DV8 will kick off the 2012 season of the First Financial Bank After-Hours on The Square concert series in West Chester next Thursday, May 24. The band will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Square at Union Centre.
The concert series will then take place every Thursday night through Aug. 23.
The Square at Union Centre is located at 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, adjacent to the West Chester Library. No alcohol is permitted on The Square unless purchased at the event. Beer sales also help support the event and local non-profit groups.
Below is the 2012 After-Hours on The Square schedule:
For the first time since December, the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting will be open for tours this Saturday and Sunday.
There were a few public tours in late 2011 before construction forced the budding museum to close its doors. Prior to those tours, the museum had been closed to the public for two years.
“We are just finishing some major construction work, so some items may not be redisplayed by those tour dates and some areas may not be as organized as they will be later,” said Ken Rieser, VOA museum board chairman. “We are opening to accommodate the many requests in association with the Dayton Hamvention and others.
“What you will be able to see is how wonderfully the building has been restored.”
The latest restoration work, which has forced the museum to be closed for tours so far in 2012, included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building.
In addition to a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, which will reimburse the township for the latest restoration work, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical. During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.
If and when the museum is completed, it is expected to attract 25,000 visitors, bring in $475,000 in out of area direct spending and provide an overall economic impact in excess of $1.7 million annually, according to estimates by museum design firm Jack Rouse Associates.
“It would certainly be a real asset to West Chester and draw people all over the country and the world,” said Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau.
“Hopefully it comes to fruition because it is a one of a kind thing and we should do all we can to make it a reality.”
Once construction is completed, it will be up to the museum’s board of directors to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue generating landmark.
The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.
This weekend’s tours will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday, there will be a $5 per car parking fee for The West Chester Liberty Rotary Club and the Cincy Blues Society’s Backyard Bash to held at the museum. On Sunday, parking will be free, but there is a suggested $5 donation per adult and $1 donation per child to tour the museum.
Board members of the facility plan to set regular tour hours in the near future and are implementing a docent program for volunteers to learn about the museum and lead tours. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.
House Speaker John Boehner Friday accused President Obama of being “AWOL for about eight months” as he campaigns non-stop for re-election.
Boehner’s remarks came during a visit to United Performance Metals here where he listened to the concerns of local small business owners.
During the open forum, business owners asked questions about the upcoming presidential election, President Obama’s health care law, and the uncertainty of the economy, among other items.
Before opening the forum for questions, Boehner began by slamming President Barack Obama for being “campaigning 24/7.” The West Chester Republican added that Obama is trying “to make this election about everything other than his policies,” which the Speaker said “have failed.”
The Ohio Democratic Party countered that thanks to Obama, Ohio has added 140,000 jobs over the last two years and the state’s unemployment rate has fallen from 8.6 percent when he took office to 7.5 percent today.
“While President Obama has helped our economy start to turn the corner, Speaker Boehner, Robert Portman and Mitt Romney want to bring back the failed policies that sparked the economic crisis,” Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said in a statement.
Boehner told the group of business owners that the country had racked up more than $5 trillion in national debt in the last three and a half years and has a $1.3 trillion deficit for this year.
“While the president and I tried mightily to reduce this giant debt, it is continuing to build,” Boehner said. “In the year and a half that I have been Speaker, my biggest disappointment is that I couldn’t come to an agreement with the President to reduce our debt and our deficit so we could get America on a firmer fiscal path.”
During the forum itself, the upcoming presidential election was brought up. In response, Boehner shared his confidence in Romney.
“For Mitt Romney to be basically tied with the President of the United States today, after getting his rear end kicked from one end of the country to the other by his political opponents in the primary, is really pretty remarkable,” Boehner said.
“This election is going to be about the economy. It is going to be about jobs. The president’s policies have failed and have actually made things worse. I believe Mitt Romney has a great success story and a great economic plan that will stand in sharp contrast to the President. Watch it all unfold. I think it will unfold pretty well.”
House Speaker John Boehner visited United Performance Metals in Hamilton May 11, 2012, to listen to the concerns of local small business owners. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
One of those policies discussed during the forum, was the President’s 2010 health care reform law.
“Under ‘Obamacare’ it would be more attractive to our company to violate federal law then pay a $340,000 a year fine to not provide healthcare to our employees than to face the rising costs and decreasing benefits that we see every single year,” said Laura Doerger-Roberts, president of Hamilton-based Vinylmax Windows, which employs around 170 workers.
“It eliminates choice for the employee and the employer about what type of health care is appropriate for an individual’s needs.”
Doerger-Roberts said her company currently pays $7,000 per employee to provide health insurance. Under the health care reform law, Doerger-Roberts claims that she could pay a $2,000 fine and remove that benefit.
Boehner agreed with the small business owner and wanted those healthcare decisions to be out of the government’s hands.
“In my opinion, it will the ruin the best health care delivery system the world has ever seen and it will bankrupt our country,” Boehner said.
