Photo provided by the Butler County Visitors Bureau
The Junior U.S. Open Water Ski Championships are coming to West Chester.
The event, which is free to attend, will take place next weekend, June 29-30, at Voice of America Park.
“We are excited that Butler County’s Voice of America MetroPark has been chosen to host this prestigious youth sporting event,” said Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau. “Having hosted this event in 2008, we’re looking forward to welcoming USA Water Ski and their top athletes back to Butler County.”
The two-day event will feature 100 of the nation’s top junior water ski athletes under the age of 21. The competitors will compete for titles in tricks, jumping, and top overall categories.
The championship event is expected to have an economic impact of around $155,000.
While the event is free and open to the public, motor vehicle permits are required to enter VOA Park. Permits are free to Butler County residents. Non residents can purchase an annual pass for $10 or a daily pass for $5.
Trucks, helicopters and other vehicles that serve the community will be on display at West Chester’s annual “Touch A Truck” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Friday, June 28.
The event will take place on The Square at Union Centre and is free to attend.
During “Touch A Truck,” children can climb through fire trucks, police cars, snow plows, military vehicles, helicopters, rescue boats, street sweepers and more while learning about them and the men and women who operate the vehicles on a daily basis.
To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.
WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.
The Nasty Boys reunited this past week. It was the first time that the trio got together for a signing. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
The Nasty Boys visit West Chester – For the first time since 2010, when Chris Sabo was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, The Nasty Boys – Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble and Randy Myers – were together again when they took part in a special signing event at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, in West Chester Township Wednesday night. It was the first time that the three were together for a signing event.
Construction on debated roundabout – Construction began last Monday on a roundabout at the intersection of Kyles Station and Yankee roads in Liberty Township. Some neighbors don’t believe a roundabout at the intersection is needed and don’t want it built. County officials disagree and say the design of the roundabout forces drivers to slow down, improving safety.
Lt. Jon DeWitt. Photo provided.
West Chester Police mourn the loss of Lt. Jon DeWitt – Enquirer reporter Sheila McLaughlin recently wrote about the life of Lt. Jon DeWitt, who passed away June 1 after being diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer. DeWitt set his priorities: his wife and two teenaged children, the West Chester Township police force where he worked for more than two decades and the Marine Corps that gave him discipline and set a direction in his life.
Wounded Syrian girl finds a haven in West Chester – Enquirer reporter Mark Curnutte shared a story about Rawan Mubarak, who lost her right arm during Syria’s civil war. Now the 9-year-old girl is on the verge of receiving a prosthetic right arm thanks to several individuals and organizations in Greater Cincinnati. She is also living with a host family in West Chester Township.
Prosecutor to fight public records case - A case involving Butler County officials illegally withholding a 911 tape from The Enquirer in a 2012 Father’s Day slaying is headed to the Ohio Supreme Court. Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser has filed notice that he’ll appeal an Ohio 12th District Court of Appeals decision last week that he and Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage violated the public records act in withholding the 911 tape containing a confession from defendant Michael Ray.
Woman dies in Lib. Twp. wreck – A 56-year-old Middletown woman died last Thursday morning after suffering injuries in a three-vehicle crash in Liberty Township. The Butler County coroner’s office pronounced Mary Schaeffer died at the crash scene at Ohio 747 just north of Willow Ridge Drive, according to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. Authorities received a call about the crash shortly after 6 a.m. wo other drivers — Michael McAninch, 41, of Mason, and Denise Wuebben, 59, of Hamilton — suffered injuries and were transported to Atrium Medical Center in Middletown.
The third and final public open house for Liberty Township’s Vision Plan update will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 5 -8 p.m. at the Township Administration Building (6400 Princeton Road).
The open house is designed to be an interactive session with residents and business owners providing feedback on the current plan as well as sharing opinions on issues and goals being addressed in the updated Vision Plan.
The Vision Plan is an update to the Township’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan, which was designed to be a 20-year planning tool to be updated approximately every five years. A Vision Plan Steering Committee has been meeting for more than a year to guide the process through a series of work sessions. The group represents the interests of residents, Township businesses and community stakeholders.
Because the comprehensive plan provides a vision for the future of Liberty Township, it’s important to hold public open houses throughout the course of the process to encourage additional feedback from the community. This is the last open house before the plan is brought before the Board of Trustees for consideration.
“It’s critical we properly plan for the future of our community so this open house is an important step to gather feedback from residents and business owners. The Vision Plan update will help us best direct our efforts to promote the growth of our commercial tax base with minimal impact on existing residents while preserving the character of the Liberty Township that more than 37,000 people call home,” said Christine Matacic, president of the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.
Liberty Township expects to have a draft of the Vision Plan in the coming months with adoption occurring before the end of the year. The public can view the committee’s progress and follow along through a new tab under the ‘planning/zoning’ section of the township’s website, www.liberty-township.com.
When you are not out and about, visit the new video page on WestChesterBuzz.com To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.
All weekend
Summer blockbuster – If you haven’t noticed, West Chester’s movie theater at the Streets of West Chester has finally changed its signage – it finally says AMC after the entertainment company purchased the former Rave Cinemas theater and took control of it Jan. 17. This weekend, the theater is expected to be crowded as one of the summer’s biggest blockbuster’s “Man of Steel” opens. The opening weekend alone for the flick about Superman could gross more than $100 million nationwide.
