HEY! Hamilton! Here are things to do on Halloween weekend

Credit: Flickr Commons User Hanna_Horwarth

The ghouls and goblins will be walking the streets of Hamilton on Saturday, seeking treats. Please drive slowly and watch for the children of our town as they enjoy the chilly night. Trick-or-Treat takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Temperatures will reach into the high 50s on Saturday, so bundle up! There is a slight chance for rain, according to local meteorologists.

Here are other activities happening in our area this weekend:

SATURDAY
Creepy Pub Crawl: The Courtyard Marriott, Ryan’s Tavern, The Drink Tavern and J. Austin’s Riverbank Cafe. 6-11 p.m., wear a costume. Wristbands available at all of these downtown Hamilton pubs for $10. Includes unlimited rides on the “Party Buzz.” Proceeds benefit the upcoming German Village Christmas Walk. Click here for event details.

Trick-Or-Treat at Tri-County Mall: Halloween Carnival for ages 3 and older slated for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Trick-or-treat in the mall from 5-8 p.m. for those 12 and younger. More details here.

Niederman Family Farm Fall Festival: Event for children and families, open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Children 2 and younger are admitted free, all others are $10. Located at 5110 Lesourdesville West Chester Road in Liberty Twp.

Hamilton Farmers Market: The weekly event is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. around the old courthouse in downtown Hamilton. Free.

Trail of Treats: Families may visit Forest Run MetroPark on New London Road in Hamilton from 1-4 p.m. for a treat treasure hunt through the park. Registration is required. Call (513) 867-5835.

Jack O’Lantern Junction: EnterTRAINment Junction’s Halloween activity is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 7379 Squire Court in West Chester Twp.

Liberty Center: The newest shopping and lifestyle center celebrated a grand opening last week, and many stores and some restaurants are open for business. Note: Not all businesses listed at the center are open yet. Parking is free. Click here to see Liberty Center’s facebook page.

Wendel Farms: Located in Reily Twp. Open from noon to 10 p.m. Admission varies per age group. Corn maze, petting zoo, and more. Click here for more info.

Doo-Wah Riders: Country and cajun band performing at the Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield. Ticket prices range from $12-$15. The performance begins at 8 p.m. More details here.

SUNDAY
Ghost Tour: Ryan’s Tavern on High Street in Hamilton is giving ghost tours for $30 a person. 6-10 p.m. Nov. 1. Call (513) 737-2200. www.ryanstavern.com

AT THE BARS
Lugnutz: Halloween Extravaganza with bands Big City Rebellion and Magic Lightnin’ Boys. Costume party. 9 p.m. Saturday. 22 Donald Drive, Fairfield. Click here for more details.

Terry B’s: Featuring the band Caffeine. 9 p.m. Saturday. 1351 Main St. Hamilton. Click here for more details.

Rick’s Tavern: Pre-Halloween costume party. The band Naked Karate Girls will perform, and there will be door prizes. 10:30 p.m. Friday. 5955 Boymel Drive, Fairfield. Click here for more details.

Next Level Night Club: Costume party, music and more, located at the Buzzard Bay Entertainment Complex, 7121 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. Click here for more details.

Gina’s: The Italian restaurant and tavern will host a costume party and contest with a DJ and karaoke on Saturday night. 1005 Eaton Ave., Hamilton. Click here for more details.

The Drink Tavern/Ryan’s Tavern/J Austin’s/Courtyard by Marriott: Creepy Pub Crawl happening at all of these bars. See information higher up on this page, or go here. All located in downtown Hamilton.

Chaco employees ‘Give Back’ on Columbus Day

Chaco Credit Union put its philosophy of “People Helping People” into action during the seventh annual Chaco Gives Back Day on October 12^th, 2015.

Each year, Chaco Credit Union employees gather on Columbus Day to volunteer for non-profits around Hamilton, Fairfield, Oxford, and West Chester. This year, more than 500 hours of service were given by 75 volunteers at 12 local organizations.

