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There is plenty to do in West Chester and Liberty townships this weekend.

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Saturday

Cool Jazz ‘n’ Hotcakes breakfast – Jazz will be on the menu for the Lakota East High School’s Cool Jazz ‘n’ Hotcakes breakfast. From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, the school’s Eastside Café will be open to the community for a morning of jazz performances by Lakota junior and senior high school musicians. Listen to five different ensembles while munching on pancakes and sausage cooked by parents and served by teens. Admission is $6 for all the food you can eat.

Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run – Two summers ago, the Lakota community lost a loved one when longtime teacher Karen Moeller passed away. Members of the community honored the elementary school teacher by creating the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, which will take place for the second consecutive year in May at Voice of America Park. This year’s event will take place Saturday and will begin at 9 a.m. around the lake at VOA Park.

Plant sale and open house at Hughes School – Antique agricultural tractors will be on display at this year’s spring open house at the former Hughes School – a one-room school adjacent to Liberty Elementary School. Sponsored by the Liberty Township Historical Society the open house runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at the school, 6010 Princeton Road. In conjunction with the open house, the Liberty Township Garden Club will host its annual plant sale in the school’s parking lot.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party – In the community room of the West Chester Library there will be two tea parties this Saturday. The hour-long event, which is called Fancy Nancy Tea Party, will begin at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. The event is geared to “Fancy Nancys” ages 4-6 and their chaperones. The event includes a storytime, followed by light refreshments. Children are encouraged to dress up. Cameras are welcome. Call the library, 513-777-3131 about registration.

Sunday

Great Amazing Race – Modeled after a popular TV reality show, the contest at Voice of America Park pairs family members on a mile-long course that leads them to a string of challenge stations. Typical challenges range from a piggyback obstacle course to a “mummy wrap,” in which adults robe their youthful partner in toilet paper. The event organizer, Greg Benton, describes it as a family version of the TV show, “The Amazing Race.” The race will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. and costs $40 for a team of two. Visit greatamazingrace.com for more details or to register.

Acoustic Jam session – The community is invited to listen or join in a public acoustic jam session at Keehner Park this Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. According to westchesteroh.org, similar events will be held on the first Sunday of the month at Keehner Park now through September.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, Lakota East, Lakota East bands, Lakota East High School, Lakota East High School’s Cool Jazz ‘n’ Hotcakes breakfast, Lakota Local Schools, Voice of America Park

Two summers ago, the Lakota community lost a loved one when longtime teacher Karen Moeller passed away.

Members of the community honored the elementary school teacher by creating the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, which will take place for the second consecutive year in May at Voice of America Park.

This year’s event will take place Saturday and will begin at 9 a.m. around the lake at VOA Park. The event will benefit the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, which awards two scholarships each year to high school students based on academics and contributions to Lakota and to his or her community.

The distance of the run/walk is 1 ¼ miles. Prizes and awards will also be given out.

The cost per participant on the day of the event is $20. Those walk-ups are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before the event begins.

Moeller taught first and second grades at Adena Elementary for 17 years before being transferred to Shawnee Elementary. In November of 2007, Moeller was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought the disease for more than 3 ½ years.

For more information about the event, visit lakotawesthigh.com.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, Lakota Local Schools, Voice of America Park

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty is accepting applications until next Monday, April 1 for the Karen Moeller Scholarship, which awards two scholarships each year to high school students based on academics and contributions to Lakota and to his or her community.

Moeller taught first and second grades at Adena Elementary for 17 years before being transferred to Shawnee Elementary. As a teacher, she won the David Thiel Award, which recognizes kind, caring, and giving community members in Lakota.

In November of 2007, Moeller was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought the disease for more than 3 ½ years.

She passed away in June of 2011.

After her death, her family and friends worked to establish a scholarship fund as a tribute to her work in Lakota and her love of furthering the education of local youth.

Applications can be found online at www.wclfoundation.com.

To learn more about The Community Foundation’s scholarship opportunities or how to create a legacy by establishing a new scholarship opportunity, please call Melissa Benedict at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, Lakota Local Schools

Sue Kiesewetter reports

West Chester Township’s Memorial Day Parade will leave Union Day School at 10 a.m., May 28.

Organized by the West Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7696, marchers are asked to gather in the school’s north parking lot, 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, at 9 a.m.

World War II veteran Wallace Schulze will serve as grand marshal of the parade. It will proceed down Cincinnati-Dayton, to West Chester Road to Brookside Cemetery.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the West Chester Historical Society will begin reading names of the veterans buried in the cemetery. When that is completed and the parade arrives, a 45-minute service begins, said Micky Vidourek, of the VFW.

The service includes the playing of Taps and the Star Spangled Banner by the Lakota East and West bands. Ohio Board of Regents senior vice chancellor and former legislator Gary Cates will speak at the service. It will end with the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band’s rendition of Amazing Grace.

