WestChesterBuzz.com

Alicia’s Lungs, a charity raising funds for Lakota West graduate Alicia Lang, who has cystic fibrosis and needs to have a double-lung transplant, will be having a aluminum can drive from 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday at Lakota West High School.

The charity group is asking community members to collect and drop off their aluminum cans in the front southwest corner of the high school’s parking lot. The drop-off area is near the corner of Union Centre Blvd. and West Chester Road.

Lang is currently listed for a double-lung transplant at Loyola in Chicago and at the Cleveland Clinic. The transplant will be scheduled when a lung becomes available.

• Alicia’s Blog: On the lung transplant process

The family is anticipating around $350,000 in bills that will not be covered by their insurance, which covers 80 percent of the cost.

For more about Alicia’s story, visit the charity’s Facebook page or WestChesterBuzz.com’s story entitled “Lakota West grad hoping for new lungs.”

People who want to donate, but cannot make to the event, can make their personal pledge to the charity by going to the donation page of AliciasLungs.com.

(Photo of Alicia Lang with family at a fundraiser at Lakota West High School)

Posted in: Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Alicia Lang Cystic Fibrosis, Alicia Lang fundraiser, Alicia's Lungs, Alicia's Lungs can drive, Alicia's Lungs charity, Cystic Fibrosis, fundraiser, Lakota West

The Lakota West Chorale Choir will be the closing act in the Cincinnati Brass Band sponsored “Cincinnati’s Got Talent” annual Freestore Foodbank Charity Concert at Deer Park High School at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Other performances, announced by master of ceremonies Bob Herzog (Local 12 TV), include the Cincinnati Children’s Choir, The Irish McGing Dancers, crooner Nancy James, the Cincinnati Brass Band and more.

The Lakota West Chorale will sing one song (“Witness”) by them selves and then be joined by the Cincinnati Brass Band in a performance of a piece called “Homeland.”

This is the second time this year a choir group from Lakota West has been involved in a charity concert. In December, it was part of the second annual “Sing for a Cause” benefit concert with Taylor and Finneytown high schools. The recipient of this year’s $6000+ proceeds raised was the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Cincinnati Brass Band happens to have a few members with previous ties to Lakota West Band as well including Al Schmidt, a recently retired Plains Band co-director and Lakota West High School assistant band director.

For more information, see CincinnatiBrassBand.com or LakotaWestChoirs.org.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati’s Got Talent, Lakota West, Lakota West choir, Lakota West Choral director Anthony Nims, Lakota West chorale, Lakota West High School

A large pet adoption event will take place throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Feb. 11, as local animal shelters and rescue groups hope to break adoption records for homeless pets.

My Furry Valentine, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will have 1,761 adoptable animals (and counting) at nearly 40 locations in Greater Cincinnati. The main adoption event will take place at the flexi distribution center, 8494 Firebird Drive, in West Chester Township.

At flexi, which is off Union Centre Blvd., there will be hundreds of healthy adoptable pets including dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Every animal adopted during the event will receive a free goody bag filled with a flexi leash, toys and treats (valued at more than $80).

• Additional event details on myfurryvalentine.com
• My Furry Valentine participating shelters and rescues
• Other pet adoption locations in Cincinnati and NKY Feb. 11

Mayor Mark Mallory has already officially proclaimed Feb. 11 “Pet Adoption Day in the City of Cincinnati.”

“My Furry Valentine will feature a tremendous amount of activity including lovable adoptable pets, music, family entertainment, prizes and education about pet care and resources explaining the importance of adopting from shelters and rescue groups,” said Carolyn Evans, event organizer.

“By hosting this event, we’re making it easy, fun and convenient for people to meet-and-greet adoptable pets who need and deserve loving homes.”

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Carolyn Evans, flexi, flexi West Chester, My Furry Valentine, My Furry Valentine Cincinnati, My Furry Valentine Northern Kentucky, My Furry Valentine West Chester, Pet Adoption Day, pet adoption West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news

The West Chester Tea Party recently announced that there would be a voter forum for the March 6 primary race for the positions of Butler County Commissioner and Butler County Clerk of Courts in the Lakota West Freshman Auditorium at 7 p.m. Feb. 9.

The voter forum will be a chance for the electorate of Butler County to ask questions and hear from the Commissioner and Clerk of Courts candidates. West Chester Township Trustee George Lang is hosting the forum.

Don Dixon, who is running unopposed for one of the Commissioner openings, accepted an invitation to the forum.

In addition, invitations were accepted by Courtney Combs (Rep.) and T.C. Rogers (Rep.) who are running against Chuck Furman (Rep. – incumbent) in the primary for the second Commissioner position.