Giving back to the community is a way of life at Chaco, and Community Enrichment Day is a highlight for the staff.

“Our entire team looks forward to this day.  We are grateful for what these philanthropies mean to our community.  We are happy to help where we can” said Jim Schultheiss, Chaco Credit Union President/CEO. “Our impact can be seen in local scholarships, member rewards, substantial sponsorships, monetary donations, and kindness inside our service centers.”

Chaco’s Community Enrichment Day 2015 included the following contributions:

• Games with residents at Berkley Square and Butler County Care Facility
• Landscaping, mulching, and painting at Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Mother Teresa Catholic School
• Cleaning DVD cases and preparing for events at Fairfield and Hamilton Lane Libraries
• Cleaning cages, garage and animal care at Animal Friends Humane Society
• Cleaning cars and replacing window screens at Focus on Youth
• Laundering, packaging clothing and/or working in the clothing store at Oxford’s Woman’s Care Center and Serve City
• Sorting donations and preparing for events at Open Door Pantry and Shared Harvest Food Bank

Search #chacogivesback on Instagram to view all of our pictures from the day. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for highlight pictures, news, contests, and promotions.

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Classical guitarist Sharon Isban to pick at Parrish (video preview)

Classical guitarist Sharon Isbin will perform at Miami Hamilton’s Parrish Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

sharonisbin.com

Sharon Isbin is a multiple Grammy Award winner whose extraordinary lyricism, ability and versatility, has shaped her as the pre-eminent classical guitarist of our time. She is also the winner of Guitar Player magazine’s Best Classical Guitarist award, and the Toronto and Madrid Queen Sofia competitions, and was the first guitarist ever to win the Munich Competition.

She has appeared as a soloist with over 170 orchestras and has given sold-out performances in New York’s Carnegie, Avery Fisher Halls, and many others venues.

Other performances at Miami Hamilton’s Parrish Auditorium include:

Holly Williams and Heather Maloney (replacing previously announced artist Joe Pugh) on Nov. 14

Sam Baker and Gretchen Peters on Feb. 27,

The SteelDrivers on April 16.

Artist Series performances scheduled for the 2015-2016 Artist Series at Miami Middletown’s Dave Finkelman Auditorium include:

• Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins, and Anais Mitchell on March 18
• Southern Troubadours in the Round featuring Paul Thorn, Ruthie Foster, and Joe Ely on April 9.
  

Tickets are available online at www.miamioh.edu/boxoffice or by calling (513) 529-3200. A service charge applies to online orders. Ticketsmay be purchased in person from the cashier’s office in Johnston Hall at Miami Middletown.

Miami University Hamilton is located at 1601 University Blvd. Miami Middletown is located at 4200 N. University Blvd.         

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MU Regionals dubbed ‘Purple Heart University’

Miami University’s regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown have been designated a “Purple Heart University” by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

A signing ceremony will take place from 3-5 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 22, in 142 Johnston Hall on the Middletown campus.

“This is welcome news for our faculty and staff who’ve been through the military-friendly training, and for our student veteran population, both current and future,” said J.P. Smith, Veterans Outreach Coordinator.
Several faculty and staff members in every academic department, as well as staff members in Admission, Financial Aid, Records & Registration, and the brand new One-Stop Centers for Student Success on each campus, have completed the Military-Friendly Training that includes a pledge to be veteran- and veteran-family friendly.
Each academic department also has a Chief Military Adviser (CMA) who serves as the primary point of contact for veterans enrolling in each academic program. They will sign their pledge forms during the ceremony.
Representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 31, also will be on hand to sign the official “Purple Heart University” designation with Dr. G. Michael Pratt, associate provost and dean of the regional campuses, Smith said.
The training results in a thorough understanding of military terminology, the military mindset, academic and financial issues specific to veterans, benefits available to veterans, transfer of military training to college credit, and military training that aligns with specific academic programs.
“When a veteran arrives on the Hamilton or Middletown campus and asks questions, they get answers on the spot. That’s the level of service they expect, and that’s the level of service they deserve. We are immensely proud of our student veterans,” Smith said.
Miami Hamilton and Miami Middletown have a combined 130 veterans currently enrolled.
For more information, contact J.P. Smith by email at smithjp4@miamioh.edu or call (513) 785-7733. Miami University Hamilton is located at 1601 University Blvd. Miami Middletown is located at 4200 N. University Blvd.

