WestChesterBuzz.com

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

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

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty recently released the time and date of this year’s Shamrock Shuffle. The event, which is also hosted by The Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association as well as West Chester Township, will be held March 10.

The 2012 Shamrock Shuffle will feature a 5K, 10K, Leprechaun Lap and a block party. Last spring, the event attracted more than 3,000 participants.

This year, the 5K and 10K races will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at The Square at Union Centre with a “kegs and eggs” breakfast and block party. At 9:30 a.m. children ages 3-10 can participate in the IKEA Leprechaun Lap, a children’s fun run around The Square.

For the second year, the Shamrock Shuffle Committee is providing a unique opportunity for businesses, schools, non-profits or charitable organizations to raise funds through the “Shamrock Gives Back” program.

Participants can build a team to raise dollars to support their favorite charitable cause. Any school, non-profit, or community organization (i.e. sports team, booster, scouts program, that can be recognized as a non-profit) will have the opportunity to receive proceeds from The Shamrock Shuffle.

For every 25 adults (two children equal one adult) participating on a Shamrock Shuffle team, a $250 grant will be made to the selected cause. If a team registers 100+, a grant equal to $10/per adult participant will be awarded. Teams can register their charity online by completing the charity registration form on the Shamrock Shuffle website.

Event sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information visit www.theshamrockshuffle.com or call 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: 10K West Chester, 5K West Chester, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, fundraiser West Chester, Leprechaun Lap, Shamrock Gives Back, Shamrock Shuffle, Shamrock Shuffle West Chester, St. Patrick's Day, WCL Community Foundation

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s production of WAR will be performed at Miami University’s Voice of America Learning Center, 7847 VOA Park Drive in West Chester, at 7 p.m. Friday.

WAR, by Canadian playwright Dennis Foon, examines how aggression and violence permeate youth culture as four young men struggle with the pressures of competitiveness, anger and vulnerability.

“WAR is a powerful and rich play that explores the ways in which boys use warfare as a metaphor for their lives: in sports, with their peers, in academics and in their relationships with others, particularly women,” said Mark Lutwak, Cincinnati Playhouse director of education.

“Contemporary ‘manhood training,’ as laid on young boys by popular culture, adults and peers, is wildly out of sorts with the kind of maturity that we expect and need from the our next generation. This play raises important questions that will be discussed long after the performance is over.”

At the end of the play there will be a time for facilitated talkback to help students articulate and respond to the issues of the play. One of the cast members will remain in character to respond to questions from the audience, joined by two Miami University Hamilton faculty members, Dr. Michelle Abraham and Gina Patterson.

Abraham, assistant professor of Psychology, studies the psychological experience of social relationships in regard to child development. Her research focuses on how early attachment relationships and other social relationships affect personal development, studies on adolescent romance, friendships and self-esteem, and the impact of multiple births on attachment development.

Patterson is a visiting assistant professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Miami University Hamilton. Her research and teaching interests include Working Class Studies, LGBTQ Studies, and English Studies. She has received both departmental and university recognition for her teaching and influence on students, and is the faculty advisor for Stage Left: Miami University’s Musical Theater Organization.

The performance is recommended for audiences age 11 and up, and parents are encouraged to attend with their children. A study guide from Playhouse in the Park and directions to the Learning Center are available online at http://www.regionals.muohio.edu/voalc/news/news_events.html.

The performance is free and open to the public.

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

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's WAR, Miami University, Miami University Regional Campuses, Miami University Voice of America Learning Center, Miami’s Regional Campuses, Voice of America, Voice of America Learning Center, WAR

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Tony Jones provided the photos:

West Chester’s Nature Basket program at the Station Road Schoolhouse covered the topic of winter birds Wednesday.

During the program, young children and their parents read “Stranger in the Woods” and made a bird feeders out of pipe cleaners and breakfast cereal.

Nature Basket is typically offered once a month and is held at either the Station Road Schoolhouse, 6670 Station Road, or at Keehner Park’s Owl Shelter, 7211 Barrett Road.

The 2012 schedule includes sessions at the schoolhouse Feb. 8, March 14, April 11 and Dec. 12 and sessions at the owl shelter May 9, June 6, April 15, Sept. 12, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14.

