WestChesterBuzz.com

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty will be hosting their 19th annual Key Event Sept. 15. The event is the Community Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year.

This unique event draws more than 600 people and raises more than $140,000. According to the Community Foundation, the money raised at the event allows it to fulfill its mission of facilitating charitable dollars through its grants to nonprofit organizations serving the community.

This year, the Key Event will begin with a cocktail party at 5 p.m. at the Savannah Center in West Chester. The event will feature a silent and live auction, as well as a basket raffle.

Upon arrival at the Savannah Center, guests randomly pick a key that will open a door revealing their random dining destination in one of the 30-plus area homes.

Each home will feature a local chef, who will prepare a unique dinner for Key Event guests.

Chefs include Michelle Brown from Jags, Nat Blanford from Embers, Troy Meyers from Troy’s Café and Catering, Brittney Holland from P&G, personal chefs Pam and Paul Sturkey, Linda and Jim Pitrelli from Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante, personal chef Kenneth Webber, Lisa and David Cook from Daveeds’s NEXT, Lisa Lizzio from At Your Service Catering, Paul Deggenbach from The Polo Grille, Bryan Hopping from Eddie Merlots, Mark Bodenstein from Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub, Jackson Rouse from Smog, Lori Cole from Savory Medody’s, Chris Hendricks from Stone Creek Dining, Jaime Carmody from Out of Thyme and Kevin Worthington and Joel Gragorcyk of Palomino Rotisserie and Bar.

The evening concludes with an after party hosted at the home of Dick and Patti Alderson.

Guests can register or find additional information through the foundation’s website www.wclfoundation.com or by calling 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Key Event, Savannah Center, Savannah Center West Chester, WCL Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty will be hosting their 19th annual Key Event Sept. 15. The event is the Community Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year.

This unique event draws more than 550 people and raises more than $150,000. According to the Community Foundation, the money raised at the event allows it to fulfill its mission of facilitating charitable dollars through its grants to nonprofit organizations serving the community.

This year, the Key Event will begin at the Savannah Center in West Chester. The event will feature a silent and live auction, as well as a basket raffle.

Upon arrival at the Savannah Center, each couple draws a key that will open a door revealing their random dining destination in one of 25 host homes for the evening.

Each home will feature a local chef, who will prepare a unique dinner for Key Event guests.

Chefs include Michelle Brown from Jags, Nat Blanford from Embers, Troy Meyers from Troy’s Café and Catering, Brittney Holland from P&G, personal chefs Pam and Paul Sturkey, Linda and Jim Pitrelli from Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante, personal chef Kenneth Webber, Lisa and David Cook from Daveeds’s NEXT, Lisa Lizzio from At Your Service Catering, Paul Deggenbach from The Polo Grille, Bryan Hopping from Eddie Merlots, Mark Bodenstein from Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub, Jackson Rouse from Smog, Lori Cole from Savory Medody’s, Chris Hendricks from Stone Creek Dining, Jaime Carmody from Out of Thyme and Kevin Worthington and Joel Gragorcyk of Palomino Rotisserie and Bar.

The evening concludes with an after party hosted at the home of Dick and Patti Alderson.

Guests can register or find additional information through the foundation’s website www.wclfoundation.com or by calling 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Key Event, Savannah Center, Savannah Center West Chester, WCL Community Foundation

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty recently released the deadlines to apply for the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund, which was created to assist student athletes in the Lakota school district with sports fees.

Junior high and high school students saw their athletic fees increase prior to the 2011-2012 school year when the Lakota Board of Education approved $10.2 million in cuts.

Athletic fees ballooned to $350 for junior high athletes – up from $200 in 2010-2011 – and to $550 for high school students – up from $300 in 2010-2011.

Due to this increase, the Community Foundation established the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund. Through this fund, private donations can be made to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within the district.

More than $6,500 was awarded in scholarship during the 2011-12 school year.

Deadlines for consideration during the 2012-2013 school year:

• Fall Sports: Students in grades 7-8 must apply by May 15, Students in grades 9-12 must apply by Aug. 17
• Winter Sports: Students in grades 7-12 must apply by Nov. 16
• Spring Sports: Students in grades 7-12 must apply by Feb. 15

Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit a letter to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty indicating their desire for assistance.

The letter should include the name of the student athlete, school and grade level. The letter should also include a rationalization and insight into the family’s hardship, the benefit the students will receive from athletic participation and insight into the family’s ability to cover half of the athletic fee charged to the student. Families should also include documentation of other financial assistance being provided.

