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Enter Dump the Pump Video Contest

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With gas prices close to $4 per gallon, it makes more sense than ever to Dump the Pump by riding RTA. And now is the time to shoot your why-you-ride-RTA video in time for the Dump the Pump Day event on June 16 when video contest winners will be announced. Entries are due by June 14.

By sending in your video, you become eligible to win cool prizes:

  • 1st place: 8G i-Pod Touch and three 31-day RTA passes
  • 2nd place: Flip Ultra HD camcorder and two 31-day passes
  • 3rd place: $50 Best Buy gift card and one 31-day pass
  • The first 10 early birds who submit valid videos will receive 7-day passes.

Use a camcorder, cell phone camera, or home PC to create your entry. Videos should be between 15 seconds and 2 minutes long and must focus on why you ride public transit. Are you saving money, helping the environment, commuting to relax? You tell us. Then upload your entry at i-riderta.org no later than June 14.

Your videos can be in Quicktime (.mov), .mpg, .wmv, or .avi format and should not exceed 50 MB. Winners will be contacted and will be responsible to pick up prizes.

RTA will celebrate Dump the Pump Day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16 at Courthouse Square. You can enter to win chances on RTA bus passes and Dragons tickets at the event. Drive Less Live More partners also will present information on driving alternatives. Please go to i-riderta.org or call 937-425-8374 for more contest entry or event details.

RTA, Ohio’s greenest fleet, serves 3,300 stops on 29 routes throughout Montgomery and parts of Greene County. The agency operates diesel, hybrid diesel, and electric trolley buses to take people to work, school and shopping. Customers ride RTA on more than 10 million passenger trips each year.  RTA is committed to providing the highest levels of customer service as the region’s first choice for alternative transportation.

I’d like to thank the Academy…

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Have you ever wanted to walk the red carpet? Does the idea of having your own personal ‘glam squad’ send you into daydreams of the beautiful life from the confines of your cubicle? Well, I’m here to tell ya- Hollywood glamour is right around the corner…

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few bliss-inducing hours with Kimberly McCabe at Bangs Salon in Centerville. Kimberly is an Xtreme Lash Stylist. Yes, Lash Stylist. I always thought I was blessed with pretty darn great lashes. I loved trying out new mascaras, and prided myself on being the go-to girl for my friends smokey eye technique troubles and lash definition dilemmas. Little did I know that Kimberly was about to open my eyes (pun intended) to a new world of lash-liciousness.

Being a 16 year vet of the beauty industry and successful salon owner, Kimberly was always on the lookout for new ways to help clients take beauty to the next level. She stumbled upon Xtreme Lash Extensions and, with a little skepticism, decided to learn more. In doing so, she was instantly smitten and became so passionate about lashes that she decided to sell her salon to her business partner and take the lash world by storm! Since that time, she was chosen by the founder of Xtreme Lashes, Jo Mousselli, to accompany her to the 2010 Academy Awards to provide the starlets with their lash extensions, as well as becoming a National Certified Xtreme Lash Trainer.

Admittedly, although I was impressed with her experience, I just wasn’t sure if I really needed lash extensions. Always up for an adventure, I decided to give it a go. I met Kimberly at Bangs  and got settled in on the comfy table. I was instructed to come with a clean face (no makeup?!?!?) so I was relieved that I made it there without the trauma that leaving the house “undone” could cause. She placed cool, moisturizing gel pads over my bottom lashes and let them work wonders on my under-eye area while I was relaxing and my upper lashes were prepped for the extensions. I couldn’t see what was going on (mostly because I was on my way to catching some zzzzz’s) but Kimberly did a great job of telling me step by stop what she was doing. Using tweezers, she singled out individual lashes, then chose an appropriate length extension and adhered it to my natural lash. Fast forward an hour- I woke up from a relaxing nap, almost forgetting that I was having a beauty treatment done. One look in the mirror and WOW!!!!!!! I was literally taken aback at what a difference the lash extensions made. The fact that I had on NO makeup was not even noticeable. My eyes were defined by long, luxurious lashes that really made my golden-brown eyes pop.  Kimberly pried me away from the mirror and sent me on my way with makeup remover and mascara that were safe to use on the extensions and wouldn’t break down the adhesive. Behold- a lash addict was born.
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I knew I was amazed by my new obsession, but was curious if friends and family would notice. Let me tell you, the compliments just started rolling in. “Your eyes look great”, “do you know how lucky you are to have such long eyelashes?”, even the ‘guys’ commented on how great they looked. What guy do you know that notices eyelashes? That’s how awesome they are. Since I have had them, I have had fun playing with a more natural eyeshadow look, the smokey eye has become less of a need and more of a special occasion look. I never thought that would happen. Ever. EVER.

I would recommended going to Kimberly for Xtreme Lash Extensions to anyone I know. Though lash extensions are starting to become more popular in this area, if you have the opportunity to go to the best right here in Dayton, go for it! She really did a fantastic job.

