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Holiday Shopping in Downtown Centerville & Waynesville

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Did you know…?

….That the Dayton Daily News rated the downtown Centerville area as NUMBER 1 for the most interesting and fun place to shop?  And I am totally embarrassed to reveal that I have lived in the Centerville area for about 10 years and never even bothered to have a peek at some of those specialty and boutique stores.  Well, my research, of course, involved a day of visiting some of these stores.  Folks, I’m originally from New York, and I have to say, even I was amazed!  The experience for me was like a walk through the shopping and art districts of Paris, France, Los Angeles, and New York City all put together. I learned that some of these shops are introducing what some of the proprietors calculate as products, gifts and clothing which put Dayton one, if not two years, behind the fashion curve!!  Suddenly I felt this little proud and pouty little kid complex come out of me.   I personally was once painfully enjoying that privileged bombardment of products and artwork whose first introduction to the world came through New Yorkers “Only”.   Generally, we knew that products were first tested on New Yorkers, because, as the rule goes, if New Yorkers liked it, then your product would more than likely succeed throughout the rest of the country!  How blessed I once felt!  Well, I’ll be darned; I got over that quickly as I walked through some of these shops!

Allow me to name just a few of some really very unique shops like Joli Boutique, Circa Home Décor and Antiques, Asahel’s Emporium, Loralei’s Boutique, and Visceral Gallery, etc. I’d really love to introduce some extraordinary Christmas items you can find and purchase at these stores, ranging from the one of a kind for the “unique” you to the extremely reasonable and accessible!

For a listing of downtown Centerville shops go to www.heartofcenterville.com

Remember Asahel’s Emporium?  Didn’t that used to be mostly a museum type place?  Well, guess again, it was a mini winter wonderland of specialty gifts and crafts like greeting cards, artisan jewelry, Christmas snowmen and Santas, ornaments that can be personalized, stocking stuffers, car charms, photography, handbags, wall art, mantel signs, ceramic angels, pottery, fine art umbrellas, kitchen towels, floral nightlights, clocks made with wood that is more than 180 years old, puzzle balls, plant stakes and need I continue?  A very nice benefit to your purchase here is that all proceeds go to the historical society of Centerville-Washington Township which helps to preserve the town’s history and educational programs for children. That’s kind of awesome!

Circa Home Décor and Antiques is a feast for your creative eyes. Items like Christmas ornaments and decorations that are unusually different and with unique color tones, tons of assorted Christmas Santas, French milled soaps shaped like your pets, tea towels, table cloths, authentic shell, cast iron and beaded napkin holders, Christmas socks, festive shoes, dishware and highly unusual mantel stockings.  There is clothing and antique artwork, and more.

Joli Boutique was very original and the owner shared that her ideal in opening up such a store eightyears ago, was first and foremost the return of genuine and personal customer service, and yes, I experienced it and I observed everyone else experiencing it too! This store serves all ages, sizes and price ranges.  There are humanity bracelets whose proceeds go to school supplies for homeless children across the nation.  There’s a hat shop and they sell one of a kind gowns, vintage and modern gowns, and there is the coolest little metal black dress to die for!  There’s jewelry and clothing from artists from Los Angeles to Paris.  There are essential oils, soaps, popcorn shirts out of Rockport, Massachusetts, and really cool snake chains made of soft pliable metal that can be molded into whatever your little artistic fingers can design (I’m getting one of those ASAP!), dickies, leg warmers, leggings, etc. etc.  All I can say about this place is for you to dare to “step outside the box”!   La Shoe Boutique (same location, upstairs) carries shoes, boots, clothing, accessories; local artist boot jewelry, earrings, hats and the owners of both stores are sweet people and welcoming.

Quick synopsis of the others…

Loralei’s Boutique – Finer and designer consignment, and gently used merchandise. Some is also new, scarves, hats, authentic Gucci, Coach, Brahmin, Dooney, and Burke.  Juicy bags, Ferragamo shoes, St. John knit suits, crystal chandeliers, and high end boutique items.  The place is beautifully decorated.  The owner is offering gift certificates of $50 for $35 and other amounts are also available.

Unique Celebrations sells things like Santa wine stoppers, unique gifts, a very special potpourri, Christmas teas, personalized hand painted ornaments and glassware, wine glasses and plates, with special messages, and you can even book parties in her sister shop called The Tea Room.  Gifts are creatively wrapped at no extra charge!

Visceral Gallery – This owner was kind of special.  She has been in her shop for two years, is an artist herself, andtaught art at three different levels in the Centerville schools.  She specializes in elements for interiors and corporate design, fine art and unique jewelry, local and national artists (over 50 artists in-house who represent local, regional and national environments.  There is silver jewelry, body adornments, silk scarves, dyed shirts, mobiles, glasswork, sculptures, framed items, Japanese clay jewelry, and even some of Bing Davis’ pottery ceramics!  Bing Davis’s work was part of the show held at the Dayton Art Institute.  He is an educator and artist from the area.  There are even origami cards! And this doesn’t cover it all.  Exhibits change monthly, and you can rent Visceral for your next event.  It’s a very contemporary and classy locale.  For more information, visit www.francineriley.com/visceral.html

Now let’s take a ride down the road over to Waynesville, Ohio to…

THE WAYNESVILLE SHOPS: The Antiques Capital of the Midwest!


If you don’t have a lot of time to shop and would like to have access to a slew of congregated Christmas and holiday craft and antique stores, all on one convenient street, Waynesville is apparently “the” place for you.  It’s not just easy; it’s a really quaint and enchanting experience!  Many of the stores appear to be inside beautifully refurbished Victorian, Queen Anne and Eduardian style homes or are surrounded by them.  They are even open until 8pm on Thursday nights, and here is the link to all the shops you can shop til you drop!  http://waynesvilleshops.com

Want to combine it into a walking history day?  Go here: http://www.waynesvilleohio.com/Walking%20Tour.pdf

These shops are all mostly located on South Main Street in Waynesville.  You can also get a free “Passport” from any of the stores, which you can use to win a $500 shopping spree supporting all the downtown Waynesville shops as well as a Waynesville, Ohio Getaway!

  • December 10-12th weekend is being advertised as “Girlfriend’s Weekend” where you can shop, dine, have coffee, or lunch in Waynesville and then enjoy each of the shop’s individual promotionals!
  • December 26 through January 3rd is Waynesville’s “Ring in the New Year” sidewalk sale.

When you’re finished with your Christmas and holiday shopping, hand in your free passport either to a store proprietor or to the Chamber of Commerce at 10B North Main Street in Waynesville, to be considered in the drawing for the above-mentioned $500 Shopping Spree and Getaway Weekend!  The Passport period ends January 3rd so be sure to submit your passport by that day.  For information, directions and a listing of shops go to www.waynesvilleohio.com

As you get ready to explore the Centerville and Waynesville area’s vast array of specialty stores, please note every one of these shops are definitely visit-worthy.  They are retail shops, yes, but they are also fascinating fashion and historical experiences!  Open yourself up to them and it will be a day to remember!