• Find out what is on the ballot March 6 on the Butler County Board of Elections page

Candidates Jodi Billerman (Dem.) and Daryl R. Olthaus (Lib.), who will be competing in the November election against the winner of the Republican primary, have also accepted the invitation.

Both Clerk of Court Republican primary candidates will be in attendance, current Clerk of Courts Mary Swain and former interim Clerk of Courts Jeff Wyrick.

The event is free to attend and open to the public. The Lakota West Freshman Campus is located at 5050 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Election, Events, Government, News, Political events, Tea Party |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Commissioner electiion, Butler County Commissioner primary, Butler County Commissioners, Chuck Furman, Courtney Combs, Daryl R. Olthau, Don Dixon, George Lang, Jodi Billerman, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Mary Swain, T.C. Rogers, West Chester Tea Party, West Chester Township Trustee, West Chester Township Trustee George Lang, West Chester Trustee George Lang

The Liberty Township Tea Party will allow people to vote in a Republican presidential primary straw poll at its next meeting at VanGorden Elementary School, 6476 LeSourdsville-West Chester Road, at 7 p.m. Feb. 6.

During the meeting itself, Elaine Herrick will be speaking on voter fraud – what it is and how to spot it. In addition, a speaker from the Butler County Board of Elections is expected to share the county’s plan to prevent voter fraud.

• More on the Republican presidential primary on Cincinnati.com’s election page
• Find out what is on the ballot March 6 on the Butler County Board of Elections page

Meanwhile, Tea Party member Ken Korn will present “Four Minutes with Our Forefathers,” an ongoing series that examines the United States Constitution, how it was written and why it is important.

For information about the Liberty Township Tea Party, visit www.libertytownshipteaparty.org.

Posted in: Events, News, Political events, Tea Party |

Tags: Tags: Elaine Herrick, Ken Korn, Liberty Township Tea Party, VanGorden Elemenatry School

A pair of upcoming fundraisers will benefit Lakota West athletics.

This week, the Lakota West baseball team will put on its annual Valentine’s Dance at the Mariner’s Inn, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.

The event will feature dancing, raffle prizes, split-the-pot, a live DJ, a cash bar and a sports memorabilia sale. Tickets for adults 21 and older are $25. The price of a ticket includes dinner.

Proceeds from the event will go directly to the baseball program.

Meanwhile, the Lakota West athletic boosters will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in the Lakota West High School cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The fundraiser will take place prior to the Lakota East vs. Lakota West boys’ basketball game.

Tickets for the dinner cost $7 for adults and $5 for students (children under 5 are free). Tickets are presale only and can be purchased through Lakota West Athletic Department or at the Lakota West High School basketball concession stand during home games.

Raymond’s Pizza, 7328 Yankee Road in Liberty Township, will prepare the spaghetti dinner.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, School events, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West baseball, Lakota West baseball fundraiser, Lakota West baseball valentine's dance, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West spaghetti dinner, Lakota West sports, Mariner's Inn, Mariner's Inn West Chester, Raymond's Pizza, Raymond's Pizza Liberty Township

Everything Thomas begins Monday at EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester. The event will feature wooden train layouts, a Thomas HO scale electric train display, videos, crafts and scavenger hunts with prizes.

There is also an indoor kids’ train ride and a gift shop with Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, all marked down between 15-to-60 percent.

The entire Thomas the Tank Engine event, which will take place until Feb. 28, is located inside the 80,000 square-foot EnterTRAINment Junction building, 7379 Squire Court (off Tylersville Road exit).

At the venue, families can also explore Train Journey (indoor model train display), Imagination Junction (kids’ interactive play area), the American Railroading Museum and the Expo Center (home to kids’ indoor train ride).

Furthermore, EnterTRAINment Junction still features its A-Maze-N FunHouse, which has a tilt room, mirror maze, curtain maze, distortion mirrors, spinning vortex room and more.

EnterTRAINment Junction is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m Monday through Saturday and from noon-6 p.m. on Sundays (closed Wednesdays January-March.) Admission to EnterTRAINment Junction starts at $9.95 (children under 3 are free).

For more information, call 513-898-8000 or visit the EnterTRAINment Junction website.

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: A-Maze-N FunHouse, EnterTrainment Junction, Thomas the Tank, West Chester business, West Chester business news

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty is now accepting nomination forms for its Lakota Educator of Excellence Award. The deadline to nominate an outstanding educator is March 16.