Send letters to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty
Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund
5641 Union Centre Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of West Chester and Liberty Township residents.

A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year.

Community Members who wish to support the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund can make a donation payable to the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund c/o The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. For more information, call Melissa Benedict at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: athletic fees, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Lakota athletic fees, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, WCL Community Foundation

Lakota Local Schools will soon host golf outings where proceeds will benefit its students.

Lakota East's Ben Gallow watches a tee shot during tournament play this past season. Photo taken by Gary Landers.

Next Saturday, May 5, Lakota East golf program will be hosting its 14th annual golf scramble at Weatherwax Golf Course in Middletown. The event will begin with a shot gun start at approximately 1:45 p.m.

The scramble format includes four-person teams. The cost is $100 per player, which includes 18 holes of golf, cart, beverages, awards and dinner after the event. There is a 30-team limit.

Proceeds will benefit the golf teams at Lakota East.

Meanwhile, there will also be The Kristin Renneker Memorial Golf Outing at Walden Ponds Golf and Country Club in Hamilton Saturday, June 16. This event will support the Kristin Renneker Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship is named for Kristin Renneker, who died in an automobile accident during her senior year at Lakota in 1992.

According to the Community Foundation’s website, Renneker was an honor student, peer counselor and a two-sport varsity athlete (basketball and soccer). She was one of the tri-captains of her varsity basketball team, recipient of the Thunderbird Award in both sports and had earned a 3.6 grade point average.

Kristin Renneker. Photo provided.

“It is critical that we maintain Lakota’s scholarship fund traditions of the past, remind the community of the goodness that lived in Kristin’s heart and how the Lakota athletic boosters and the Renneker’s turned her tragic death into yearly blessings for future Lakota female athletes”, Lakota West head basketball coach Andy Fishman said.

The scholarship, which is held by the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, awards two students – one from Lakota East High School and another from Lakota West High School – with a $2,000 scholarship. To date, the Scholarship fund has awarded more than $56,000 to 28 student athletes at Lakota East and Lakota West.

For more information about each event, contact the athletic departments at 513-759-8622 for Lakota East and at 513-682-4111 for Lakota West. Flyers and donor forms can also be found at Westfirebirds.com and at Eastthunderhawks.com (right-hand side). Sponsorship opportunities are also available for the Kristin Renneker Memorial Scholarship outing and can be made by contacting the Community Foundation at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Kristin Renneker, Kristin Renneker Memorial Scholarship, Lakota charity, Lakota East, Lakota East golf, Lakota East Sports, Lakota scholarship, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West golf, Lakota West sports, WCL Community Foundation, Weatherwax Golf Course

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.

Lakota West senior Zak Farmer pitches during a 9-2 loss against Mason Monday, March 26, 2012. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.

High school baseball begins – Last Monday, both Lakota West and Lakota East began the 2012 baseball season with a loss during the inaugural Reds Future High School Showcase at Prasco Park Legacy Field in Mason. Lakota West lost by the score of 9-2 against rival Mason, while Lakota East lost to Hamilton 4-2.

Scholarship created to honor student involved in fatal wreck – The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty announced last Monday that it has established a scholarship fund to honor a Lakota West student, who died after being involved in a fatal car wreck March 16. The Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student at Lakota West High School that exhibits Stepaniak’s qualities.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia. Photo taken by Tony Jones.

Lakota seeks students’ input on cuts – Cincinnati Enquirer Michael D. Clark reported that Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia is reaching out to some of those hardest hit by Lakota’s recent $10.5 million in budget cuts – students. Mantia said during Monday evening’s Lakota school board meeting that she will invite students in May to discuss in person the sweeping changes.

Jack in the Box could open in mid-July – A spokesperson with Jack in the Box said last week that it is “only a matter of days” before the company breaks ground on its first restaurant in Ohio. The location, off Tylersville Road near I-75 in West Chester, is expected to be open by mid-July. The target date of the opening could be changed to due weather.

Rogers declared winner after recount – Last week’s recount in the Butler County commission race confirmed that T.C. Rogers of West Chester Township won the Republican primary for Butler County commissioner. Rogers finished 13 votes ahead of former commissioner and State Rep. Courtney Combs. Rogers will face Democratic candidate Jodi Billerman of Liberty Township and Libertarian Daryl Olthaus of Somerville in the November election.

Lakota West pitcher Ashley Sharp pitches in a 6-2 win against Lakota East Friday, March 30, 2012. Photo by Joseph Fuqua II.