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Christmas Cookies – The Truly Secret Ingredient

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In our family, there is really only one kind of cookie, and their appreciation is not relegated to only Christmas.  However, no Christmas would be complete without Mom’s sugar cookies – green frosted trees with m&m ornaments, yellow stars, bells and snowmen dressed with hats and buttons, that just beg for you to bite their head off.

Cookie baking is a tradition and traditions are most fun when they are being passed on to younger generations.  Cookie baking and little girls “licking the spoon” go hand in hand.  My first memories are of baking cookies with my mom, and my niece has been baking those same cookies every time she goes to Grandma’s house.   I always invite the youngest over during the big Christmas cookie baking extravaganza.  But the most special of cookies take years of tutelage before any female in our family is allowed to even consider trying to bake them herself.

The secret recipe is just as much a measure of patience and knowledge as it is ingredients.   Knowing just when to take the cookies out of the oven, lest they become crunchy.  Ensuring that the butter is soft but not so soft as to require the addition of more flour…. the proper thickness to roll the dough… how to keep them from getting too fluffy… how to store them when traveling, etc.  The lessons are many but the results are truly amazing.

Throughout my childhood these cookies moved mountains.  My brother used to sell or barter them at school.  I am certain that they were the reason I was invited to go to the “popular” girl’s birthday party in seventh grade.  They may have even played a role in me getting a date to the dance (I can see it now… my brother probably said…. No, you can’t have any of these cookies, but I will let you take my little sister to the prom.)    My Mom… once lovingly referred to as “The Dragon Lady” at work is revered as “The Cookie Fairy” when she brings them to the office.  To this day, even my Dad will momentarily forget “The War” that was waged (aka the divorce) and smile when we get him one of mom’s cookies.  It takes us all back to happy moments.

When my parents were married, homemade baked goods were our family’s gift to extended family, neighbors and friends.  Everyone knew that mom had adapted the cookie recipe in a way that had far surpassed the basic ingredients of its origins.  Accompanied by a variety of goodies, the sugar cookies were always the crowning jewel of the gift.  For many years, I have continued the Christmas cookie tradition.

I have learned to identify the exact moment to take the cookies from the oven… but am blessed with a great oven that has extremely even and consistent heat.  So I set the timer.  I have been baking these cookies for 20+ years with my mom and could likely make her very proud.  They are consistently the right thickness, hardly ever too dry from flour, and usually travel well even with all of the frosting.

But something stops me… I make the cookies but skip the special ingredient.  I only make them occasionally.  While I am thrilled to have the knowledge, I am waiting my turn, patiently.  Mom is teaching the grandkids how to make the cookies.  My niece made her first attempt at home a few weeks ago, and while the flavor was great… she still has a few more years of learning left before they are perfected.  Mom has many years and lots of lessons to teach my daughter.   Sugar cookies are a rite of passage, but not one that should be a competition.  So I use my mom’s recipe – sans one ingredient change – and leverage all the tips and knowledge to make one heck of a sugar cookie.  I am content to know that nobody can really do it better than mom.  And because I am smart enough to acknowledge that, I am usually rewarded with a dozen cookies saved just for me.  YUM.

Oregon District holds its 2010 Candlelight Holiday Home Tour

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Dayton Ohio’s Oregon District is arguably the most well-known historic district in the area. The combination of vibrant entertainment and restored historic homes gives many Dayton visitors a reason to be at least somewhat familiar with the area. If you’ve never had the opportunity to look inside one of these gorgeous homes, the Oregon District’s Holiday Candlelight Tour is your chance!

Each of Dayton’s historic districts has a unique flavor, and the Holiday Home Tours are no different. The Oregon District Holiday Tour, held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7, 8 combines a home tour and a dinner at one of the Oregon Districts wonderful restaurants. *Please note, as of this writing, the dinner tours are full! But you can still participate in the home tours. Tour participants will gather at “The Meeting House” which is 23 Van Buren Street, and end with a dessert at one of the hosting homes. Tickets for the home tour only are $25.00, payable at the door. The tours will begin at 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm each evening. Call Eileen at 937-223-5607 for details and reservations.

Each home on the tour promises to give participants a unique glimpse of modern living in an historic setting at its finest. You visit the OD for fun and entertainment, now visit for the quieter side of life in Dayton’s oldest neighborhood, and first designated historic district.

Painting of Griswold Home by Loretta Puncer, used by permission of owner.

DATV Program: All Things Marketing

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Monica McGee, creator and show host for DATV's All Things Marketing program.

Years ago, I worked for a general contractor and my job was to supervise the work being done at one of his job sites while he was away.  I remember being fascinated by the carpenters whom – with extreme focus and spot-on precision with the hammer and nail – meticulously labored on the task before them, erecting the sturdy frame necessary for a strong structure.

Freelance marketing consultant Monica McGee operates in similar fashion.  She focuses on a goal, knocks it squarely on its head, then – like a certain Brooklyn-born hip-hop artist – moves on to the next one.

I could say that McGee’s an up-and-coming professional, but the truth is…she’s already here.

Her show, All Things Marketing, airing on DATV, is an expertly-produced examination of the importance of the often-overlooked process of marketing within everyday business, political and personal activities.  “My vision for the program is to show marketing from different viewpoints,” says McGee.  “I interview business professionals, marketing experts and individuals who understand marketing and how it relates to business, sales, image, and brand equity of a company or individual”  McGee believes showing marketing from various vantage points keeps the show interesting.

“Even if you’re not into marketing, you can relate,” she adds.  “Whether it’s a company, a job, a place or a product…everything in one way or another is marketing.”

Another interesting twist to the All Things Marketing format is that each episode focuses on a specific theme.   The first episode (“All Things Politics”) centered around the effects of marketing on the political process.  McGee’s guests – OH Representative Clayton Luckie (D), Logan Martinez (Green Party), David Landon (R),  Robert Scott (Tea Party), Fred Strahorn(D),  County Commission Candidate Jan Kelly (R),  and Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell (Independent) – represented a wide spectrum of  viewpoints within the political spectrum.

“The conversation was lively,” recalls McGee, with guests voicing their opinions on topics ranging from budgetary spending and the effectiveness of political ads in swaying public opinion.

L to R: Shondale Atkinson, Shana Douglas, Carla Weis Hale, show host Monica mcGee, Sharon Davis Howard, Kesha Brooks and Vicki Giambrone. (Photo by F. Coleman)

For her second show (“All Things Non-Profit: Making Your Marketing Monies Stretch”), McGee tapped Sharon Davis Howard and Vicki Giambrone of the Crown Jewels™ of Dayton, Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale of CultureMash, and Shondale Atkinson and Kesha Brooks of The Mustard Seed Foundation to discuss the challenges of marketing within the not-for-profit sector.  If you missed the November 30th airing of this fantastic episode, DATV will re-air it on Dec. 5th at 5 p.m. and Dec. 10th at 2 p.m.