Saturday
Lungs on the Run – Support the local Lungs on the Run Fund by participating in this Saturday’s 5K/walk, which starts at the West Chester Hospital, 7700 University Drive, and travels through Voice of America Park. Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m., while the race itself begins at 8:30 a.m. The entry fee is $30 on race day.
Hannah Gebert and her mother Kimberly Gebert of Liberty Township take in a previous farmers’ market. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
Farmer’s Market at the Square – The farmers’ market season in West Chester Township began about a month ago and will take place every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive. The farmers’ market features all local vendors with produce and meats grown and raised locally and products made by hand.
Fifth Third Concert Series – The free Saturday concerts at Keehner Park are back for another summer. The concert series kicked off this month. This week, the Ohio Valley Big Band will perform. The concerts take place from 7 to 9 p.m. The concert series will end in early September.
Sunday
Antique Toy & Advertising Show – More than 50 dealers in vintage and antique toys and advertising collectibles will be on hand at the Cincinnati Antique Toy and Advertising Show this Sunday at the Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre, 6189 Mulhauser Road. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $5 for admission. Children 11 and under are admitted free.
For the first time since 2010, when Chris Sabo was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, The Nasty Boys – Norm Charlton, Rob Dibble and Randy Myers – were together again when they took part in a special signing event at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, in West Chester Township Wednesday night.
It was the first time that the three were together for a signing event.
In order to attend, 200 Reds fans had to win a raffle and then pay $200 for all three autographs. The three former Reds used money that they raised to donate to Today Land Trust, a conservation group in Myers’ home state of Washington.
Charles Sotto of CEI Sports helped The Sports Gallery host the event. Sotto said he has been trying to get The Nasty Boys together for this type of event for the past five years.
Don Cox, KD8HQO, left, and Gary West, K8DEV, members of the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, test the nation’s emergency radio capabilities at the 2012 radio Field Day. The public is invited June 22 and 23 to learn about ham radio operation at the north end of the historic National VOA Museum of Broadcasting building in West Chester. Photo provided.
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester will once again host tours this Saturday, as well as hosting the West Chester Amateur Radio Association (WCARA) field day next weekend, June 22-23.
The West Chester landmark has opened for tours on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. since July, so the public can have the opportunity to learn about the history of Voice of America. Eventually, board members would like to convert it into a revenue-generating museum.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
Admission for Saturday’s tours is $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12. For more information, visit voamuseum.org.
Meanwhile, starting at 2 p.m. June 22 and running continuously for 24 hours, WCARA members will join thousands of amateur radio operators nationwide in a comprehensive evaluation of our nation’s emergency radio capabilities.
Bob Fay, WCARA vice president and event organizer, said purpose of the event is to train operators and demonstrate the capability of local amateur radio operators to conduct emergency radio communications off the power grid for an extended period of time.
The public is invited for the field day, and visitors can operate a radio station for themselves. The event will be held at the north end of the VOA museum building.
Volunteers are needed Saturday to make improvements on the trails at Dudley Woods in Liberty Township.
Parks Board member Chuck Holliday is partnering with MetroParks to get volunteers to repair a trail washed out, remove small stumps in the trail, install tile in the woods part of the trail, and do some trimming of honeysuckle bushes.
Work will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, at the MetroParks park, 5671 Hankins Road.
Those interested in helping should wear long pants, bring work gloves, wear work boots or shoes that cover the entire foot and bring trail trimming tools.
Insect repellant with deet is recommended because of reports of ticks. Some will be available at the park that day.
Volunteers are also needed to work on landscaping around the Gregory Log Cabin and other clean-up projects in the parking lot area.
The farmers’ market season in West Chester Township began is underway and will take place every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive.
The farmers’ market (picture above from previous market season) features all local vendors with produce and meats grown and raised locally and products made by hand. The availability of produce is dependent upon weather conditions, but shoppers can choose from a variety of foods including homemade breads and desserts, honey, jams and jellies.
MetroParks of Butler County is bringing back it’s free summer Concerts by the Lake at Voice of America MetroParks on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Overall, there are six scheduled shows with the dates being June 13, 27; July 11, 25; and Aug. 8, 22.
The Concerts by The Lake lineup is as follows:
June 13:The Makeshifts – 40s & 50s style June 27:Lisa Biales – Blues & Roots July 11:Blue Sacrifice – Rock & Roll July 25:Miami University Steel Band – Steel Drums Aug 8:John Kogge & The Lonesome Strangers – Americana Aug 22:John Ford – Folk
The concerts will take place at the Gazebo overlooking the lake at Ronald Reagan Lodge at 7850 VOA Park Dr., West Chester, Ohio 45069. If the case of inclement weather, the show will be move inside.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale. Paddle boats will also be available to rent and fishing is allowed during the concerts.
Last year, VOA Park hosted the concert series on Sundays during the summer. The Thursday shows will compete West Chester Township’s popular After-Hours on The Square concert series, which takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday night, except 4, through Aug. 29.