If you have any specific questions about the lash extensions or girly girl questions about the Dayton area, comment below or come find me on twitter @Nikkisayswhat

Til next time, lovelies…

Where Am I? April 25, 2011

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Here is the seventh and final installment in our Where Am I? contest – if you know where the following picture was taken, simply fill out the form below with the correct answer and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to The Wine Loft at The Greene.

Last week’s picture was from the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center– the animal shelter. Also adjacent to the Bark Park.  Congratulations to Melanie Ludwig who won our sixth gift certificate.  For those who didn’t win or didn’t get a chance to play, here is your chance for this week.  Just fill out the form below with the correct answer to be entered to win.

(thanks to Teri Lussier for creating these weekly installments)

This week’s hint: “Adena”

This "Where Am I" series sponsored by The Wine Loft

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Five Rivers MetroParks Makes It Easy To Be Green

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Get involved in the emerald ash borer reforestation efforts and "Leaf a Legacy"! Learn more at www.metroparks.org/ash

When you work for Five Rivers MetroParks, it’s easy to forget most people celebrate Earth Day just once a year, so for today’s article, I wanted to show you, loyal reader, ways to live “green” every day.

  • Get Educated!
    • Pick a program, any program: When it comes to connecting people with the world around them, you’ll find no shortage of engaging instruction via Five Rivers MetroParks. There are lots of offerings to help you live a life more ecological, including organic gardening and landscaping, composting, recycling, wildlife basics and more. Here are a few coming up that will put you in the Earth Day spirit:
  • Get Involved!
    • Pick up trash around your neighborhood or volunteer with your favorite organization. Learn more at www.metroparks.org/volunteer

      Pick up trash around your neighborhood or volunteer with your favorite organization. Learn more at www.metroparks.org/volunteer

      Volunteer with your favorite organization: Five Rivers MetroParks has a variety of volunteer options available to fit any skill level, area of interest and available time frame. We just wrapped up our annual Adopt-A-Park event, where we welcomed more than 2,000 volunteers to pick up litter in over 30 locations throughout Montgomery County. But there are lots of ongoing opportunities.

      • If you’d like to gain specific skills, consider a service learning program. These give specialized classroom and hands-on training to volunteers, teaching them skills they can use to be volunteer team leaders at MetroParks or in their own community. Master Recyclers learn the details of reducing, reusing and recycling in this five-week course sponsored by Five Rivers MetroParks and Montgomery County Solid Waste District. Classes take place in early spring; call (937) 275-PARK (7275) if you’re interested in being placed on the waiting list for next year’s program.
      • You can also volunteer to make the Miami Valley a little greener—literally! There are still a few slots available to sign up to be a Forest Foster Family. Fosters care for a flat of propagated seedlings for a period of time, then return the flat to a designated area for replanting. These seedlings were raised to replace ash tree devastated by the effects of the invasive emerald ash borer. Call (937) 275-PARK or register online to get involved.

o   Make a difference: There are many simple ways you can make your neighborhood a better place. Grab a trash bag and take a walk around your block. Pick up any litter you encounter (donning a pair of gloves is advised). Bonus points for separating recyclable materials! Perhaps you could make a weekly habit of this. Imagine how much cleaner your neighborhood would be!

  • Get Eco-Logical!

o   Be green at home: Swap your incandescent light bulbs for a compact florescent. It uses less energy, which decreases overall consumption of fossil fuels, plus you can enjoy the perks of saving money on your bill, not to mention the fact that some companies offer homeowners terrific incentives for swapping more efficient appliances and other energy-consuming devices. You can also switch to recycled toilet paper or paper towels and eco-friendly household cleaning products. Visit A Greener You at the PNC 2nd Street Market and check out the wide variety.

o

Virginia bluebells are native plants that make for lovely garden beds. Get native plants at the upcoming sales. www.metroparks.org/plantsales

Go local: Avoid incorporating invasive species into your garden or landscape. Invasive species, such as honeysuckle, purple loosestrife or lesser celandine, are aggressive, non-native plants that are harmful to local habitat, yet are often sold commercially. Plants might seem pretty innocuous, but invasive species can take over habitats, forcing out native plants and any creatures dependent on those plants as a source of food or shelter. So buy local and do your part to preserve the environment. Get native plants or non-invasive exotic species from two plants sales taking place the last weekend in April. The Wildflower and Native Plant Sale at Cox Arboretum MetroPark takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 30; and Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark’s Mayfair 2011 is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 30, and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1.

Summit Follow-Up: Were you there?

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Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

Don’t miss the Action Plan Launch on May 3 at 6 PM at the Biltmore Towers (210 N. Main Street). There, we take these ideas to the next level!

The 2011 Young Creatives Summit hosted by updayton has come and gone with three packed hours of networking, professional development and (most importantly) providing young creatives the opportunity to shape the future of the region. Participants had their say in important topics including nightlife, jobs, neighborhoods and diversity and determined the direction that would make the region more exciting for them.

