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Lakota West fans cheer during a game this season. All of the Lakota West and Lakota East varsity teams will host games this weekend. The boys will host games Friday night, while the girls will be in action on Saturday afternoon. Photo taken by Tony Tribble.

From a restaurant crawl to a winter farmers’ market, there is plenty to do in West Chester this weekend.

For things to do in Greater Cincinnati, visit Cincinnati.com’s new Things to Do page.

Below are some things to do close to home.

Friday

Armchair program – Residents of West Chester Township are invited to experience New Zealand and Australia without ever leaving their hometown. The countries will be discussed at this week’s Armchair session at Township Hall, 9113, Cincinnati-Dayton Road, at 7 p.m. Friday.

Lakota boys’ basketball – Both Lakota West and Lakota East will host conference opponents Friday at 7:30 p.m. Lakota West (6-4 overall, 4-3 in Greater Miami Conference) will host Colerain (4-7 overall, 0-6 in GMC), while Lakota East (11-2 overall, 5-1 in GMC) will host Princeton (6-5 overall, 3-3 in GMC).

Saturday

Union Centre Restaurant Crawl – The fifth annual Union Centre Restaurant Crawl (photo) benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will take place this Saturday. The crawl will begin at 4 p.m. at the UNO Chicago Grill and will move to other participating restaurants that include El Rancho Grande, The Wise Owl Wine Bar, the Dingle House and Jag’s Steak and Seafood.

Winter farmers’ market – The weekly farmers’ market season is over, but the winter farmers’ market will be open this Saturday at the Square at Union Centre. This Saturday’s market will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Like in the summer, the winter farmers’ market also features all local vendors with produce and meats grown and raised locally and products made by hand.

Lakota girls’ basketball – Both Lakota West and Lakota East will host conference opponents Saturday at 2 p.m. Lakota West (10-2 overall, 6-2 in Greater Miami Conference) will host Mason (13-0 overall, 8-0 in GMC), while Lakota East (5-9 overall, 4-4 in GMC) will host Hamilton (3-11 overall, 2-6 in GMC).

Sunday

Community choir rehearsal for MLK program – Residents of Liberty and West Chester townships are invited to Sunday’s community choir rehearsal for the Martin Luther King Day program. The choir will practice beginning at 2 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church, 7161 Ohio 4 in Fairfield. All residents are invited to sing with the group, which will perform at the Jan. 21 Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity program.

Posted in: Events, News, Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: business, business news, charity, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, dingle house, Dingle House Irish Pub, El Rancho Grande, Jag's, Jag's Steak & Seafood, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Stone Creek, Stone Creek Dining Company, The Wise Owl, Union Centre Merchant Association, Union Centre Merchants Association, Union Centre Restaurant Crawl, UNO, Uno Chicago Grill, Uno's Chicago Grill, West Chester restaurants, Wise Owl, Wise Owl Wine Bar

The fifth annual Union Centre Restaurant Crawl benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will take place this Saturday.

The crawl will begin at 4 p.m. at the UNO Chicago Grill and will move to other participating restaurants that include El Rancho Grande, The Wise Owl Wine Bar, the Dingle House and Jag’s Steak and Seafood.

Those interested can pre-register for the crawl by giving a $30 donation in advance. Registration at the door can be done for a $35 donation.

Parking will be available at the old Max and Erma’s building next to UNO, which is located at 9246 Schulze Drive in West Chester. After checking in at UNO, crawl participants will be walking (dress appropriately) to all of the other nearby restaurants.

The first 50 crawl participants to sign up will receive a complimentary t-shirt. All participants will receive appetizers and discounted drink specials at each restaurant. There will also be raffles and games during the crawl.

Taxi service will be available after the event at Jag’s.

Tickets can be purchased at http://unioncentrecrawl5-eac2.eventbrite.com/#.

For more information please email Lindsay Wiseman at lmdwiseman@gmail.com.

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: business, business news, charity, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, dingle house, Dingle House Irish Pub, El Rancho Grande, Jag's, Jag's Steak & Seafood, Stone Creek, Stone Creek Dining Company, The Wise Owl, Union Centre Merchant Association, Union Centre Merchants Association, Union Centre Restaurant Crawl, UNO, Uno Chicago Grill, Uno's Chicago Grill, West Chester restaurants, Wise Owl, Wise Owl Wine Bar

Rachel Richardson reports:

Marion’s Piazza manager John Davis knew the restaurant would be a hit when he opened the doors for lunch and was greeted by a party of 30 hungry guests.

The Dayton-based chain celebrated the grand opening of its newest restaurant — its ninth overall — Tuesday at the corner of Tylersville and Snider roads in Mason.

The Mason opening marks the company’s first Greater Cincinnati location.

“We were real busy,” said Davis of the lunch crowd. “Everybody said, ‘We can’t wait until you get here.’”