“Monica’s amazing,” says Larry Haney, technical director for All Things Marketing.  “She and I talked for a long time about the direction of the show.  She’s done a wonderful job right from the beginning and she really cares about the quality of the content in the show.  Also, I like the fact that she chose to highlight some of the non-profits here in Dayton who are doing some important work.”  Show assistant and close friend  Geborah Stephen says, “She keeps things very professional.  It’s  important to her that the show be successful.”

While McGee certainly has a grand vision for All Things Marketing (“I want to have more regional guests.”), for now her focus is on Dayton and its surrounding communities.  She’s presently lining up guests for the next taping (“All Things Women: Marketing Yourself For Success In A Male-dominated Workforce”) and – like those carpenters I observed years ago – I’m marveling at the efficiency by which she’s laying  strong foundation to build upon.

Visit All Things Marketing on Facebook

and on Twitter

or by phone at (937) 540-0182.

December YP Roundup

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December brings holiday parties galore for people already involved in various YP organizations, and plenty of opportunities for the casual observer to network, get involved, and explore some of the many YP groups in the region.

Kicking off December’s activities, you can join Generation Dayton at their holiday wine/chocolate tasting at Winans Coffee and Chocolates at the Dayton Mall; for $20, you can try 5 wines and 5 chocolates. YUM! Another option to kick-start your December is Karaoke night at Blind Bob’s with the 20-somethings of Dayton. This meetup utilizes events of interest that are already happening around town and gets a group together to make it a party. Then Thursday brings the Young AFCEAns Holiday Party at the Pub (at the Greene). From 5-7 PM, they provide the food, soda, and beer – you come ready to network with other local defence contractors. Don’t know if this group is for you? Contact cweinstein@rhinocorps.com for more info. And the launch of the new group Culture Mash is also on December 2 at Wright State – this is a new organization dedicated to bringing together young leaders to give back to the community.

First Firday conveniently fits in right here – although not an official YP event, local arts group JumpstART has been highlighting a lot of great places to buy local art to finish up your holiday shopping – hit downtown and explore the galleries for some unique shopping. Continue your weekend with the Generation Dayton Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 4. At the Old Courthouse, this semi-formal event is a great time to reflect back on the accomplishments of GenD members, announce the winners of the election, and generally have a lot of fun. Free for members and $25 for nonmembers (RSVP required). If you’re up north of town this Saturday, you’ll want to party it up with HYPE as they try out Cosmic Bowling from 9PM – Midnight; cost is only $13 for shoe rental and all you can bowl.

Second week of December starts slow but then ends with a lot of great activities. Midweek HYPE gets things started with a Wednesday lunch to catch up with your fellow Northern Miami Valley YPs – free to attend, but lunch is at your cost.  Also on December 8, you can learn more about the Dayton Ballet at their monthly meeting at the Dayton Racquet Club. Starting with a happy hour, they discuss business, break into committees, and talk about how to better connect YPs with the ballet scene.  Then, join your friends from Generation Dayton for their Thirsty Thursday starting at 5:30 PM at the Dayton Racquet Club (Kettering Tower) – open to all YPs in the region. Also on December 9, the Dayton Creative Syndicate joins up with the Greater Dayton Ad Association for their Holiday Party and Auction. Learn more about this young professional creative group online and see if this might be the party for you.

Friday kicks off your weekend with the fun brought to you by YP @ Play – The Dayton Urban League Young Professionals provide a creative alternative to the typical club scene! It’s a supercharged ‘play date’ for adults; a nostalgic night of fun including familiar games such as Twister, Uno, Spades, Dominos, Monopoly, along with today’s flyest games such as Wii, XBOX…all with an adult twist! On Saturday, a great collaboration between the Dayton Ballet Barre, JumpstART, and the Young Lawyers Division provides all YPs – regardless of membership affiliation – with a fantastic deal to enjoy a holiday classic. Jump into Ballet with A Night with the Nutcracker. Get 1/2 price tickets (that’s only $30) to this popular holiday show and enjoy an afterparty at the Wine Gallery. (NOTE: Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling Kathy at 937-449-5060 for this deal.)

The third week of this month is packed with events as your local YP groups make holiday adjustments. The 20-something meetup has a handful of great events on their calendar – like shopping, shooting, eating and drinking – that you can check-out. Then join HYPE for their regularly scheduled monthly happy hour on the Third Thursday of the month at The Caroline in Troy. Also on the third Thursday, the Dayton Ballet Barre meets for a happy hour with Wine and Ballet at the Wine Gallery at Main and Monument starting at 5:30 PM. Generation Dayton makes a slight adjustment as they move their Fourth Friday lunch to December 17. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to catch up with some friends, pass around a business card or two, and enjoy some seriously delicious food from Rue Dumaine.

Rounding out the list of YP events for December is Generation Dayton’s Business and Breakfast on Tuesday, December 21 at the Brunch Club from 7-8 AM.

Hope you have a great December and get a chance to get out there and explore some of the great groups providing fun events for YPs to mix and mingle.   Don’t forget to add any events I may have missed in the comments section and to the DMM Event Calendar.  Finally, happy holidays whenever and whatever you may be celebrating this month!

Dayton Holiday Home Tours 2010: Grafton Hill

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We continue our look at 2010 Holiday Home Tours of Dayton neighborhoods with Grafton Hill. Dayton’s best kept secret is going to open its doors to the public on Dec. 4 & 5, 2010. What’s on this tour? Seven architecturally significant historic homes including Queen Anne, Craftsman, and American Four-Square styles, in a variety of construction materials and stages of restoration. Expect this guided tour to take two to three hours, including a stop for assorted holiday food and beverages. Tours start at 5pm and 6pm Saturday, 2pm and 3pm Sunday.

From the Grafton Hill Association:

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online by sending an email to [email protected], and following the PayPal links in the reply message. You can also pay by phone with a credit card by calling Saundra Altman at Past Patterns, 937-223-3722. Get your tickets now — they make a great early Christmas present for friends and family, too!

… Additionally, at least two Open Houses will be available just before or after the tour, at nearby homes for sale. More specific information on Open Houses and other homes for sale will be sent to ticket holders, and available in printed form during the tour.

All the homes are within a short distance of each other, so don’t worry, we won’t have you walking great distances. But with all the beautiful homes in our neighborhood decorated for the holidays, you might want to! If you do, you’ll find our map showing all the tour homes plus all those for sale to come in very handy.

…Grafton Hill was designated an historic district by the city of Dayton in 1988 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

You can friend Grafton Hill Historic District on Facebook!

As a disclosure, I’ll be hosting one of the Open Houses at a listing -please stop by to say Hello!  My personal experience with this district is that meeting the neighbors in the Grafton Hill community has been nothing but positive, and the Holiday Tour should provide a spectacular opportunity for a HouseNerd to enjoy the interiors of these remarkable homes.