The Summit kicked-off with a Dayton Creative Syndicate sponsored photo booth that challenged participants to consider what would make them stay in the region by making the statement, “I Will Stay If…” Executive Director Yvette Kelly-Fields thanked our sponsors; Sean Creighton from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education reflected on the kernel of an idea that grew into a region-shaping Summit; and Chair Scott Murphy challenged us to make a difference with the time we had there.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

New for 2011, updayton partnered with established organizations in the region for project plans. Through this partnership, participants learned more about how the issue affects the region and were empowered to put their ideas to use to address a topic other organizations are already working on. Ideas were generated in breakout sessions; at the town hall, participants got to “invest” in the ideas that they wanted to support by offering “updayton dollars.”

NIGHTLIFE: The Downtown Dayton Partnership had the goal to create a new element for First Friday that entices new audiences and encourages visitors to travel among numerous establishments. Updayton participants are launching a project where performers drive the visitors on rickshaws to the various establishments while offering them a song, sonnet or story.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

DIVERSITY: The Immigrant Friendly Task Force of the City of Dayton Human Relations Council had the goal of better connecting local residents to Dayton’s immigrant community for a sharing of culture. Summit attendees will launch a project where local families (both native and immigrant) are paired with one another. Native families will act as a tour guide for their immigrant friends – introducing them both to the region and our culture. In return, immigrant families will share stories, food and traditions that define their culture. It’s a “big brother” type program for culture-sharing. This group hopes to partner with Dayton Metro Library which already has an extensive collection of foreign language music, movies, books, and other resources.

JOBS: The Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) challenged attendees to determine what can be done to identify, engage and motivate local employers to offer/create internships for local college students. Summit participants proposed “Linked Internships” – a LinkedIn page to provide an open forum for students to post their interests, experience and references. Local businesses will be able to quickly sift through the page to find the right candidate, review the resume and check references.  It will be local to the Dayton region and act as an open forum that provides a “one-stop shop” for businesses to find interns.

NEIGHBORHOODS: CityWide Development participated in the Summit to solicit information on what would make neighborhoods

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

more attractive to young professionals. In addition to a lot of great conversation and input, the updayton attendees will launch a project to beautify local neighborhoods. They intend to host various community clean-up days to include the physical work of cleaning, gardening, and maintaining green space as well as incorporating a community aspect. They hope to solicit volunteers from the neighborhoods to get people plugged into the project and vested in the upkeep of their neighborhood.

PLUS: In addition to the breakout sessions for project development, the Summit offered professional development workshops led by experts on topics from the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan to project management to social media. The Summit ended with a town hall for local leaders to hear the outcome and see the energy of these young creatives. Then we all headed to an afterparty at the Excelsior Lofts.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

NEXT STEPS: These four topics were selected due to research by updayton as top topics of importance for young professionals as they determine where they want to live. These ideas are just the foundation of the projects. Volunteers will re-convene on May 3 to determine potential partners, discuss details, and determine next steps.

Some of what we’ve heard:

“The Summit was one of the best events I’ve been to in the last year, without question. Even more than being a great learning tool and networking opportunity, it was awesome to see so many young people excited about improving downtown, and even better to see them signing up to actually follow through with getting hands-on and making it happen from the ground up. I’m someone who’s always been passionate about downtown, and it re-ignited my own enthusiasm. And I have a lot of respect for updayton (and their partners) for doing what the driving forces in so many cities don’t–going directly to the people, asking what they need and want, and challenging them to be that change.”

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

-Duante Beddingfield

“The updatyon Summit was a great way to network with other young professionals living in the area who are passionate about improving the city. It was interesting to listen to everyone’s ideas and know that despite any perceived negativity—whether real or imagined—is overshadowed by people willing to make a difference. When you’ve got just one person with an idea, it might just remain at one idea, but when you add a collaborative community of open-minded, progressive individuals, that idea turns into action, hope becomes creation, and that vision of a better Dayton is realized. I can’t wait to dig into these projects.”
– Valerie Beerbower

“It’s easy to forget that there are people in Dayton that want to improve their community. The Summit was not only a reminder that these people exist, but that there are many of us.”
-Nick Hrkman

“I found the Summit to be energizing. It brought people together from different backgrounds and ideologies. It gave me the opportunity to interact with colleagues, make new friends, and reconnect with old ones – all under the organized goal of making the Dayton region a great place to live and work. The Summit is forward thinking, it does not focus energies around what is, but what could be if we all pitch in. My favorite part about the Summit is that anyone can attend, be heard, and walk away charged with tasks to make a difference.”
-Sherri Wierzba

Were you there? What did you think of the streamlined Summit? Anything surprise or excite you about the potential of the Dayton region?

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/2011 Young Creatives Summit/]

Young, Gay, and Looking for Something New?

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Then look no further!  We have the “cure” for the Gay Dayton weekend!

The Mu Crew, a program of AIDS Resource Center Ohio, is gearing up for its 6th annual weekend retreat which will be held the weekend of May 13th-15th .  The Retreat VI will be jam packed with hiking, speakers, a talent show, camp fires, games, smores, team activities, late night board games and more. The Retreat targets young gay/bi-sexual men ages 18-29 with the goal of empowering, educating, entertaining, and allowing them to take a break from life in an environment that is supportive, friendly, and fun.  The weekend is drug/alcohol free and any type of sexual relationship is strictly prohibited.