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Trick or Treat to Occur 6 to 8 p.m. October 31

The City of Hamilton will have Trick or Treat this year from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, October 31.

This event will happen rain or shine, so please plan accordingly. Residents wishing to participate in Trick or Treat should turn on their patio lights.

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

• Plan your Trick or Treat route in advance. Choose direct routes and avoid crossing the street unnecessarily. Make sure to stay on the sidewalks (when possible) and obey all traffic control signs. When crossing the street, use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing.
• Trick or Treat in a group and stay together. For large groups and groups with small children take along an adult – Adults can dress up too!
• Think through your costumes – Make sure that costumes fit well and wont trip you up along the way. Check the weather before you leave home and dress appropriately for the temperature. Consider adjusting your costume with reflective tape, stickers, glow sticks, flashlights, and other light up devices to make sure you are visible to drivers.
• Ensure that all candy is sealed and in the original wrapper.
  Take your time! Rushing and running around can often lead to unsafe decisions so remain cautious when Trick or Treating.
• Last but not least, have fun!

HHS football team ruins Middie homecoming, 34-22

E.L. Hubbard Photography

Hey!Hamilton/E.L. Hubbard
Alberto Zapata carries the American flag, Joey Reece the team flag, as Hamilton takes the field for their game at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Hamilton ruined the Middies homecoming with a 34-22 win.

Hey!Hamilton/E.L. Hubbard
Hamilton quarterback Steve Cunningham eludes the tackle of Middletown linebacker Jamar Thomas to score a Big Blue touchdown during their game at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Hamilton ruined the Middies homecoming with a 34-22 win.

Hey!Hamilton/E.L. Hubbard
Hamilton wide receiver A’Shon Riggins escapes the Middletown Middies for a big gain during their game at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Hamilton ruined the Middies homecoming with a 34-22 win.

Hey!Hamilton/E.L. Hubbard
Hamilton wide receiver John Zapata catches a touchdown pass despite the efforts of Middletown’s Jaevan Wright during their game at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Hamilton ruined the Middies homecoming with a 34-22 win.

Hey!Hamilton/E.L. Hubbard
Hamilton running back Isaiah Murph tries to avoid Middletown defensive back Marquis Petty during their game at Barnitz Stadium in Middletown Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Hamilton ruined the Middies homecoming with a 34-22 win.

Photo Gallery: New Miami Homecoming

E.L. Hubbard Photography

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A Chat at the Father’s House with the Gunnarsons

HEY! Hamilton! Exclusive

Correspondent Emily Simer Braun chats with Daryl and Roxann Gunnarson of The Father’s House, “a place for families to unite in heart and live in community for the common purpose of loving children through foster care and adoption.”

From their Facebook Page:

We are restoring The Hamilton Children’s home [on South D Street] that was in service to the Hamilton community from 1860 – 1980. We are making this historic facility into a Foster Community where 6 foster families will live, taking in 12 – 20 foster children.

Also on the scene: Don Reilly, host of the Life of Reilly segment on the entertainment news magazine “X on TV,” airing 1 a.m. late night Fridays on STAR 64. Reilly is also the foster father of three girls, owner of Elegant Home Exterior and one of the benefactors of The Father’s House.

Architect’s rendering of the renovated historic home.

A vintage image of the mansion built by Hamilton industrialist E.G. Dyer.