Make A Wish Come True

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All around the Miami Valley, it is truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Pine cones wreaths and white lights line the streets of many neighborhoods. Restaurants, retailers and gathering places are bustling with activity in preparation of the crowds that will come for the holiday parties and the early bird promotions.

For the next few weeks fun, laughter, shopping, lots of eating and spending time with loved ones will be the order of the day for most families. It is the joy and happiness that fills the air that truly makes it the most wonderful time of the year.

It is also a time when people, sometimes even a Scrooge or two, believe that wishes can and do come true. This year, you can make a wish come true for a family affected by domestic violence by supporting the YWCA Dayton’s Holiday Wish List.

Every year the YWCA serves as a safe haven for children and their mothers as they struggle to rebuild their lives after enduring months even years of abuse. Unfortunately many leave home with little more than the clothes on their backs.

As more than 100 children are expected to be housed at the shelter during the holidays this year, the YWCA is counting on the generosity of people in the community to make the wishes of these families come true, even during a time in their life when there is little to believe in.

Fulfill a wish today! Click here to view the wish list and others details on how you can make a child’s Christmas bright. For more ways to support the YWCA go to www.ywcadayton.org.

National Day of Listening Encourages Conversation Instead of Shopping on November 26th

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In 2008, oral history project, StoryCorps had an idea to encourage people across the country to use the day after Thanksgiving not for shopping but for conversation.  That idea became the first National Day of Listening.  The tradition has continued and public radio stations around the country, many of whom air StoryCorps during Morning Edition, are getting on board. Here in the Miami Valley, WYSO has set up its own page explaining how you can participate.

It’s pretty simple: sit down with someone you care about: a parent, grandparent, relative or friend and invite them to share their story.  You can record the story on a laptop, iPhone, tape recorder or even with a paper and pen, but just the simple act of listening can be enough.

There are tips on how to get started including a video from StoryCorps on WYSO’s website.  You can also hear some interview between local residents from when the StoryCorps mobile booth was in Dayton this spring.  The national version of StoryCorps airs on WYSO 91.3FM every Friday morning during Morning Edition (5-8am), and Miami Valley StoryCorps (comprised entirely of local interviews) airs Wednesday mornings during Morning Edition.

Kick Off The Holidays with Local Shopping and a New Ice Rink!

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Thanksgiving is almost here, and your MetroParks are gearing up for their biggest holiday season ever. In addition to the full palette of family-friendly, nature-inspired programming you’ve grown to love, we’ve got a couple special events happening this week in our urban parks that I’d like to share with the DaytonMostMetro.com community.

Did you remember to pre-order your holiday feast?

Tomorrow, November 24, is Stock-Up Wednesday at the PNC 2nd Street Market. The Market is opening a special day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those who are hip to this trendy downtown facility have already put in their pre-orders to their favorite vendors that will make their Thanksgiving entertaining a breeze. I’m picking up a few farm-fresh ingredients (plus some of my own backyard herbs) to create a delicious, locally grown feast for my family. Not sure about how to prepare the bird or your designated side dish? Ask a vendor; they’re more than happy to share the secrets to unlocking the flavor of their home-grown produce, meats, cheeses and more. And since I’ll be preparing the meal at my parents, I’m looking forward to a delicious lunch on Stock-Up Wednesday that someone else will cook for me!

Give your out-of-town guests a unique Dayton experience!

I love bringing my out-of-town guests to this venue for Saturday brunch, and I can’t think of a better way to wake up from your tryptophan-induced coma than lunch at the Market on Black Friday. Forget fighting crowds at department stores—I’ll use the free Wifi at the Market to scoop up deals while relaxing with a cup of organic, fair-trade coffee. If you’re not ready for turkey sandwiches, turkey salad, turkey gravy, turkey hash, turkey a la king, or gallons of turkey soup quite yet, stop by the Market the day after your buffet bonanza for a light, healthy lunch and get ready to work off those calories—on ICE!

That’s right, after its construction hiatus, the MetroParks Ice Rink is ready to open! Stop by RiverScape MetroPark this Friday, November 26, for the grand opening festivities. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday and lasts all weekend long. Skate 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday. There will be ice sculpture carving, concessions by Skyline, horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday music and, of course, ice skating. This rink is about 50 percent larger than its Festival Plaza predecessor and you’ll enjoy a longer skating season, extending to March 13, 2011. If you’re no stranger to this summer’s cultural festivals like Cityfolk or Dayton Celtic festivals, you already know where the hotspot will be this winter—right under the covered pavilion.

Burn off your Thanksgiving feast at the new MetroParks Ice Rink! Learn more at http://www.metroparks.org/Skating

Love to skate? Hit the ice all week long. If you’ve got your own skates, bring them to the rink Monday through Thursday; there’s no admission fee, so you can carve those figure-eights for free. Rentals are still just $3 on these weekdays. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays will be action-packed with music and lights. Your $5 admission on these days gets you into the rink and covers the cost of skate rentals. Bring the kids—skate sizes range from preschool size 8 to women’s 11 and men’s 15. Lessons, programs and special events will take place at MetroParks Ice Rink all season long. Grab the current issue of the MetroParks’ quarterly publication, ParkWays, or check the website for details.

Make plans to host not just a local feast but a truly Dayton experience this Thanksgiving!

Culture Mash – Helping Those Who Help

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(submitted by Shana Douglas)

CultureMASH is an organization of young leaders, in all facets of marketing including new media, that are using their talents and skill sets to give something back to the community.  Our mission is to identify groups that represent causes across the Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus regions who have had an impact on the community, but are looking to take their efforts to the next level.

Using our talents, we hope to organize communities on and offline, to create, share and amplify both simple and transparent messages that extend far beyond the social network wall. Social media has had a tremendous impact on the success of nonprofits in gaining awareness encouraging involvement and raising funds. Whether in a training capacity or full fledged campaign management, CultureMASH will assist these groups with their marketing efforts and needs.

A large part and additional focus of CultureMASH is making the connect between the younger generation and community outreach initiatives. Through our Social 101 Tour, we will visit elementary schools, high schools both colleges and universities across the region teaching the pros and cons of social networking, safety concerns and how to effectively use these new tools. In doing so, we hope to encourage young adults to use their talents and new knowledge of these resources to do the same as CultureMASH, whether independently or alongside our organization.

Shana Douglas and Carla Hale (photo by Frank Coleman)

We are comprised of remarkable talent, innovative thinking and a diverse spectrum of creative insight. Founders Shana Douglas and Carla Hale have great faith in this social good initiative and excited to get started.

Our official launch is on Dec. 2 and promises to be an emotional and inspiring evening. We would like to invite our young people, business owners, community leaders, marketing professional, nonprofit groups and those who are interested in making a real difference to attend this event. For more details you can visit www.culturemash.org.