“There are flaws in our current system, but we can fix those flaws without putting the government in charge of our healthcare.”
One of the last items brought up by the group of business owners was the uncertainty of the economy and its affect on their businesses.
“One of the things that is killing all of us is the uncertainty and our reluctance therefore to hire people because we don’t know what is around the corner,” said Trevor Stansbury, president and founder of Supply Dynamics in Loveland.
Local piano teachers, students and arts groups were surprised this week when a flier arrived in mailboxes from Premier Pianos, announcing that the West Chester Township showroom and Steinway dealership is closing forever.
Steinway Premier Pianos, the only local Steinway dealer is going out of business after 10 years. Through this Saturday, May 12, there will be a liquidation of all pianos. Photo shot Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
But it may not be the end of Steinway & Sons in Cincinnati, a relationship that has flourished for more than 150 years. Potential new dealers already are lining up to inquire about taking over the business that’s been linked with the region’s premier music organizations for decades.
Beginning today, Premier Pianos will be liquidating its entire inventory of 125 to 130 prized pianos, by appointment only. Public liquidation begins Sunday at noon, and the franchise hopes to have all of its inventory sold within a week or two.
Premier Pianos is one of just 62 Steinway dealers in the United States. When the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music purchased 165 Steinways for $4.1 million in 2008, it gained cachet, national exposure and an edge in recruiting the nation’s best students.
“In the last three years, the applicant pool in number and quality is the best that we’ve ever had,” said Eugene Pridonoff, CCM professor of piano.
Premier Pianos is undergoing “very challenging economic times,” president and general manager Gregory Kottmann said. But mainly, “the owner wants to make a change,” he said.
“It’s a significant investment to be a Steinway dealer. I personally am not in a position to continue it myself.”
Premier Pianos was the exclusive representative for Steinway & Sons for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Kottmann’s partner, Robert Oliver, formerly of Louisville, is a principal who helped found the franchise in 2001. He could not be reached for comment.
“Our concept was to provide the highest level of service, the highest quality of instruments, to support the arts community wherever we could, and to be involved in the arts community,” Kottmann said. (more…)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos felt the pressure to perform early this season after his current ballclub traded away four players to acquire his services this offseason.
In his first start for the Reds, Latos gave up four runs, seven hits and walked two in what turned out to be an 8-3 loss to the Miami Marlins April 7. The Reds went on to lose his next two starts, 3-2 at Washington and 11-1 at St. Louis.
“If there isn’t enough pressure as is (in Major League Baseball), you were also traded for four different guys,” said Latos at a signing event in West Chester Thursday. “It was difficult to put into words, how much pressure there was going into the season. The main thing is to just get on task and perform.”
After those first three loses, Latos and the Reds have won the three games he has started since. The latest win, a 5-0 victory at Pittsburgh, Latos struck out 11 batters and gave up only two hits in 6 and 1/3rd innings despite being sick.
Besides the pregame vomiting, Latos said he finally felt like himself on the mound.
Reds fan Corey Skurow talks to pitcher Mat Latos during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester May 10, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
The pressure for Latos continued to dissipate Thursday when he meet some of his newest fans during an autograph session at the Sports Gallery in West Chester.
“A lot of people showed their appreciation. It took a little bit of weight off my shoulders from the trade and everything,” Latos said. “It was really fun to get out and sign a bunch of autographs for people that support me.”
Latos will start this Saturday when the Reds host the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park at 7:10 p.m.
Earlier on Saturday, fellow starting pitcher Johnny Cueto will host a signing session at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. At the event, Cueto will sign any item for $35.
In addition to Latos and Cueto, Sports Gallery co-owner Mark Fugate recently announced that the store would also host rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco and slugging outfielder Jay Bruce for additional signing sessions this summer.
Mesoraco is currently scheduled to host a signing from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 6. Bruce will host his signing session from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14.
The Sports Gallery will have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase during the signings.
For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.
Four new board members, Terry S. Jacobs, Chris Wunnenberg, James L. Jaeger and Melinda Zemper have joined the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester.
“We’re happy to have such dedicated new talent on the board and look forward to continuing to make great progress in developing the museum,” said Ken Rieser, museum board president.
Jacobs is chairman and CEO of The JFP Group, LLC, a real estate development company, and chairman emeritus and founder of Jamos Capital, LLC, a private equity firm specializing in alternative investment strategies. He is founder and former CEO of radio station holding companies Jacor Communications and Regent Communications, and is chairman of the board for Adelante Media Group, LLC, a privately held radio and TV company specializing in Spanish language programming.
Chris Wunnenberg. Photo provided.
Wunnenberg is development director of Schumacher Dugan Construction, LLC, where he has worked for the last 36 years. Wunnenberg is a 24-year West Chester resident and is vice-chairman and central committee member of the Butler County Republican Party.