The Retreat VI site is only 20 minutes from Dayton in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The cabins we stay in are air conditioned/heated and even have hot showers! We also have use of a lodge and full kitchen/cafeteria, where a kitchen crew will prepare all of your meals for the weekend.

To register please click here.  There is a $40 registration fee to hold your spot, but if money is an issue we do have scholarships available. We are expecting sell-out attendance with participants from many different GLBT groups across the state and even from across the country!

If you’re ready to make some new friends, get away for a while and have a great time then come join 60 other guys for a weekend in the woods!

If you have any questions, just send  an email to  [email protected].

30 Days Positive – Children Caring for Children

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The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity — between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?”
— Kofi Annan – 2001

Are We Awake Yet?

This week I had an opportunity to investigate AIDS “now” on more of a global level.  An estimated 40,000 children in South Africa are infected with HIV each year reflecting an impoverished region lacking in both awareness and prevention. 40,000 Children…and the number of premature deaths due to HIV/AIDS has risen significantly over the last decade from 39 percent to 75 percent in 2010 in South Africa. It is estimated there are 1.9 million AIDS orphans where one or both parents are deceased in South Africa and that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is responsible for half of the country’s orphans.

Left Behind.

In some cases orphaned, often HIV infected, children are cared for by institutions but with an overwhelming amount of children and lack of resources it is seemingly impossible to help them all, let alone stop the cycle from continuing.

This week I met with Felito Utuie,  who is here in Dayton, OH visiting from Mozambique.  At 29 years old, he has spent a majority of his life focused on outreach and missions to improve the quality of life for 1000s of people.  Felito, explained the devastating numbers of children who are left with no one to care for them because of  the still growing AIDS epidemic. His regions lack of educational resources forces many fathers to leave their families for work in other cities because they don’t have adequate training, being gone for years at time. He describes, infidelity as being fairly common and husbands succumbing to temptation from prostitutes while being away from their wives for long periods of time. This has lead to the rise of infection being spread and when they return to their villages, so does the HIV virus; infecting their wives and increasing mother-to-child infection.  This cycle has lead to some over 380,000 orphans in Gaza, a region where Felito has ventured upon his next outreach. One of which, he believes will have a remarkable impact.

“Children caring of children” is how Felito explained the devastating numbers of those with no one to care for them. We know that the loss of a parent  has an immense emotional impact on child but to be without any else to care for them once their gone is a far worse tragedy. An estimated 70 percent of those orphaned are the result of losing their parent to the AIDS virus in South Africa.

A New Village

I felt chills listening to the stories and watching Felito as he talked about his journey and how for most of his life his path has been to help others.  I referred to his vision as being a new village as he laid out the blueprints of what he was planning because calling it an orphanage really does it no justice.  A center of stability, education, empowerment and most importantly one which will provide the family dynamic these children so desperately need is what Felito is getting ready to create.  While his focus is to help with the short term needs of the orphans the home will be residence to,  he has also considered heavily what he can do to stop the cycle by working with adults and caretakers as well as educating the young.

I asked Felito for a ballpark figure of the costs associated with his plan thinking he was going to have to raise some unfathomable amount and was floored when he said, ” Only $50,000 to build the orphanage.” Individual homes for both the children and their caretakers, recreational programs, education and career centers, land for farming  and livestock  are among several other offerings including health and wellness all on 73 Acres of Lands will cost $2 million to complete however which he will rely on donation partly for.

Despite awareness campaigns, accurate knowledge about HIV and AIDS is still poor amongst the people and children Felito has come across on his missions and he would also like to focus more on educating on prevention. I had to sit back and take a breath because I couldn’t really put my hands around one person taking on such mission, but he his and I was in awe.

I asked about  government barriers and if there were anything hindering him from moving forward. Felito described his efforts as being met with little resistance but that most officials (Chiefs) wanted something for themselves in return for “allowing his efforts which was of no real surprise to him or myself.  Politics are the same no matter what side of the world you are on.

Could one person really be so selfless to embark on such a journey? The answer was clearly yes, but Felito also explained his personal connection to the AIDS virus. Having a brother who had died from the disease, Felito understood first hand the devasting affects the disease has on both the infected and their loved ones.  Healthcare and AIDS resources in South African Countries are substantially different then that of other countries, though minimal improvements have been made. It is evident that awareness and prevention are measurable efforts that these countries will rely on more in years to come.

More on AIDS and South Africa

While AIDS continues to be a global concern, almost all those living with HIV (97%) reside in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa approximately 22.4 million people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most people living with HIV or at risk for HIV do not have access to prevention, care, and treatment in these countries affected. South Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic has had a devastating effect on children in a number of ways. There were an estimated 330,000 under 15 years old living with HIV in 2009. Other infectious diseases, food insecurity, and economic instability plague these regions and though an astounding amount of funds and programs have been given to create new programs for awareness and prevention, the fight still continues.