The Jim Blount History Resources at the Lane Library provides an early history of the building:

Orphanages began opening in the United States in the 1830s, encouraged by increased urbanization and immigration. There were few until the Civil War, a bloodletting which quickly multiplied the number of children without food and shelter.
In Butler County more than 300 men lost their lives in the 1861-1865 conflict. The suffering caused by that war extended to thousands, including orphaned children. It was “the sad condition of many fatherless children” which led to creation of the Butler County Children’s Home, explained Mrs. Thomas (Mary) Moore, a member of its first board of trustees.

In January 1869, several Hamilton women met with a goal of “not only giving the children shelter and food, but training their minds that they may become useful men and women.”

That meeting led to incorporation of the Children’s Home Association of Butler County under the leadership of eight trustees. They were Margaret E. Leiter, Jane C. Skinner, Martha Beckett, Ann M. J. Matthias, Anna A. M. McFarland, Emma Phillips, Catherine Sohn and Margaret Dyer.

In May 1869 a house on North C Street was rented at $25 a month. The eight-room house on the west side of C Street between Park and Wayne avenues was placed under the supervision of Mrs. William Tweedy, the first matron.

Later that month, five fatherless boys became the first residents of the home, which served the youth of the area for more than 115 years.

Charitable contributions and a variety of fund-raising events — including concerts and lawn fetes — sustained the home, which soon was too small to handle the demand for its service.

In 1875, the generosity of two Hamilton industrialists and philanthropists enabled the association to expand operations. Clark Lane and E. J. Dyer, partners in business, offered $10,000 if the women could raise $2,000. (Lane also was responsible for starting the Lane Public Library, which still serves the Hamilton-Fairfield-Oxford area.)

After the successful finance campaign, the group bought the Dyer farm near the top of the South D Street hill. The stone house, built about 1850, became the center of what would be the campus of the Butler County Children’s Home for 110 years. The home moved to its new quarters in September 1875.

By the mid 1880s, the home had a staff of more than 20 adults serving 210 children.

Starting in 1872, the association had received some financial support from the Butler County commissioners. But throughout its history — as facilities were modernized and expanded and as services changed — the home relied heavily on public donations of money and time.

For several years “one of the main sources of revenue,” reported Kathleen Neilan Stuckey in a 1936 Journal-News article, “was the dining hall at the fairgrounds where, during the week of the fair each year for almost 20 years, the ladies took charge and worked successfully at the gigantic task of feeding the hundreds who thronged the hall, sure of excellent fare.

“This project netted usually amounts from $300 to $600 — enough to carry the home through the winter months with the donations that were sure to come in around the holidays,” Mrs. Stuckey noted. Contributions ranged from jelly, eggs and sauerkraut to firewood, second-hand clothing and straw for mattresses.

“These bountiful supplies,” Mrs. Stuckey said, “came from all over the county, wakened to the need of its children by the enterprising ladies who did not fail to solicit cooperation, interest and material aid from auxiliary societies” in the county.

In its final years in the 1970s and 1980s, the home’s mission changed to helping about 50 to 60 abused and neglected children, including some from outside the county. It also acquired houses in other Hamilton neighborhoods.

The name was changed to Miami Valley Children’s Home in 1977. It closed in September 1985.

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City receives recognition from International Economic Development Council

The City of Hamilton, The Hamilton Mill, and Jeffrey Thurman recently accepted awards for their economic development efforts in Hamilton from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most  influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

The City of Hamilton received the Gold Excellence in Economic Development award from IEDC for the Initiative Update in the General Purpose Print Brochure category for communities with a population between 25,000 to 200,000. The Initiative Update highlights the City’s major projects and provides information on cost and timeline. View the 2015 Initiative Update here.

The City also received two Silver and two Bronze Excellence in Economic Development awards for communities with a population between 25,000 to 200,000. The first Silver award is in the Public-Private Partnership category for the City’s partnership with the Hamilton CORE Fund. The partnership is aimed at revitalizing Hamilton’s urban core. The second Silver award is for Downtown Developers Day in the Special Event category. The event, which occurred in September 2014, brought developers into downtown Hamilton to discuss development opportunities.