Amylin shares soar on takeover bid – Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mike Boyer reported that shares of drug-maker Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester Township soared 54 percent Wednesday after a report that the company rejected a $3.5 billion unsolicited takeover bid from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Shares of the San Diego-based company closed at $23.77 – up $8.38 in more than 10 times normal trading – after Bloomberg News reported the company had rejected the $22-a-share offer.

Lakota West defeated Lakota East in softball – On Friday, Lakota West won its fourth straight against its school district rival. The latest coming by way of a 6-2 victory over the Thunderhawks. Last season, Lakota East was ranked No. 1 in the state for most of the spring and lost only three of its 31 games. All three losses came at the hand of the Firebirds, including one that eliminated Lakota East in the state quarterfinals.

Posted in: Board of Education, Business, Election, Government, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: Amylin, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Butler County Board of Elections, Butler County commission race, Butler County Election 2012, Chuck Furmon, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Courtney Combs, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, jack in the box, Jack in the Box Cincinnati, Jack in the Box midwest, Jack in the Box Ohio, Jack in the Box West Chester, Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East softball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West softball, Lakota West sports, Lakota West student death, Liberty Township election, Ohio election 2012, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia, T.C. Rogers, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester election, West Chester McDonalds, West Chester restaurant opening, West Chester restaurants, Zeke Stepaniak

Online registration is currently underway for the inaugural Run for the Edge 5K Run and Walk to be held Saturday, April 21, at Voice of America Park in West Chester. Sponsorships are also needed for the event.

The Southeast Butler County (SEBC) Leadership 21 Class of 2011 has established the “Leadership 21 Class of 2011 Benefit Run Fund” at The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. Each year the Class of 2011 will host a benefit run to support a charitable cause in the community.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Edge Teen Center, an after-school nonprofit organization for local teens to hangout, study or volunteer. The center is located in donated space at 7568 Wyandot Lane in Liberty Township.

L-21 hopes that it can raise awareness as well as capital through this event to keep the Edge Teen Center operating for years to come.

“A society is judged by the way it treats its weakest members, and we think encouraging young people to engage in positive, healthy behaviors after school is very important,” said Mitchell Willis, co-chairman of the event.

Sponsorships are available from $250 to $2,500. Sponsorship logos will be used in promotional materials and the 5K T-shirt.

For sponsorship information, contact Brad Farr at Brad.Farr@muohio.edu or 513-895-8869 or Ian Murray at ian@mmrmedia.com or 513-779-4223.

Checks can be made out and mailed to: L-21 Benefit Run Fund, c/o Community Foundation West Chester-Liberty, 5641 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Checks must be postmarked by April 13.

Online run registration is available at www.wclfoundation.com/leadership21.asp until noon on April 18. Fees to walk or run in the chipped race are $20 for adults and $15 for youths 17 and under until April 18, and $25 for adults and $20 for youths the day of the race.

Donations can also be directed to the L-21 Benefit Run Fund with the West Chester-Liberty Community Foundation at www.wclfoundation.com/Leadership21.asp.

Awards will be given to the top men and women finishers in each runner and walker division.

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

Tags: Tags: Chamber, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Edge Teen Center, Lakota, Run for the Edge 5K, VOA Park, VOA Park West Chester, Voice of America Park, Voice of America Park West Chester, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty announced Monday that it has established a scholarship fund to honor a Lakota West student, who died after being involved in a fatal car wreck March 16.

The Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student at Lakota West High School that exhibits Stepaniak’s qualities, according to the announcement. The inaugural award will be presented to Stepaniak’s graduating class in 2013.

Zeke Stepaniak. Photo provided

“The thing about Zeke, that amazed me, was that he was always kind to everyone,” said Michelle Day, Stepaniak’s English teacher. “He never met a stranger. He was just a very laid back, sincere person.”

• Story: Lakota community comes together after fatal wreck
• Story: Community mourns the loss of a student
• Students wear classmate’s colors to honor his memory
• Lakota West students thinking about classmate in ICU

The ones closest to Stepaniak describe him as person that puts his friends and family ahead of himself.

“He did everything for all of his friends,” junior classmate Jonathan Jung said. “If you call him at 2 a.m. and you don’t have a ride, he will come get you. He also put family first before anything.”

His upbeat personality didn’t end at school or at home, he also showed that side everywhere he went – including at work.

“He was the type of person that you couldn’t be angry when you were around him. He wouldn’t allow it,” McDonalds assistant manager Amy Sargent said. “You could not have a smile on your face. He made this place not feel like work. He made it feel like we were hanging out and making the occasional sandwich. He just lit up the room, the second he walked in.”