McPherson Town Holiday Tour

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Admit it: You sometimes drive out of your way to cruise Dayton’s historic neighborhoods, looking at beautiful homes and gardens, staring in awe at glorious testaments to workmanship the likes of which haven’t been seen in one hundred years. Yeah. Me too. No, we are not a crazy neighborhood creepers, we are HouseNerds and O’ Happy Day! It’s Historic District Holiday Tour time in Dayton and I’m giddy with excitement. Watch this space for the next few weeks as we bring you details of Holiday Tours in several of Dayton’s most beloved historic districts including McPherson Town, Grafton Hill, and the Oregon District. Today, we look at McPherson Town.

McPherson Town is called Dayton’s oldest suburb, located just north of the river, a small community featuring Eastlake and Queen Anne style homes that is tucked just to the west of N. Main St. I spoke with neighborhood resident and Holiday Tour contact person, Rick, about the tour and what he loved about McPherson Town. A resident for two years, Rick said he liked the location “It’s within walking distance to all the cultural venues in Dayton,” but more than that, Rick described the “closeness of the community. We have an active community life with a neighborhood cookout in the summer, monthly dining-out get togethers, and community gardening. It’s really a wonderful place, and I couldn’t ask for more from a neighborhood.”

Curious to find out more about this community and the beautiful homes? The McPherson Town Holiday Tour will be held Thanksgiving weekend on the evenings of Friday November 26th & Saturday November 27th, 2010. This is a guided tour of 10 homes, some have been opened during past tours but Rick told me that there will be a variety of home styles, ages, and sizes, and homes in various stages of repair or disrepair, including an infill house. One of the more interesting homes on the tour is one that was once a complete rehab and made the cover of “Country Living” magazine. After that it was sold, fell into disrepair, and is now being rehabbed again.

Between 500-600 guests are expected, and the tours are guided and scheduled by reservation. Reservations can be paid for in advance for best pricing. Reservations are just $12 in advance and $15 at the door. What a great way to share the beauty of Dayton’s Historic Gems with visiting friends, family, and loved ones who share your HouseNerd passion, contact either Rick or Nelson at 937-938-7176 for details, or sign up online here.

And be sure to share your post (or past) tour thoughts in the comments below.

Photo: Courtesy of McPherson Town Historic District, used with permission.

Updayton to Hire Executive Director

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A few years back when the Creative Class Task Force called for volunteers to become “catalysts” to help reinvigorate the region through what would become DaytonCREATE, the application said they were signing up for a one-year commitment from March 2008-March 2009.   However, the excitement for the updayton project and the progress made kept many of the catalysts actively engaged in the mission over these past three years.  Although some of the original catalysts moved on, many new volunteers joined the fold.  Updayton continues to grow, advocate for young talent in the region, and produce projects to impact the experience of young talent in the region.

The growth and development of updayton, its projects, and the annual Young Creatives Summit has been due to the efforts of an unpaid steering committee with a team of dedicated volunteers.  To ensure sustainability moving into the future, updayton announces the search for a paid part-time Executive Director to coordinate all aspects of the updayton initiative.  This position has been made possible in-part through collaboration with the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education.

Bringing on an Executive Director provides updayton with the potential to grow in areas relevant to young talent in the region. Updayton has been asked to provide support and input on projects for many local organizations; an Executive Director allows updayton to take on additional tasks and make a greater impact for recent college graduates and young professionals.

Updayton chair, Scott Murphy, believes that this is the logical next step in the growth of updayton.  “We’ve brought young people to the forefront of getting involved and determining the future of the region – both on projects already in existence and by giving them the tools to launch their own ideas.  As these efforts move forward and new initiatives begin in 2011, we also need to take steps towards greater sustainability.  That’s the goal of bringing an Executive Director on board.”

Do you know a person who would be a good fit for updayton’s Part-Time Executive Director?  Is that person YOU?  Check out the job description here.

Growing A Mo In Movember For Men’s Health

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Salvador Dalí

Ah, remember those mustaches of yore… Rollie Fingers, Tom Selleck, Charlie Chaplin, Salvador Dali, Yosemite Sam, Ron Jeremy… of course, in many parts of Dayton facial hair never went out of style – but today there is a new group of men sporting the stache, and it is for an excellent cause.

Welcome to Movember – a campaign that challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st  clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.  In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $42 Million US equivalent dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners.  The funds raised through Movember’s US campaign benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Yes, this post is not exactly the most timely one we’ve done as it is already Movember 18th, but it is definitely not too late to help this good cause.  Our good friend Andy Williamson (Daytonian, Outdoor enthusiast and all-around nice guy) has joined the Movember challenge and needs YOUR help by either joining his team (there are still many good stache-growing days left in Movember) or making a donation to Andy’s team.  Any amount will help – even just $10.

Team MoFRO

I’m joining the growing club of modern gentlemen who believe in the virtues of fine moustachery, immaculate grooming and growing a moustache for Movember. I am looking for like-minded ladies and gentlemen to join my team to change the face of men’s health.Movember is about raising funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically cancer affecting men, because:-    1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime

–    1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

The more people I can get on board, the more lives we can impact. I am asking you to join my team and either grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or join as a Mo Sista to help recruit other gentlemen.

To join my Movember team go to http://us.movember.com/register/91322 and follow the steps.

Once registered you’ll be sent all the information you need to raise funds and start growing as part of my Movember team – MoFro.

If you’re interested in learning more about the work that is being carried out as a result of Movember funds, feel free to read the details at http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

I hope you join me to change the face of men’s health.
Andy Williamson

ALSO – the MoFRO group is organizing a “Mustache Ride” on November 30th – bring your bike and a suggested $10 donation to Fifth Third Field at 5:30pm for a short ride around Dayton (bring a light).  Awesome raffle prizes from around the region will be awarded and mustaches will be available for everyone.  The ride ends at Brixx for some Mo-friendly beverages!

CultureMash-New Media Group Gives Back!

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A group of young professionals  with the desire to give back to our community and share their skills and success with new media is set to launch Dec 2nd at a kickoff event at Wright State. More details here.

But even before they’ve launched they have jumped into action helping with a campaign to help a local family get visibility and help for their young son who suffers from unexplained seizures.  The story itself is heart wrenching, as you’ll read below.

But what makes this story more relevant is that while facing so much in his personal life, David Bowman has spent years touting the influence of social media.  He’s perhaps our area’s most respected and giving authority on new media.  Several years ago when I first launched DaytonDining as a ning site, I needed help.  I had seen David’s name around town and knew he had experience with these sites.  I emailed him, offering to pay him for help and within the hour he emailed back, with the help I needed and even more resources for me.  And wouldn’t even think about taking my money.  In subsequent meetings, he proved that he’s truly all about spreading his love for social media and his dreams of educating the Dayton region into being a hub of experts in new media.  He is the driving force behind the creation of Summitup, which just held it’s 2nd annual social media conference last month.  He’s a man that makes an impact.

As Richard J. Kaiser put on his facebook page, “I thought about leaving Datyon..if you want to thank the man who kept me here, please sign up to Send Jude Bowman’s Story to Ellen Degeneres…David Bowman is the reason why I’m staying in Dayton and continuing to help make this city great!”