Jaeger is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Cincinnati Microwave, manufacturer of the Escort Radar Warning Receiver. He has worked for Motorola Corp. and R. L. Drake Co., where he was system designer on the TR-7 HF Amateur Radio transceiver. He has been an amateur radio operator since 1964.
Zemper is president of Oak Tree Communications, a West Chester publicity and media relations company. A former educator at Miami University, Zemper has lived in West Chester for 24 years.
Other museum board members include Rieser, Mark Hecquet, Patti Alderson, Clyde Haehnle, Jeffrey P. Monroe, Gary West, Clifford Perry, Greg M. Stevens, Mike Martini, Susan Redman-Rengstorf, Bob White and Dave Snyder.
The board is implementing a docent program and is seeking volunteers to learn about the museums and help lead tours. Those wishing to join the VOA Museum docent family can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.
Melinda Zemper. Photo provided.
The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.
The Cincinnati Reds No. 1 and No. 2 starting pitchers in their rotation, Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos, will be in West Chester this week for signing sessions at the Sports Gallery, 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park. Photo taken by Jeff Swinger.
Latos, who was acquired by the Reds through a trade with the San Diego Padres this offseason, will be signing autographs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. During the event, Latos will sign any item for $30.
Meanwhile, Cueto is scheduled to host a signing session at the Sports Gallery from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Cueto will sign any item for $35.
The Sports Gallery will have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase during the signings.
In addition to Latos and Cueto, Sports Gallery co-owner Mark Fugate recently announced that the store would also host rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco and slugging outfielder Jay Bruce for additional signing sessions this summer.
Mesoraco is currently scheduled to host a signing from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 6. Bruce will host his signing session from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14.
For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.
AK Steel, which is headquartered in West Chester, was recently named to this year’s Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. The company was ranked 381st on this year’s list and generated approximately $6.5 billion in revenue in 2011.
In Cincinnati, there were eight other companies that made the list with Kroger leading the local contingent. The grocer is ranked 23rd on this year’s list and generated $90.4 billion in revenue in 2011.
Other Cincinnati area companies that made the list include Procter & Gamble (No. 27, $82.6 billion), Macy’s (No. 110, $26.4 billion), Ashland (No. 307, $8.4 billion), Fifth Third Bank (No. 372, $6.7 billion), Omnicare (No. 389, $6.2 billion), General Cable (No. 421, $5.9 billion) and Western and Southern Financial Group (No. 482, $5 billion).
Topping the Fortune 500 list, Exxon Mobil generated $453 billion in revenue last year.
The West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance will host its 2012 Business Expo at Skatetown USA in West Chester from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor will speak at the West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance luncheon, which will take place just prior to the Business Expo. Photo provided.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature more than 80 booths from businesses in West Chester and Liberty Township, as well as from surrounding areas.
Prior to the Expo, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Chamber will host its monthly luncheon offering members and guests the opportunity to network and enjoy a “Taste of West Chester and Liberty.”
The luncheon speaker is Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, who will be speaking on the “Common Sense Initiative.” According to the website of Ohio Governor John Kaisch, the initiative will review Ohio’s regulatory system to eliminate excessive and duplicative rules that stand in the way of job creation. Taylor is also expected to speak about the federal health care laws and how they affect Ohio insurance rates.
The cost to attend the luncheon is $40 for members of West Chester ▪ Liberty Chamber Alliance and $50 for non-members.
The summer of 2012 is going to be the summer of frozen yogurt. It began last year, with the opening of several Orange Leaf, then Bad Frog yogurt shops. Well, it started before that, when Yagoot opened their tart yogurt stores. But this summer there will really be a lot to choose from.
Freeze Yogurt Bar is differentiating themselves from the pack by serving organic yogurt with organic or natural toppings: no artificial colors, no high-fructose corn syrup, etc. I stopped in the other day, it’s in Voice of America Center in West Chester. It’s a cool-looking shop, with a clean, modern feel, but quite elegant and pretty.
I assumed it was a new location of a chain. But, no, it’s a home-grown project from Lance and Christina Francis, both engineers who live in Deerfield Township.
It’s self-serve, as most of the new yogurt places are. They have both tart and creamy frozen yogurt, and fruit sorbets. They have a few flavors sweetened with the sweetener stevia. The toppings include Newman’s Own cookies, natural gummi bears, granola, flax seeds, etc. Not as much fresh fruit as, say, Yagoot.
I served myself some chocolate and some blood orange sorbet with the fresh fruit they did have: sliced strawberries.
Lance Francis said their name, besides describing their product, is also meant to convey the idea of freezing a moment in time, taking a little time out of your regular routine.
It’s well-located between a Chipotle and a Panera, where it seems to fit right in. The store also supports a couple of charity projects: Dragonfly, which gives kids with cancer some comfort and joy, and CMF, which is building a well in Kenya.
They charge 49 cents an ounce, not out of line with other froyo shops.
Freeze Yogurt Bar is located at 7721 Voice of America Centre Drive. For more information, call 513-777-9999.