Contributions to the Ezekiel “Zeke” Stepaniak Memorial Scholarship Fund can be made by sending a check to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty
Attn: Ezekiel ‘Zeke” Stepaniak Memorial Scholarship Fund
5641 Union Centre Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

Or online at www.wclfoundation.com and using the “Donate Now” feature.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Ezekieal Stephaniak, Ezekieal Zeke Stepaniak, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Lakota West student death, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester McDonalds, Zeke Stepaniak

Online registration is currently underway for the inaugural Run for the Edge 5K Run and Walk to be held Saturday, April 21, at Voice of America Park in West Chester. Sponsorships are also needed for the event.

The Southeast Butler County (SEBC) Leadership 21 Class of 2011 has established the “Leadership 21 Class of 2011 Benefit Run Fund” at The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. Each year the Class of 2011 will host a benefit run to support a charitable cause in the community.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Edge Teen Center, an after-school nonprofit organization for local teens to hangout, study or volunteer. The center is located in donated space at 7568 Wyandot Lane in Liberty Township.

L-21 hopes that it can raise awareness as well as capital through this event to keep the Edge Teen Center operating for years to come.

“A society is judged by the way it treats its weakest members, and we think encouraging young people to engage in positive, healthy behaviors after school is very important,” said Mitchell Willis, co-chairman of the event.

Sponsorships are available from $250 to $2,500. Sponsorship logos will be used in promotional materials and the 5K T-shirt.

For sponsorship information, contact Brad Farr at Brad.Farr@muohio.edu or 513-895-8869 or Ian Murray at ian@mmrmedia.com or 513-779-4223.

Checks can be made out and mailed to: L-21 Benefit Run Fund, c/o Community Foundation West Chester-Liberty, 5641 Union Centre Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Checks must be postmarked by April 13.

Online run registration is available at www.wclfoundation.com/leadership21.asp until noon on April 18. Fees to walk or run in the chipped race are $20 for adults and $15 for youths 17 and under until April 18, and $25 for adults and $20 for youths the day of the race.

Donations can also be directed to the L-21 Benefit Run Fund with the West Chester-Liberty Community Foundation at www.wclfoundation.com/Leadership21.asp.

Awards will be given to the top men and women finishers in each runner and walker division.

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

Tags: Tags: Chamber, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Edge Teen Center, Lakota, Run for the Edge 5K, VOA Park, VOA Park West Chester, Voice of America Park, Voice of America Park West Chester, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance

For the 44th year, The Enquirer will recognize a select group of area women for their contributions to our community through its Women of the Year program.

Women of the Year’s class of 2011 will be profiled in a special section of The Enquirer on April 15 and honored at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency on April 26.

Sheila Munafo-Kanoza of West Chester was one of the 10 women honored by the newspaper. Below is her background from a post on Cincinnati.com.

Sheila Munafo-Kanoza of West Chester Township founded the Companions on A Journey program to provide grief support services that serve thousands in the region. She is also involved with the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty Township, West Chester Alliance, Women of the Power of the Purse, Pro Seniors and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Tickets to the April 26 Women of the Year luncheon are $38. Reservations are required. For more information, call Mary Donaldson at 513-768-8112.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Enquirer Women of the Year program, Pro Seniors, Sheila Munafo-Kanoza, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester Alliance, Women of the Power of the Purse

Spring athletes can now apply for assistance in paying their sports fees through the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund. The deadline to apply for consideration is Feb. 10 for junior high athletes and March 2 for high school athletes.

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty created the fund after the Lakota school district increased athletic fees for junior high and high school students in the spring of 2011.

Overall, athletic fees ballooned to $350 for junior high athletes – up from $200 in 2010-2011 – and to $550 for high school students – up from $300 in 2010-2011.

Through the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund, private donations can be made to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within the district.

After reviewing applications earlier this school year from winter sport athletes, the fund awarded 20 individual scholarships.

• Lakota levy news and discussion

Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit a letter to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty indicating their desire for assistance.

The letter should include the name of the student athlete, school and grade level. The letter should also include a rationalization and insight into the family’s hardship, the benefit the students will receive from athletic participation and insight into the family’s ability to cover half of the athletic fee charged to the student. Families should also include documentation of other financial assistance being provided.

Send letters to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty
Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund
5641 Union Centre Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of West Chester and Liberty Township residents. A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year.

Community Members who wish to support the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund can make a donation payable to the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund c/o The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. For more information, call Melissa Benedict at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: athletic fees, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Lakota athletic fees, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, WCL Community Foundation