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty will honor two Lakota Educator of Excellence Award winners at its annual dinner celebration April 19. The winners will receive an award along with a monetary grant to be used for a special project within their school.

“We are excited to have peers, parents and community members provide nominations for those educators who have gone above and beyond in working with the district’s young people,” said Melissa Benedict Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty vice president of donor services.

One award will be presented to an educator representing pre-kindergarten through the sixth grade. The other award winner will represent the seventh grade through the 12th grade.

Nominations are not limited to classroom teachers. Award recipients may be any person (teacher, administrator, support staff, etc.) working with young people in the Lakota school district.

The award was established in 2007 to recognize educators in the Lakota School District, who demonstrate consistency and high commitment to students, motivates, shares ideas, inspires others, is supportive, creative and goes beyond the classroom to make a difference in the community. Previous winners include Shannon Henderson, Linda Abbott, Katie Woodruff, Audrey Stamp, Karen Kamm, Ann Aprahamian, Fred Thomas and Mendy Dimatteo.

Nomination forms are available on the Community Foundation’s website www.wclfoundation.com or at the school district’s central office.

Posted in: Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ann Aprahamian, Audrey Stamp, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Fred Thomas, Karen Kamm, Katie Woodruff, Lakota Educator of Excellence Award, Lakota Local Schools, Linda Abbott, Mendy Dimatteo, Shannon Henderson, WCL Community Foundation

The West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance is currently compiling votes for the 2011 Chamber Awards to be presented at the annual awards gala at the Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre at 5:30 p.m. March 9.

The deadline to submit votes is Jan. 31.

The yearly awards are among the Chamber’s highest honors. Below is a list of the nominees for each award:

• The David & Katy Kern Beautification Award - excellence in business’ landscape design – both interior and exterior. NOMINEES: Carriage Hill on Princeton-Glendale Road, The Heritage Club and Liberty Falls Development on Cin-Day Road
• The Larry Schumacher Beautification Award - company with newly constructed, continuously maintained or improved interior or exterior of building or structure. NOMINEES: Amylin Ohio, LCC, North Pointe I and II and The Web Extreme
• The Dorothy & Art Roth Citizen of the Year - West Chester or Liberty Township resident who showed extraordinary community involvement. NOMINEES: Bill Lendl (Jones Investments), Ian Murray (Murray Multimedia Resources) and Lindsay Wiseman (Staples).
• The Jerry Bryan Chamber Member of the Year Award - Chamber member who showed commitment to enhancing the Chamber. NOMINEES: Rachel Epps (UC Health), Kevin Quinn (LaserSmith) and Rob Young (Van Dyk Mortgage)
• The Carlos Todd Businessperson of the Year Award - business owner or executive who has demonstrated sound leadership and vision. NOMINEES: John Cacaro (Employers Choice Plus), Chris Coffman (West Chester Chiropractic Center) and Chris Worrell (Graydon Head)
• The River City Furniture Community Support Award – organization or individual who has shown extraordinary support to a non-profit organization that serves the southeaster Butler County area. NOMINEES: Lee Ann Gentry (Appearance Plus Cleaners, Kenzie’s Closet), Cox Media Group, Greg Ossmann (Mercy Health, Fairfield Hospital)
• Rookie of the Year Award – Chamber member who has demonstrated dedication to business community and has exercised outstanding volunteerism. NOMINEES: Linda Glass (Sams, Fischer, Packard, Schuessler, LLC), Rosemary Haddad (Merrill Lynch) and Steve Raszka (Insurance Associates).

The Chamber Awards voting ballot is available online. After casting votes, return ballots to the West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance, 8922 Beckett Road in West Chester, fax to 513-777-0188 or email amiuccio@TheChamberAlliance.com.

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: 2011 Chamber Awards, 2011 West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance awards, Chamber, Chamber awards, Cincinnati Marriott North, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

Residents of West Chester Township are invited to experience the Great Lakes without ever leaving their hometown. The lakes will be the topic of this week’s Armchair session at Township Hall, 9113, Cincinnati-Dayton Road, at 7 p.m. Friday.

During this session, local residents will share their experiences traveling the Great Lakes. They will also offer travel tips and give information about the Great Lakes and its history.

The session is part of West Chester’s annual Armchair Program.

The program itself has been presented in West Chester for 20 years. The sessions are free and open to the public.

Additional sessions will take place on select Friday evenings and include the Indigenous People of Brazil Feb. 10, Alaska Feb. 24, Tanzania March 9 and the Heart of Bordeaux March 23.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Armchair Program, Armchair Program West Chester, Great Lakes, West Chester Township Hall