general Assembly to create a Railroad Heritage Tourism Destination.

The project includes both interior and exterior exhibits to interpret the function of the tower in providing Railroad Safe traffic through the junction.

Signals will be restored and operational from the BF Tower.

Details are on the museum website at www.bradfordrrmuseum.org

The museum welcomes new members and volunteers and needs to raise another $50,000 to complete this preservation project.

History buffs and railroad fans are invited to participate in this exciting project to make the Tower as operational as possible.

Follow us on Facebook and visit the museum to see the rich railroad heritage and history at Bradford, Ohio.

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