So now it’s our turn to use social media for good and ask you to help. If you are interested in participating in this effort, a copy of the letter they drafted is below.  Simply copy it, print it, and mail it to the Ellen show.

The Bowman Family

Ellen DeGeneres Show

Attn:  Kara Hogan

4000 Warner Blvd. Building19

Burbank, CA 91522-0001

Dear Ellen,

We are the many friends and family members of the Bowman Family.  We are all coming together to ask for your help for their four year old son Jude.  We realize that there are millions of people in the world facing difficult times, be it financial, personal, or medical.  We know that some problems seem more at crisis levels than others, but to each of these people and each of these families, finding help is paramount.  This is the Bowman’s story and our plea for help for them.

Upon meeting Jude, one might never suspect or imagine that he is anything but a happy healthy child.  He is handsome, charming, funny, and bright.  However, spend more than a passing moment in his presence and one would most definitely become confused and maybe even a bit uncomfortable.  Jude’s eyes often roll uncontrollably upwards, he will lose muscle control, enter into a coma-like stare, and frequently fall unconscious for several seconds at a time.  His parents, David and Colleen, will hold him until the episodes pass, as if nothing is happening, because it has become the family norm.  It is a scary experience for anyone to witness, but even more so when you realize that the Bowman’s have no way of explaining why this has happened; they themselves have no reasons, or explanations.

Jude has undergone virtually every neurological test.  He was initially diagnosed with epilepsy and was treated with six different medications, including rescue drugs, to treat what the Bowman’s were assured to be seizures.  After two years of experimenting with different combinations and doses of medications, the Bowman’s realized that the medications were not helping to control the “seizures”.  The symptoms and aftereffects of the “seizure” activity were increasing in occurrence and severity.  None of the medications stopped the “seizures” from occurring or made Jude’s life any more normal.  While taking these medications, Jude would become disoriented.  He would not recognize people or things in his own home environment.  He continued to experience involuntary eye movements in which his eyes would roll up into his head, often followed by instances of collapse.  The family has called the paramedics numerous times as he has stopped breathing in their arms.  He has been hospitalized six times in two years and has been studied under video monitoring four times.  Jude has experienced more testing than any child should have to endure.  The most difficult part of the testing has been the outcome; all of the results have been inconclusive.

Disoriented, confused, lethargic, isolated, uncoordinated, and frustrated are not words one would wish to use to describe anyone, let alone their four year old child.  Watching Jude with other children is heartbreaking.  His energy level is no where near that of the children with whom he tries to play and he can often be found sitting by himself like an outsider.  He often collapses while walking up and down stairs and there are some days that Jude loses control of body movement and has to be held.  There are many periods where he cannot identify Colleen, David, and his sister Ella.  He frequently asks Colleen and David to help him and all they can do is hold him while his mind and body break down.  Most people have had to watch their children struggle with something at some point in their lives; the Bowman’s spend every day watching Jude struggle with everything, from eating dinner to running through the backyard.  The powerlessness they and everyone who knows and loves Jude feels is all consuming.

Jude and the Bowman Family could use a helping hand.  The past four years have been filled with great happiness and life experiences for the Bowman’s.  That same four years have been filled with fear, anger, acceptance, constant doubt, medical research, medical testing, foreign medical jargon, and sadness.  Jude has been diagnosed with everything from benign reflux,  severe epilepsy, Paroxysmal Tonic Up-gaze (PTU), to the most recent diagnosis: unknown.  The Bowman’s have trusted in medical professionals who have medicated, over and over again, a baby who could not even walk or talk, to a four year old who can’t even begin to look forward to starting school next year as his condition continues to slow his physical abilities.  Jude’s case does not seem to fall into a clear diagnosis, so he is passed from doctor to doctor with still no results.  Colleen and David have begun their own quest for answers.  With limited resources, their path toward any resolution is quite daunting.  Obtaining all of Jude’s medical records has become a monumental task.  Hours upon hours of research has been logged every night.  They have applied for a service dog in the hope that Jude can develop a bond with someone who can help him during these episodes and help to create a small bit of independence for him as he gets older and more aware of his condition and limitations.  The financial, physical, and emotional toll it has taken on their family must be overwhelming.   As I watch their family struggle day after day, I am inspired by their courage and spirit.  I am trying to extend a much needed helping hand and am hoping you or someone you know might be able to help them as well.

If there is anything we would ask of you, it is simply for exposure.  Exposure so that the Bowman’s can hopefully find a cure for Jude or ultimately find answers and treatments that will enable Jude to live a healthy fulfilling life.  We fervently hope that one day soon, someone will see Jude’s story and be able to help.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Friends and Family of Colleen and David Bowman

Voices and Stories: Tales from a Diverse Community

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On Thursday, November 4, 2010, The Centerville-Washington Township Diversity Council hosted a very special event entitled “Voices and Stories: Tales from a Diverse Community”—a community project intended to embrace their own mission of “bringing together governments, schools, businesses, media, faith and ethnic communities, organizations, and individuals to promote multiculturalism and [to] address issues of diversity.”

The stage was set with red and white lighting, a tree stump, a faux

“Fire Induction with Raymond Two Crows and Alicia Pagan”

campfire, an initial four shouts through a conch shell, and rhythmic tapping on a wide, flat drum giving the audience an immediate atmosphere of closeness, and therefore a special kind of neutrality. Out loud, the speaker invites us to “Be Intrigued”!  Then, we heard Native Cherokee Indian singing into the above pictured drum …..Throughout the event, Raymond Two Crows, a Native Cherokee Indian, of Scots-Irish and Lumbee Indian heritage plays different instruments to introduce the ten individual accounts of ten individual’s lives. For the audience, it was like listening to ten different news headlines and so I will share some of these stories as such in hopes of conveying the intimate, overall “holy ground” ambience (if I may) of the event .

“Cameroon West African Princess Helene Anagho-Beny, experiences culture shock in America.”

This beautiful French speaking woman, whose father was an African Tribal Prince, moved to America with her 6 brothers and sisters (ages 2 to 14) and learned to speak English along with many other cultural challenges.  She shared with us the humorous “What were we thinking?”- experience of returning to Cameroon a few years later, fully “Americanized” (if you will) in white T-Shirts during the rainy season!  She also shared the traditionally enlightening experience of laying their grandfather to rest, witnessing the coronation of her father, and the “old chief sharing wisdom with the new chief”.  A week of feasting and celebrating followed as they connected with who they actually were.  Finally, her personal revelation of being American citizens in Cameroon, and Cameroon citizens in America, and then to recognize they were simply “Citizens of the world!”  As she broadened her personal horizon, so ours was also influenced.  She amused us in stating that when asked “What did you do last summer?” she responded “I became a Tribal Princess!”—and we can’t top that for an impressive response, I don’t think!!