The first Bronze award is for the City of Hamilton Data Center Brochure in the Special Purpose Print Brochure category. It is a marketing piece aimed at leveraging the City’s utility resources to attract the data center industry to the community. The second Bronze award is for the Economic Development e-Newsletter in the Newsletter category.

The Hamilton Mill received the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for communities with a population between 25,000 to 200,000 for the business incubator’s new website in the Special Purpose Website category. The new website was part of their overall reinvention into Southwestern Ohio’s small business incubator for green, clean, water, digital and advanced manufacturing technologies. View The Hamilton Mill website here.

Jeffrey Thurman, President & CEO of Community First Solutions, received one of the most significant awards that IEDC bestows. Mr. Thurman received the Citizen Leadership Award, which is given to a community or business leader who is not an economic development practitioner, but has played a key leadership role in influencing economic development.

Mr. Thurman has been an active participant in the economic development efforts of Hamilton for the past 36 years. In addition to building one of Hamilton’s largest companies, he founded Leadership Hamilton in 1992 in an effort to sustain the city’s vitality.

The program educates emerging leaders on relevant community issues, expands their networks, and mobilizes leadership. The program has evolved and grown, boasting more than 600 graduates to date, many of whom hold esteemed positions in the community today. Mr. Thurman is also a key participant in city projects such as Hamilton’s Downtown Developer Day and the We Are Hamilton video.

Mr. Thurman chaired the Government Services Building Task Force as the city and county worked together to build a new government services center in the early 2000s. He is also the past chairs of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Hamilton Rotary Club. He has also served on the boards of Butler County United Way, Great Miami Valley YMCA, Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton, and The Center for Family Solutions. Today he is an active member of the Downtown Improvement District (SID), Board Member & past Chair of Leading Age Ohio Foundation, and Board Member of Ohio State University Core of Knowledge.

Community First Solutions supports a four-county area in Ohio, serving 46,000 individuals annually, and, is the city of Hamilton’s second largest private employer with 700 employees. Under Mr. Thurman’s leadership, Community First Solutions has made $75 million in capital investments within the community. He recently led the effort to relocate the company headquarters to downtown Hamilton. The company just celebrated the ribbon cutting on the $5.88 million rehabilitation of a historic building into the new Community First Solutions Resource Center. This investment is a critical contribution to the revitalization of downtown Hamilton.

The IEDC honors were presented at an awards ceremony on Monday, October 5, during the IEDC Annual Conference which was held in Anchorage, Alaska.

“Hamilton has won multiple awards each of the last three years, which is significant because it validates our economic development strategy. And it is such an honor to have an individual from our community win the Citizen Leadership award. Congratulations to Jeff Thurman,” Hamilton City Manager Joshua Smith stated.

Look for ghosts in Dayton Lane, October 17

Join the Dayton Lane Historic District for the Twelfth Annual Ghost Walk, Saturday, October 17, to explore the area in search of spirits (dead ones, that is).

Here is your chance to feel the presence of those who walked this earth before us, and hear the ghost tales from several of the “live” residents of these homes.

Take a lantern-led evening stroll through one of Hamilton, Ohio’s oldest neighborhoods and discover our ghosts, ghouls and legends.

At the end of this hour-long guided walk, there will be a reception at one of the homes.

Tours begin at 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM & 9:00 PM. Click here to  purchase.

Tours leave the Wolf Gazebo in the 900 block of Campbell Avenue.   Walk goes on rain or moonshine.  Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.  We don’t want you to confuse the goose bumps on your arms with being too cold!

Admission: Tickets are available on a first come-first serve basis below via PayPal. Advance tickets are $15.00 if purchased before 5pm on Friday, October 16th. Tickets will also be available the night of the walk for $20.00.  Those without advance tickets will be accommodated as space allows. Cash or check (made payable to Dayton Lane Historic Area) only the night of the walk. Please bring your ID if tickets are purchased via PayPal as your name will be on a will-call list.

* A Spiritual Consultant may also be available the night of the Tour to do readings for an extra fee.

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