How You Can Help.

AIDS.gov

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ACT:s

ARC

WE>AIDS

30 Days Positive – Follow the Journey

I commend Felito on his efforts and I am honored to have had the chance to sit down with him. I am once again reminded of the magnitude of  AIDS and how it is affecting the world around me. I look forward to following him on his journey, our continued friendship and one day visiting his village and partaking on his mission.

AIDS is a global problem and there should be a global solution found by the entire international community. It is really scary to see and imagine our world fall into pieces because we refuse to share and put in the common vestiges of our civilizations.
Sarah Polley

Where Am I? April 18, 2011

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Here is the sixth installment in our new Where Am I? contest – if you know where the following picture was taken, simply fill out the form below with the correct answer and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to The Wine Loft at The Greene.  Next Monday – a new picture and another chance to win!

Last week’s picture was the Fairborn Theater. This 1940’s gem is on the National Register of Historic Places and is under going renovation and expansion to become an arts and cultural center. You can help!

It looks like we stumped lots of folks this week too, as many answered “The Neon”.  Congratulations to Jason Snowden who won our fifth gift certificate.  For those who didn’t win or didn’t get a chance to play, here is your chance for this week.  Just fill out the form below with the correct answer to be entered to win.

(thanks to Teri Lussier for creating these weekly installments)

This week’s hint: “Bark”

This "Where Am I" series sponsored by The Wine Loft

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Come “Home Tour” my Neighborhood – Historic South Park

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South Park - Where people live on front porches, not behind privacy fences...

(the following is by Jill Davis of Historic South Park)

If I told you I lived in a friendly, comfortable, mid-sized midwestern city situated on the sunny banks of three rivers, with a full complement of arts organizations—orchestra and opera, art institute, ballet and contemporary dance, Broadway tours and local theater. And if I added to that nineteen metroparks, a children’s museum, a class A minor league baseball team and miles of beautiful bike trails. Plus a growing array of unique restaurants, coffee houses and music bars to explore, art galleries to haunt and clubs to revel in—I think you’d be eager to come visit and let me show you around Dayton and my neighborhood, South Park.

In fact, my out-of-town friends love to come visit because of Dayton’s unassuming quirkiness and uncompetitive sophistication. Today’s corporate cool-hunters who relentlessly follow trends will tell you that the qualities that constitute true “cool” these days have to do with not trying too hard.

In the past, it’s only when I’ve tried to convince area natives of the big and small pleasures of Dayton’s emerging “new urbanism” that I’m confronted with doubt. Recently, I’ve seen that changing. There’s been an influx of young people, open to the experience of living in denser urban areas, walkable, bikable places that need to be explored. Places of involvement and confrontation, diversity and surprise.

As a lover of city life, especially after having lived in New York for a decade, I’m happy to find that younger people especially are seeking something less predictable outside of mass culture, but without the expense associated with a major metropolis. It’s no secret that Dayton is a patchwork of areas of disinvestment interspersed with gentrified neighborhoods and business districts, so the transitions in between appear a little rough. But those of us who consider a little grit to be part of the authentic urban experience take it in stride.

My husband and I moved to Historic South Park because we prefer older homes, and a friend told us about the neighborhood’s brilliant location (just minutes from everything) and its many social activities. He said candidly, “It’s not for everybody.” But if you’re comfortable in an economically mixed group, and don’t need the orderliness and control of the suburbs, you’ll find what so many people are searching for these days, a sense of community. It’s the friendliest place we’ve ever lived.

On Saturday, April 30th, the public not only has a chance to enjoy South Park’s unique architecture and history, but is invited to use digital technology to further enrich their experience of this wonderful 1880s-era neighborhood. Historic South Park’s 2011 Spring Home Tour, Saturday, April 30, 1-6pm, includes a ScanDayton ScanVenger Hunt™ with a chance to win an Apple iPad2! (Everyone who buys a ticket can enter their name in our raffle.) Thanks to Sean and Shawntay at Comtactics, one of the exciting entrepreneurial businesses officed in Tech Town, visitors will use their smartphones to find out more about our award-winning neighborhood and why we so enjoy living here. Cost is $10 in advance at www.historicsouthpark.org and $15 the day of the tour at Brown Oak Studio, 860 Brown Street.  Free to Realtors who present a business card. Advance-purchase tickets can also be reserved in person at Brown Oak Studio, 860 Brown Street, 10am-5pm, Tuesday through Saturday; call 226-1196. Admission price includes the chance to enter the raffle. Plan to spend two hours enjoying the sights. For tour information call (937) 225-3801. Historic South Park thanks our title sponsor, Liberty Savings Bank, for making the tour possible.

My Favorite Architectural Photography Competition

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Commercial Building in Sydney, OH

(the following is from Matt Sauer of AIA Dayton)

If you were to make a leisurely tour of the region surrounding Dayton, you’d likely travel through urban centers with tall dark buildings and rural farmsteads with red barns and windmills. It would be as if you were transported into the scene on Ohio’s “Beautiful Ohio” license plates, only you wouldn’t be small and flat. You’d think, “There are lots of fascinating buildings and remarkable architecture here in the Miami Valley.  I wonder if anyone has attempted to document all of it?” The gentleman sitting next to you is too polite to acknowledge that you’re thinking out loud, so let me answer that:  The Dayton chapter of the AIA is doing that very thing.