Mukund Srinivas, shared his realization of the benefit of having two cultures

“Alma Mater: Students from China/Netherlands, India, and Japan share their stories of acclimating to American culture”

within himself and two viewpoints of all that he sees, and though missing his homeland culture, never regretted the move to America, and all that he learned through this lens of multiculturalism.  He spoke two languages and went to the grocery store together with his family so that everyone could support each other through the experience.  Our Chinese friend, Ruize Zhuang, shared that his background of being a Dutch-Chinese visitor to America turned many heads! He shared some Chinese traditions with us, the meanings given to certain foods, the fun family competition to find the store with the longest noodles, celebrations of birthdays back-to-back, coinciding with relatives in China simultaneously sharing the same celebrations with the same foods, offering him a feeling of connectedness.  Suzuka Watanabe from Japan shared that the initial shock of coming to America was so great that her family thought they should immediately return, but then, it was decided that a Japanese school here in America where she would learn about Japanese math, culture and foods was a suitable solution for supplementing her education.  She shared that it was quite amazing when 100 people were all pounding rice cakes at the same time and that she was glad she stayed here while staying connected to her culture as well.

“Indian Mother and Teacher loves to share stories with children”

I will tell you that we listened to a mother from southern India named Asha Mahambrey, who believed in the power of stories to raise her children and help them keep true to a sense of her culture.  She shared a story of how she explained to them why there was one God but many different perceptions of Him and how we all experience God in different ways.  She also shared her love of her simple mother, who had no education, but whose wisdom and love she appreciated more than her own education.  In parting, she shared, “Hold onto your nature” and that “we can bring profound Truth to young people’s minds” through stories told not only to her own children but to the children she teaches.

There isn’t enough time or space to tell full details of the all the accounts, but I’d like to share a few more as concise synopses of the remaining cultures showcased.

Bill Castro ‘s family came to the United States from South America in 1966 and ultimately built their El Mason restaurant through the continuing visions of his father, who was a dreamer, and always saw the potential to expand, in essence, the potential of the mindset… “Si, se puede!” (Yes, you can!)

Karine Daddah shared her “Wedding Bells” story of growing up in Mauritania.  She shared how her mother wanted her to marry someone from the Mauritanian culture so she would always have someone to connect with her on this level.  And so as providence would have it, she met her future husband in Mauritania heading to the United States. She had a combination of Vietnam, Lebanon, France and Mauritania in her background.  She married in the South of France and found her way to continue experiencing everything of these and the Mauritanian culture while recognizing that she married happily–knowing “no one else would understand her multiculturalism as uniquely well as her new Mauritanian husband would.

Kathy Hayes, who is formerly from Western North Carolina and now teaches Appalachian Studies at Sinclair Community College, shared her family’s “Pickin’ and Grinnin’” experiences at their old mountain cabin, with her very musically talented relatives, whose talents were regular events when there was no internet, tv, or ipods, but just the sound of mountain music.  Kathy shared that her mother was a walking history book, a woman who felt just like a bird whose natural state is singing and she became a singer later on, receiving the National Heritage Award from the National Endowment of the Arts for her efforts in sharing and preserving her mountain music and heritage with others, and something she asked Kathy to promote, and while being true to that request, Kathy advises “Be yourself! Be true to who you are!”

Marsha Bonhart is WDTN’s Channel 2 Anchor/Reporter, and even she came out to share with the audience “All the World’s a Stage”–readings from William Shakespeare.

In the end, Alicia Pagan, (of Puerto Rican descent, identifying herself with Taino Indians, Spanish and African and who currently teaches Spanishat Trotwood High School) and her husband, Ray Two Crows, wisely advised us all that “Stories protect us from ill health…Stories are our defense!…In the belly of the story there is life for the people….the importance of love and respect.  Our stories, she said,  are sacred, because each one of us is sacred…and that we are ultimately all relatives—34th cousins from everyone else.”

We all know that by opening ourselves up to diversity we too, discover the power of the personal story and the personal experience.

In an article from the Principia Wire quoting the well-known Memoirist Patricia Hampl, she wrote: “…Stories can move people to oppose injustice in a way that reports and statistics can’t.”  She continues that “Eventually, narrative may even help us avert injustice.”

This event truly embraced individualism. How sweetly it burns off the petty edges of our lives and restores the innocence we need to eliminate cynicism in whatever ways it tries to thwart that true sense of humanity and love that are truly within each of us, perhaps waiting to be viscerally tapped into in some tender, irresistible manner—such as through the power of a personal, cultural story, such as in this lovely event which we hope the Council continues to cultivate on an annual basis for all of Dayton to enjoy!  We would look forward to that!

All photos by Jerry Huffman

The (second) Death of Passenger Rail in Ohio

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3C Rail Plan – Worth Saving?

Last year, many Ohioans (especially students, urban dwellers and young professionals) cheered loudly when it was announced that Ohio would receive $400 million to modify and improve freight rail tracks to accommodate a new passenger rail system called 3C which would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.  Of course, Daytonians were a bit put off by the obvious exclusion of a “D” in the name, but the thought of passenger rail becoming a reality was enough to offset any hard feelings.  Proponents point to the ability to work, read or relax while commuting that would be a huge plus with the many who currently drive between cities for work, and that with rising gas prices it would eventually be cheaper than driving.  They argue that the necessary operating subsidies pale in comparison to the amount of public money poured in our roads and highways every year (which incidentally played a significant role in killing trains the first time).  They claim that 3C would put Ohio in the 21st century and connect it with neighboring states (many with their own passenger rail plans).  And they point to the opportunities for economic development that would likely occur near the proposed train stations – most being in struggling urban cores like Dayton.  According to the 3C is ME section of the official ODOT website (obviously taking a pro-side), the train would reach speeds of 79 mph and also act as a boost for jobs and economic development:

  • Ohio’s $400 million investment will result in 255 immediate construction jobs over a two-year period
  • Well-studied U.S. Department of Commerce data also predicts the $400 million investment will create approximately 8,000 indirect and spin-off jobs in Ohio

Of course, that was before last Tuesday when Governor Ted Strickland (a champion for 3C) was defeated in his first

Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich - "Passenger rail is not in Ohio's future."

re-election bid by staunch conservative John Kasich.  Kasich made no bones about his feelings against 3C during his campaign, and predictably and abruptly announced within hours of his win that “passenger rail in Ohio was dead”.  He, along with many of his fellow conservatives across the state, insist that Ohio does not have the density necessary for passenger rail to make sense, and more importantly – Ohio cannot afford the estimated $17 million annual subsidy to keep the system running after it is built despite the once-in-a-lifetime federal grant of $400 million.  Others against the rail plan claim that it will not be fast enough to compete with automobiles as a viable inter-city transportation option and will not have schedules that accommodate most peoples’ needs.  They point out that added to the cost of transportation from train stations to final destinations (made more challenging by decades of sprawl patterns in Ohio cities), passenger rail will not be cost-competitive with simply driving.  Not to mention that many if not most Ohians will rarely find a need to use the rail system anyway.