• Photos: Marion’s Piazza opens in Mason

The 11,000-square-foot Mason location employs about 50 people and seats 520, including 70 in an outdoor patio and 100 in a private banquet room. Carry out service is also offered.

Marion’s is one of the first developments to break ground on the 9-acre site owned by Everybody’s Farm Inc. A dermatologist office is slated for another lot, according to Jeff Eichhom of Henkle, Schueler & Associates, whose sister company, Bunnell Hill Development Co. Inc., is the project’s developer.

The chain’s success lies in its pizza, known as Dayton-style pizza, said Roger Glass, company president. The crust is thin and pies are cut in bite-size squares instead of slices, he said.

Eighty-five percent of the company’s sales are pizza; other fare includes salads, sandwiches, lasagna and spaghetti.

“We must be doing something right. We keep setting records for business every year,” said Glass. “If you come to Marion’s, you’ve got to be hungry for pizza.”

Mason proved an attractive area for expansion because it is a populous area with a solid base of industry and other development, said Glass. Mason is also close to the company’s Dayton-based commissary, which ships out fresh dough daily.

Linda Bonnell of Loveland got hooked on Marion’s in the 1990s after her child’s basketball team played in the area. She was at the restaurant on opening day for dinner.

“We couldn’t wait until this one opened,” she said. “The pizza is wonderful, absolutely the best.

Restaurant hours are 10:30 a.m. -11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant is at 6176 Soundwave Blvd. and can be reached at 513-398-9998.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, Dayton, everybody's farm, expansion, marion's piazza, Mason, opening, pizza, restaurant, roger glass

Photos by Tony Jones of last year’s event:

West Chester Veterinary Care (WCVC) will host its fourth annual open house, pet adoption and dog costume contest from noon until 4 p.m. this Saturday.

Like in previous years, door prizes will be passed out throughout the event and additional prizes will be awarded for the costume contest. All dressed up dogs are eligible to win and don’t have to be present to win.

Animal Friends Humane Society and the SPCA will have animals for adoption.

WCVC is a full service veterinary hospital with dog daycare and pet boarding services. While visitors are at the free event, they will be able to tour the hospital.

WCVC is located at 8897 Eagle Ridge Ct, just off of Lakota West Drive.

For more information, visit www.wc-vc.com or call 513-942-9282.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: business, business news, Pet adoption, pets, photo galleries, photo gallery, photos, SPCA, SPCA Cincinnati, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester photos, West Chester Veterinary Care

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

A slate of officers and new board member for 2013 has been selected by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance’s board of directors.

Members will vote on the slate during the chamber’s Nov. 13 luncheon meeting at the Wingate by Wynham, 7500 Tyles Place in West Chester Township.

Officers who are being recommended for a term that begins Jan. 1 are:

• Karen Mueller, of HORAN, chairman
• Ron Rohlfing, West Chester Hospital,vice-chairman
• Deborah Brenneman, Thompson Hine LLP, secretary

Dina Minneci, Liberty Township’s administrator is being recommended for a three-year term on the board that also begins Jan. 1.

The luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guest speaker is Col. Dean Smittle, a military analyst for FOX19 Morning News, is the guest speaker. His topic is U.S. Military Risk in the Middle East and Update on the Regional Population/Tribal Communities.

Smittle has served in key leadership positions in both the army and air force and now teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.  Before enlisting, he earned a master of art education degree from the University of Cincinnati and graduated from the Air War College at Air University in Alabama.

The emcee for the luncheon is Rich Sears of Ameriprise Financial.

Information/tickets: 513-777-3600

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: board of directors, business, col. dean smittle, Deborah Brenneman, Dina Minneci, Karen Mueller, luncheon, rich sears, Ron Rohlfing, vote, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

More than a dozen West Chester businesses will compete this evening for Cincy Magazine’s Best of the North awards.

Hundreds of readers nominated businesses in the magazine’s inaugural contest in categories ranging from shopping to dining to healthy living. See the list of entrants at the magazine’s website.

Readers will have the chance to vote to vote this evening at a special event hosted at The Manor House, 7440 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason.

Event hours are 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door and include an evening of music, unlimited food and two drink tickets. All attendees will receive a ballot to vote for their favorite business in each category.

For more information, call Jenna Toon at 513-297-6215 or email jtoon@cincymagazine.com.

Posted in: Events |

Tags: Tags: awards, best of the north, business, celebration, Cincy Magazine, readers, the manor house, West Chester

Dr. Yousuf Ahmad / Photo provided

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Healthcare Transformation is the topic of the Oct. 9 monthly member luncheon of the West Chester/Liberty Chamber Alliance.

The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Wetherington Golf and Country Club in West Chester Township.

The keynote address will be given by Dr. Yousuf Ahmad, divisional senior vice president and chief network transformation officer at Catholic Health Partners. Greg Ossmann of Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital serves as emcee.