The AIA, known to expanders of initialisms as the American Institute of Architects, is holding the 2011 Greater Dayton’s Favorite Architecture Photography Competition, where architecturally-themed photos are eligible to win cash and prizes (actually the “prizes” are more cash).  All photographs will be exhibited at Urban Nights on May 13, 2011, and winning photographs will be published in a 2012 AIA Dayton calendar. The top entries will also be exhibited during the AIA Ohio Valley Regional Convention in September.

People’s Savings Bank by architect Louis Sullivan in Sidney, Ohio

There’s always a catch, or two in this case. The subject matter must have an architectural theme (we’re mentioning that twice for emphasis) or contain an element of the built environment. Maybe that subject is a favorite residential or commercial building, perhaps with a particular design or historical interest, or it may be a bridge, tower, monument, or windowsill. The location of said structure must be in AIA Dayton’s nine-county geographic region covering Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby Counties. Entrants are encouraged to take creative license with these limitations! Winners will be announced at the May Urban Nights.

The contest guidelines and entry forms can be found on the competition website GreatDaytonArchitecture.com. There’s no limit on the number of entries a person can submit, but the fee is $10 for two submissions.   We prefer that entries be submitted digitally, and are due by Friday, April 29 May 6 If the entry is by mail, it must be postmarked no later than Monday, May 2.

There is a wealth of wonderful architecture in our region, from bank buildings to county courthouses to sleek modern homes from the 1960s. It would be a shame to let it all languish in obscurity, and yet you have the power to bring these fantastic constructions to the attention of the public. You have a camera. I know because you said it out loud.

For additional information, contact:

Shawn Hicks, Marketing Manager
AIA Dayton
[email protected]
 937.291.1913

30 Days Positive – A Love Story

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Follow the Journey

Have you ever considered that many contract the HIV virus on accident, through no fault of their own? It is something I personally never really thought about until recently, that there are people out there who are responsible and take precautions but still can be exposed and infected. Both tragic and somewhat scary to think about, I sat down this week with a person who had that very thing happen.

Due to the confidential nature of this person’s story I have left a lot of the personal details out to protect their anonymity.

A Life Well Planned Out

We all have plans for our lives and what we want to accomplish both professionally and personally is something we often think about far in advance of  those “life happenings” that set us off our track. Seldom do we think about the “what-ifs” and often we are not prepared.   For the purpose of telling this story I will refer to him as John.

John always knew that he wanted to serve his country and that the military was where he saw himself having the most impact on the world he lived in.  At a very young age he believed that joining the service was his purpose and giving back was something he had passion for.  For years he did just that.  As many soldiers do, come time for reenlistment, John’s passion to serve remained and without pause made the decision to continue after his duty had been complete.  In the process, it was discovered that all of John’s medical records had been lost and that in order to reenlist he would have to go through all of the standard testing he did when he first joined.  John believes that was a sign.  Life was about to change.

A call was placed to John shortly after his results had come in and he was notified by administration that he would have to come in for further evaluation.  Frightened and confused he agreed and after further evaluation he was informed that he was HIV Positive.

Positive

John had been married and committed to both his wife and family throughout his service.  He knew that there was nothing he had done to compromise them or his own health.  While in service and overseas, John had emergency dental work performed under what he described as unsanitary and not of standard procedural conditions.  It was the one and only time that he  could think of  that he was at risk, and that one time was enough in the 90’s.  John was diagnosed in 1999. No longer able to serve his country in the way he had desired his entire life and faced with the fear of losing everything he’d worked for, John was lost.  

Though his marriage survived for quite some time it eventually came to an end because of other reasons which he explained.  He maintains that his wife was supportive but the relationship was no longer working and they both decided to move on.  Alone for the first time, John faced the fear that it would be impossible to find love again, to find someone who would understand and support him. I myself wondered that very thing as we was talking.  Emotional wreck that I am, I’ve often wondered who would love me with all of my tattoos and baggage but this just made my worries seem so ridiculous.

A New Life

Though he struggled with not being able to return to active duty, John remained positive that life did exist post diagnosis.  He persisted and held on to his passion and ultimately found another way to do what he loved doing and be part of something bigger than himself and has been successful in doing so.  “Treatment and living with the virus has changed substantially over the decade”, he explained. Once a 12 pill a day regimen to now just 1, John explained that it wasn’t something he even thought about much anymore. With great energy he exclaimed that, “he was the healthiest and happiest that he had ever been in life.”  Sitting next to him during the interview, was his quiet and bashful now wife, a woman who I found to be both admirable and genuine.  Throughout the interview they were holding hands and smiling at one another and all I kept thinking was if I am ever to be in successful relationship this is probably what it’s supposed to be like.