Supplies need to be prepared beforehand, so registration is required for each session.

To register, call 513-759-7312 or email lgroff@westchesteroh.org and leave your name, home phone number and the number of children who will attend.

There is no charge to attend the program. The program will not be canceled due to rain.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Nature Basket, Nature Basket photos, Station Road Schoolhouse, West Chester Nature Basket program, West Chester Nature Basket program photos, West Chester photo gallery, West Chester photos

The farmers’ market season has ended in West Chester Township. However, the township will offer one local farmers’ market per month this winter and spring. The next winter market, which will also take place at The Square at Union Centre, is scheduled to take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday afternoon is expected to be partly sunny with a high near 29 degrees.

The farmers’ market (picture above from previous week) 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 a variety of foods including homemade breads and desserts, honey, jams and jellies.

Other winter market events, which will all take place at The Square at Union Centre, are scheduled to take place Feb. 11 (2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), March 10 (2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.), April 7 (2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and April 28 (2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

For information about the West Chester Farmers’ Market, visit www.westchestersfarmersmarket.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Square at Union Centre, Square at Union Centre West Chester, the Square at Union Centre, the Square at Union Centre West Chester, West Chester Farmers' Market, West Chester winter market, winter market

The West Chester Liberty Tax Service location, 7743 Tylersville Road, is currently hosting a donation drive that will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Locally, the 2012 Relay for Life event will take place at Lakota West High School May 18. The event already has 66 participants and has raised $1,180.

With its donation drive, Liberty Tax Service will donate $20 for each completed tax return to the event at Lakota West.

To celebrate the donation drive, Liberty Tax will host an event Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the event, free food and drinks will be provided.

For more information about the donation drive, call 513-777-8700.

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

Tags: Tags: Liberty Tax Service, Liberty Tax Service West Chester, Relay for Life, Relay for Life Liberty Township, Relay for Life West Chester

West Chester Township is set kickoff off its annual Armchair Program at Township Hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, at 7 p.m. this Friday. This week’s session will cover Hangzhou, China.

During the session, area residents will share their experiences in Hangzhou through photos and stories.

The Armchair Program has been presented in West Chester for 20 years and is free and open to the public. Additional sessions will take place on select Friday evenings.

This year’s Armchair Program schedule includes:

Jan. 27 – Around the Great Lakes
Feb. 10 – Indigenous People of Brazil
Feb. 24 – Alaska
March 9 – Tanzania
March 23 – Heart of Bordeaux

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Armchair Program, West Chester Township Hall

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sue Kiesewetter reports

A Liberty Township teen center is opening its doors for a night of Clue Friday.

From 7 p.m. to midnight, teens in grades 9-12 can play the popular board game Clue at the Edge Teen Center, 7568 Wyandot Lane.

But there will be a slight twist. Figure out who the murderer is, with what weapon and in what room of the Edge center.

There is no cost. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

For more information, call 513-755-2400 or visit www.edgeteencenter.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Edge Teen Center, Edge Teen Center Liberty Township

West Chester will represent the City of Cincinnati as part of Urban Active’s Get Active Challenge from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The event, which is open to gym members and non-members, is part of a 10-city fitness tour that is taking place Jan. 7-19.

Urban Active Quality Control Director Josh “JB” Bowen is leading the challenge, which will includes a 40-minute New Year, New You Boot Camp and a 10-minute informational session on nutrition and lifestyle.

Bowen will also give all his participants “Eat 2B Fit” healthy menu options from the Texas Roadhouse to show people how they can maintain a healthy lifestyle by making the correct meal choices while dining out.

Blogging participants, who are Urban Active members, will earn points towards complimentary membership upgrades, personal training services and prizes. Participating non-members will receive a 14-day pass to the gym.

Gift cards to Texas Roadhouse will also be given to the first 80 participants (8 per city) who sign up for the Get Active Challenge and does a blog post at www.getactivegourban.com.

West Chester’s Urban Active is located at 9282 Allen Road and be reached by calling 513-895-4653.

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

Tags: Tags: Get Active Challenge, JB Bowen, Josh “JB” Bowen, Texas Roadhouse, Urban Active, Urban Active Cincinnati, Urban Active West Chester, Urban Active’s Get Active Challenge