Tickets are $27 for members and $50 for non-members.

Information/reservations: www.thechamberalliance.com or 513-777-3600

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: business, catholic health partners, dr. yousuf ahmad, greg ossmann, healthcare transformation, luncheon, West Chester, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance, wetherington golf and country club

The Enquirer

Defense contractor BAE Systems is ending military production at its West Chester plant and will transfer the work to Sealy, Texas, by April. About 160 employees will lose their jobs as a result, beginning in November, the company said this morning.

All commercial armored vehicle, transparent armor and JLTV engineering work will continue in West Chester, BAE said.

“The decision to transition the military production work from our West Chester site to Sealy streamlines our organization, reduces cost and improves our competitive position,” Frank Pope, president of BAE Systems Inc.’s Land & Armaments Sector, said in a statement.

The company, which once employed 1,800, has been cutting positions over the past two years as it experienced a marked decrease in production volumes. Factors include the winding down of some long-standing programs, leaner defense budgets, and the recession.

BAE Systems acquired the military production business through its purchase of Armor Holdings Inc. in 2007.

The military production business produces armored cabs, turrets and armor parts supporting various armored military ground vehicles and construction equipment for the U.S. Armed Forces and original equipment manufacturers of military vehicles.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: BAE Systems, business, employment, frank pope, jobs, plant, sealy texas, West Chester

Damon Hamblin with Long-Stanton Group in West Chester makes a part used under gas stations to help protect ground water from contamination. Long-Stanton employs about 75 – 10 more than last year. / The Enquirer/Liz Dufour

Alexander Coolidge reports:

This is what happens when manufacturing regains its stride:

• Intelligrated in Mason hires 300 new workers to design and build conveyer systems, and Mazak in Elsmere hires 75 new workers to make industrial cutting machines.

• Total Quality Logistics in Union Township, Clermont County, adds 200 jobs to move truckloads of manufacturing supplies and finished products.

• The University of Cincinnati Clermont College gets a $250,000 grant to train 100 new workers in advanced manufacturing skills.

Manufacturing employment in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky hasn’t been this robust since December 2008 – before the recession whacked 13,300 jobs from the sector. Today, manufacturing is leading the jobs recovery in Ohio, Kentucky and the region.

Latest state data show that 114,700 people are employed in manufacturing in the 15-county region. That’s one of every nine workers directly employed at companies making everything from airplane parts to electrical connectors to specialty trailers.

Add in the ripple effect, and the local impact grows. Economists estimate that every new manufacturing job creates roughly two more in trucking, banking, sales and other businesses – all needed to support the manufacturing surge.

“The multiplier effect is huge – the input is so great and so diverse that it reaches other sectors,” says LaVaughn Henry, vice president of the Cincinnati branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. “Those dollars roll over because as the sector grows, it touches other parts of the economy.”

A combination of factors is driving manufacturing’s rebound: The rising cost of making goods overseas is sending American jobs back home. U.S. labor is less costly and more productive than ever. And the quality of American-made goods has never been higher.

But the need for more workers also is exposing a manufacturing talent gap. Technology is doing the stamping, bolt-tightening and assembly-line work that manufacturing workers used to do. Today, employers need workers who can tell the high-tech machinery exactly what to do.

Until more workers are trained in those skills, the recovery won’t be as strong as it could be.

“Doing the same, repetitive task over and over is on its way out,” says Dennis Ulrich, director of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s Workforce Development Center in Evendale. “There are still machine operators, but those require more skills.”

(more…)

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, chris cole, cincinnati state and technial community college, dennis ulrich, economy, intelligrated, jobs, labor, LaVaughn Henry, manufacturing, Mason, mazakm long-stanton manufacturing, multiplier effect, rebound, technology, West Chester

EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester will open its newest holiday attraction, “Jack-O-Lantern Junction,” next Saturday, Sept. 22. The attraction, which is family friendly, will be available for the next six weeks to celebrate Halloween.

The attraction features a walk-through trick-or-treat maze with ghosts, skeletons and cobwebs. It also features an indoor pumpkin patch, multiple treat stations and a talking pumpkin.

Outdoors, the attraction offers a straw maze and train rides, including Halloween themed hand-cranked train cars plus a 1,000+ foot electric train ride skirting the outside of the building. Train rides operate weather permitting.

The rest of EnterTRAINment Junction will also be open, including its model train display and its A-Maze-N Funhouse attraction.

EnterTRAINment Junction is open seven days a week. Halloween activities begin Sept. 24 and run through Oct. 31. Hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Attraction pricing starts at $9.95. No charge for kids under age 2, and parking is free.

EnterTRAINment Junction is located at 7379 Squire Court West Chester, off I-75, at the Tylersville Road exit (#22).

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: A-Maze-N FunHouse, buiness news, business, EnterTrainment Junction, Halloween, Holiday, Jack-O-Lantern Junction, model trains, trains