Though John struggled for a long time thinking that he would never find love again, through initially a strong  friendship he was able to find the person who if you sat across from you’d come to the same conclusion as I did;  these two were meant to find one another. Their story about when John broke the news to his now wife about being HIV Positive oddly enough, brought laughter to both as they discussed the evening it took place. John remembered being more nervous than at any point in his life and let’s call her Jane, was laughing when she described her response as less than concerned and relieved that it wasn’t “something major”.  Is this a sign that true love sees past black and white or that society as a whole has become more comfortable and truly understands the disease?  The optimist in me would like to believe both.

AIDS in 2011

33.4 million are currently living with HIV/AIDS globally, more than one million people are living with HIV in the U.S. One in five living with HIV is unaware of their infection and though a small percentage has been through accidental infection the fact remains that those cases do exist.

Graph of Men/Women living with AIDS in the USA

“It is what it is. I don’t think about it really anymore..in fact, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been .. even before being diagnosed. I don’t let the fact that I am HIV positive rule my life..I’m successful and happy.” In closing, John offered me one thought which I pondered for hours after the interview. That things in life will happen, things which no matter how hard we try we will never be prepared for but with conviction and hope, life will continue as it was meant to be. Part of this series was to bring to light that there is world around us with people who are facing real problems and often we get caught up in things that really don’t matter. Remember that today is today and tomorrow brings opportunity for new.  Help those in need and live a meaningful life respecting and appreciating what you’ve been given because out there is someone who has less. Just something to think about.

Meeting John and his wife has evolved my thinking of this disease  as well as how I view my own life.

Change in Dayton is happening!

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Downtown Dayton

Things in Dayton are looking up. Hiring, although slowly, is on the rise (New jobs, tax revenues show region stabilizing, Dayton Daily News, March 25, 2011). Home ownership is up. Nightlife downtown, particularly in areas like the Oregon District, is lively and vibrant. These small yet noticeable changes are the direct result of the individual and collective efforts of many people who, despite the sluggish economy, believe in the potential of Dayton; those people are working to launch business and social initiatives that revitalize neighborhoods, spur economic growth and keep people in Dayton.  Updayton is one of those groups.

On Friday, April 15th at the Dayton Convention Center, updayton will host its 2011 Young Creative’s Summit sponsored by SOCHE.  From 3 pm to 6 pm, hundreds of young professionals will convene to discuss and problem-solve critical issues like diversity and employment. Immediately following is an attendees-only after party and networking event at the nearby Excelsior Lofts with food and beverage provided Brixx and Bonbright Distributors.

One of the of largest civic engagement events in the area, updayton began hosting this event in 2009, to engage young professionals in generating ideas and implementing solutions for Dayton. In the last two years, these Summits have produced a number of projects led by young professionals that have attributed to some of the changes happening in Dayton.

If you have never been, you still have time to be a part of this year’s summit. Registration is $15 ($5 for students). More details and registration can be found at www.updayton.com. Change happens here!

Additional sponsors of the Summit include: CareSource, Channel 945 FM, City of Dayton, CreativeFuse, Dayton City Paper, Dayton CW, Dayton Business Journal, Dayton Development Coalition, The Dayton Foundation, DaytonMostMetro.com, Dayton Weekly News, KeyBank, Standard Register, Teradata, University of Dayton’s Fitz Center for Leadership and Community and Vectren.

2011 World Voice Day – Free Voice Screenings

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The Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis & Rehabilitation is observing “World Voice Day,” an international health observance day for the human voice, on April 16, 2011 (observed Friday, April 15, 2011). On this day the public is asked to assess their voice quality and recognize that harmful speaking techniques, alcohol, and tobacco abuse can easily and irrevocably damage the voice.  The long-term consequences of poor voice can range from strained vocal cords and chronic hoarseness to deadly head and neck cancers. On this date, complimentary voice screenings including a video image of the larynx (videostroboscopy) will be provided on a limited basis to the public by the Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis & Rehabilitation.

The theme for the 2011 celebration of World Voice Day, “We Share a Voice,” calls attention to the important role otolaryngologists play in stemming the tide of vocal disorders.

Voice Pathologist Jennifer Rettig Performs Videostroboscopy on DMM Contributor Jane Krebs

“Vocal health is critical to our communication-oriented society, but the voice does not receive the public recognition and appreciation it deserves. World Voice Day provides us a perfect forum through which to refamiliarize ourselves with the latest advances in laryngology and voice care, and to educate our colleagues, patients, and communities via lectures, free voice screenings, community outreach programs, and other offerings,” says Blaine Block Director, Wendy D. LeBorgne, Ph.D., CCC-SLP.

World Voice Day gives vocal health experts an opportunity to bring renewed awareness about vocal health to the general public and to professionals who have built careers around their voices.