In DaytonMostMetro.com’s first debate column, we’ve invited Shanon Potts and Teri Lussier to share their opposing views on this hot local topic, which can be read by clicking on the tabs at the top of this story.  We hope that this is the first of many op-eds about local issues to be featured here, and we invite you all to chime in with your own opinions in our comment section.

Pro

Shanon Potts is an Assistant City Attorney at City of Dayton and 2010 Chair for Generation Dayton.

Hearing of plans to connect Ohio’s major cities with passenger rail service made me want to dance and sing, “Come on, ride the train, hey, ride it, woo woo!” High-speed rail is a key transportation component in the world’s developed countries and failure to make proper investments in a passenger rail system now is a mistake. Unfortunately, Ohio’s Governor-elect, John Kasich, recently proclaimed the train dead, stating, “Passenger rail is not in Ohio’s future.”

Young adults favor transportation choice now more than ever. Probably not unlike many other children of the eighties who grew up in small Midwestern towns, I was not aware of transportation alternatives. Amish traveled by
horse and buggy, only conductors rode trains, and everyone else traveled on roads in automobiles. Roads unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclists. I first learned of Amtrak from students from other countries while studying
abroad. Despite growing up with a narrow view of transportation, it is a mindset that can be overcome through education and life experiences, or simply a more open and creative mind.

Unfortunately passenger rail was dead in this state well before many of us (young adults) were born. Eighty years ago we had an extensive rail network. It was privately owned and operated and tax paying. In the name of national defense and security, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was signed into law. It was the beginning of the end for passenger
rail. Governments began subsidizing highways and roads by the billions while at the same time forcing rail out of business. Now the cost of some highways and roads are covered by taxes and tolls. Investment in highways, roads and bridges continue, mostly to the exclusion of all other forms of transportation.

Passenger rail failed because our government got in the business of subsidizing highways and roads. The possible unintended consequence was flight from cities as policy began to favor transportation by automobile over all other forms of transportation. There is no better time than now to level the playing field to restore prosperity, investment and business growth to Ohio’s largest cities and to allow all Ohioans to reap the rewards. It is time to move Ohio forward into the 21st Century by laying the necessary foundation for modern, high-speed passenger rail service.

The cost seems so little for all that we stand to gain. Investment in the infrastructure for high-speed passenger rail equals job creation and economic growth. An estimated 255 new jobs will be created over the first two years. The United States Department of Commerce predicts an additional 8,000 jobs from organic growth and an $18 million economic impact on the Dayton Region. The cost that opponents are whining about subsidizing amounts to $1.50 per year for taxpayers and only 0.005 of our state’s transportation budget.

Failure to invest now will cost more in the long run. The State of Ohio competed against other states and received a $400 million dollar award to upgrade freight rail and to build a passenger rail system. In letters dated
November 8, 2010, Governor-elect Kasich asked Governor Strickland to terminate all contracts relating to his passenger rail program, and he informed President Obama that he would terminate all work on Ohio’s
passenger rail program. What Ohio stands to lose, another state stands to gain. In a November 5th letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo volunteered to accept Ohio’s
$400 million award in anticipation of the position Governor-elect Kasich would take in order to create jobs for New Yorkers and to stimulate economic growth in upstate New York.

It is not only about the missed opportunity to create jobs or economic growth or the loss of $400 million to another state. As an advocate for young professionals in Dayton and Ohio, the worst pain is the thought of Ohio being left behind as other states advance further into the 21st Century.

Seventy three percent of Ohioans between ages 18 and 34 support passenger rail in Ohio. This support for passenger rail is evident in my own home and amongst young adults I talk with. My husband and I looked forward to reading a book or working on a laptop while traveling to Columbus from Dayton and back to visit family. Despite our concerns over slower speeds up front, we deemed it worth the investment over the long-term. Even if it took a little longer to reach our end destination, we would value our spare time. A young man opposing my viewpoint on rail changed his tune as he imagined taking the train from Dayton to Cincinnati for concerts or to watch professional sports teams while enjoying a few adult beverages.

Unfortunately, voter turnout among young adults ages 18-29 was especially low this year. Young adults who choose not to vote seem to fail to realize the role political policy and decision-making plays in their future, or are disenfranchised by the political scene. Regardless, more than 220,000 students are within less than 10 miles of the proposed train stations that compose the Ohio Hub. Young talent attraction and retention, also known as the brain drain, has been and still is an issue for Ohio. It would be nice if transportation policy reflected a desire to solve this issue.

As young adults we are advised to save and invest in our retirement despite other expenses in our lives, such as  substantial student loan repayments. While we pay down our debts we still invest to secure our future. Similarly Governor-elect Kasich should at least consider investing in high-speed passenger rail infrastructure for our future, despite the budget shortfall he so desperately seeks to balance. It is time for Ohio to end its monogamous love affair with highways, roads, bridges and automobiles, enter into the 21st Century, and “Come on, ride the train, hey, ride it, woo woo!”

Con

Teri Lussier is a Realtor, creator of TheBrickRanch.com and DMM Contributor.

What is it that makes passenger rail so much sexier than cars? Trains have appeal, nostalgia, I keep hearing they are better for the environment, and besides all that, two words: Cary Grant. Trains? Oh yes. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday! The emotional appeal of the 3c Passenger Rail is strong, then. Undeniable. I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t want a clean, efficient, uber-sexy, train in their city to travel hither and yon. What kind of people are they that would willing force an end to a passenger rail? Neanderthals, no doubt. Uninformed, unimaginative, cretins? People who are secretly jealous of Cary Grant? How about “pragmatic”.

When I agreed to write this, I had to do my research. I didn’t realize the facts were so definitive against it, because I like the idea of passenger rail service in Ohio, but that’s just it- I like the idea of it. The trouble is that I can’t find a study that shows passenger rails in the United States are solvent. They could be, some day, maybe, depending. From Cleveland.com:

“Illinois — which has a similar population density to Ohio — paid $12 million a year in operating costs to its Amtrak regional services until 2006 when the state’s four regional rail lines were greatly expanded.

George Weber, bureau chief for Illinois state’s bureau of railroads, estimated that since adding seven state-sponsored trains a day to the four that were running, the state is seeing about 10 to 15 percent more riders per train.

“When you start increasing the frequency, you definitely begin to see the ridership curve start to rise,” he said.

Weber said the state subsidy of the four rail lines rose to $28 million a year, but could dip this year depending on the cost of fuel.”

The fact is that I cannot find any solid, measurable, definitive benefits of passenger rails for the vast majority of citizens, except for the warm and fuzzy emotional benefits: “We like it.” and “Europe has them.” However, I did find plenty of solid reasons not to build this. Here. And here. And here. And as much as a train ride with Cary Grant might give me a thrill… Hmmm. Not only am I happily married, but facts is facts.

“Let’s have a true accounting, of what the problem is here. Let’s put the money in that.” –Charlie LeDuff