As The Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis & Rehabilitation celebrates the ninth year of the World Voice Day observance, we offer the community a few simple health tips to take care of your voice:

  1. Keep yourself hydrated – Moisture is good for your voice, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day is the best way to stay hydrated.
  2. Don’t smoke – Likely the single worst thing you can do for your voice is to smoke. It causes permanent damage to the vocal cord tissues and is the number 1 risk factor for cancer of the larynx (voice box).
  3. Don’t scream or shout. Use a microphone if you need to project your voice – Yelling or screaming is always bad for the voice, as it puts a lot of stress on the delicate lining of your vocal cords.
  4. Rest your voice if you have laryngitis.
  5. Get evaluated by an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat physician) if you have persistent hoarseness – If your voice is persistently hoarse, be sure to seek evaluation by an otolaryngologist.
  6. Warm up your voice – Warming up the voice is not just for singers; it helps the speaking voice, too. Doing simple things like lip or tongue trills, or gliding up and down your range on different vowels will help warm up your voice.
  7. Know what you’re feeling – When you are in a place with loud background noise, you don’t realize how loudly you may be talking. Pay attention to how your throat feels in these situations, because it will often feel raw or irritated before you notice the vocal strain you are causing.

To learn more about World Voice Day, vocal health, and other ear, nose, and throat related topics, visit www.bbivar.com or http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/worldVoiceDay.cfm. To schedule a free voice screening on Aril 15th, contact voice pathologist, Jennifer Rettig, M.S., CCC-SLP, at (937) 496-2622.

My Summit Story: Number Crunching for a Cause

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the final feature in a series of “My Summit Story” segments  highlighting the diverse, talented and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

In 2008, with 6 other catalysts from DaytonCREATE, Scott Murphy started updayton to better attract that elusive and desirable recent college graduate demographic to the region.  To meet this need, these volunteers focused on putting control of the situation in the hands of the people who are uniquely qualified to say what young creatives want. Who knows best what convinces a college graduate to relocate to the Miami Valley? Probably the recent college grads who decided to stick around. So updayton was created to give that control to young professionals (through the Summit and subsequent projects) and to be a communication pipeline between the young creatives and local leadership.

An important part of the updayton mission has always been the data. As an engineer at Wright-Patterson AFB, Scott tracks, records and reads the numbers that demonstrate project success or failure. You can see his attention to detail and his focus on results in every annual report that updayton publishes. You may walk away from the Summit having had a great experience after sharing some ideas and meeting some new people, but the work is just beginning for Scott. In addition to providing that qualitative experience to Summit participants who want to network with each other and learn something about the region, Scott wants to show how updayton is moving the needle for young professional engagement in the region.

The ideas expressed at past updayton events are gathered and shared. Rolls and rolls of white paper with concerns, ideas, projects and solutions have been poured over and translated to usable data to share with people who care about the needs of the young creatives. Government leaders, businesses and nonprofits are among the types of local organizations that have reached out to updayton to ask about your needs. The Suumit isn’t just about your experience that day and if you sign up for a project – the Summit is about adding YOUR VOICE and YOUR IDEAS to the conversation. Scott’s an engineer – he’ll do the work pulling it all together, but he needs your input.

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Where Am I? April 11, 2011

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Here is the fifth installment in our new Where Am I? contest – if you know where the following picture was taken, simply fill out the form below with the correct answer and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to The Wine Loft at The Greene.  Next Monday – a new picture and another chance to win!

Last week’s picture was the unique front door of the Miami Valley Conservancy District building across the street from RiverScape.  The engineering behind the dam system in Dayton never ceases to amaze me, and this spring put it to the test. Can you imagine trying to get something like that built today? The EPA, all the bureaucracies involved. I doubt it could get done.

It looks like we stumped many with that one, only a couple people got the correct answer.  Congratulations to Tony Kroeger who won our fourth gift certificate.  For those who didn’t win or didn’t get a chance to play, here is your chance for this week.  Just fill out the form below with the correct answer to be entered to win.

(thanks to Teri Lussier for creating these weekly installments)

This week’s hint: “Hooray Hollywood!”

This "Where Am I" series sponsored by The Wine Loft

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Sticks work.

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I had a “Christo” moment today. It may have been even better than Christo. As you may or may not know, Christo and his partner and wife, Jeanne-Claude, who died in 2009, are perhaps the best known environmental artists in the world.
Today I had the honor and thrill of assisting another talented environmental artist at Wegerzyn Metro Park. His name is Patrick Dougherty and he is best known for his Stickworks: large site-specific sculptural installations made of natural materials. He will be working at Wegerzyn for the next three weeks creating a truly willowy – it’s built of willow – snake inspired by the Serpent Mound in Adams County. When it’s done, visitors will be able to walk through its curvy body, go inside it and peer through its doors and windows, and walk around it. The willow snake sculpture will be allowed to decay naturally.
Volunteers can sign up to help, as I did, and work alongside the artist as he creates this local masterpiece. I had a great time, and I’m going back for another day!
To volunteer, and I highly recommend it as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, contact Bob Butts, Assistant Volunteer Manager at Five Rivers Metro Park. He’ll put you in the right place in the snake.
For more information on the artist Patrick Dougherty and his work, check out his website at: www.stickwork.net/
Before I left today, I took some pictures of the work in progress.