• Story: Fallen Marine to receive Purple Heart
• Story: Marine John Patrick ‘J.P.’ Huling killed by Taliban
• Photos: Bell Jr., Pyeatt and funerals
• Stories: Lucas Pyeatt

West Chester and Liberty Township’s recent fallen soldiers include Lance Corporal Timothy M. Bell Jr. (died in Aug. of 2005 in Iraq), Marine Corporal Lucas T. Pyeatt (died in Feb. of 2011 in Afghanistan) and Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling (died in May of 2012 in Afghanistan).

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Afghanistan, death, funeral, Iraq, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, Lucas Pyeatt, Lucas Pyeatt arrangements, Lucas Pyeatt funeral, Lucas Pyeatt funeral services, Memorial Day Parade, Memorial Day Parade West Chester, military, military families, Timothy M. Bell Jr., Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral, Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral services, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling

Last June, the Lakota community lost a loved one when longtime teacher Karen Moeller passed away.

Just less than a year later, members of the community will honor the elementary school teacher by participating in the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walkat Voice of America Park at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The event will benefit the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, which awards two scholarships each year to high school students based on academics and contributions to Lakota and to his or her community.

The distance of the run/walk is 1 ¼ miles. Prizes and awards will also be given out.

The cost per participant on the day of the event is $20. Those walk-ups are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before it begins.

Moeller taught first and second grades at Adena Elementary for 17 years before being transferred to Shawnee Elementary. In November of 2007, Moeller was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought the disease for more than 3 ½ years.

For more information about the event, visit westfirebirds.com.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, Lakota Local Schools, Voice of America Park

While the nation commemorates its soldiers who died while serving in the military, locally West Chester and Liberty Township residents will honor their fallen soldiers, which include Lance Corporal Timothy M. Bell Jr. (died in Aug. of 2005 in Iraq), Marine Corporal Lucas T. Pyeatt (died in Feb. of 2011 in Afghanistan) and Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling (died in May of 2012 in Afghanistan).

To honor other fallen service men and women, the West Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7696 once again organized a Memorial Day parade that will begin at 10 a.m. at Union Day School.

• Story: Fallen Marine to receive Purple Heart
• Story: Marine John Patrick ‘J.P.’ Huling killed by Taliban
• Photos: Bell Jr., Pyeatt and funerals
• Stories: Lucas Pyeatt

The parade will end at Brookside Cemetery on West Chester Road. A ceremony, featuring the Lakota East and Lakota West Marching Bands and honored guests, will follow the parade.

In the past, marchers have been asked to gather at 9 a.m. in the school’s north parking lot, which is located at 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road.

For more information, visit WestChesterOH.org.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Afghanistan, death, funeral, Iraq, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, Lucas Pyeatt, Lucas Pyeatt arrangements, Lucas Pyeatt funeral, Lucas Pyeatt funeral services, military, military families, Timothy M. Bell Jr., Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral, Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral services, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling

Last June, the Lakota community lost a loved one when longtime teacher Karen Moeller passed away.

Just less than a year later, members of the community will honor the elementary school teacher by participating in the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk at Voice of America Park at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 26.

The event will benefit the Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, which awards two scholarships each year to high school students based on academics and contributions to Lakota and to his or her community.

The distance of the run/walk is 1 ¼ miles. Prizes and awards will also be given out.

If participants register before May 18, the cost is $10 for elementary/junior high students, $15 for high school students/adults and $30 for families. The cost per participant on the day of the event is $20. Those walk-ups are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before the event begins.

Moeller taught first and second grades at Adena Elementary for 17 years before being transferred to Shawnee Elementary. In November of 2007, Moeller was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought the disease for more than 3 ½ years.

For more information about the event, visit westfirebirds.com.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fun Run/Walk, Karen Moeller Scholarship Fund, Lakota Local Schools, Voice of America Park

Marine Cpl. Lucas T. Pyeatt of West Chester, who was killed earlier this year while conducting combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, was posthumously awarded a new medal created to honor heroics by intelligence officers, according to Gannett reporter Malia Rulon.

>>>PHOTOS OF LUCAS PYEATT AND HIS FUNERAL<<<

Below is a portion of Rulon’s article:

The parents of Marine Corps Sgt. Lucas T. Pyeatt of West Chester were presented Wednesday with the National Intelligence Medal for Valor on behalf of their son, who was killed while leading his patrol in Afghanistan.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called Pyeatt an “outstanding Marine, an extraordinary intelligence professional … a true leader.”

“Luke was a standout young man and his death is an enormous loss to the country and to the Marine Corps,” Clapper said of 24-year-old Pyeatt, who was a signals intelligence team leader.

“Even though because of his job he knew he couldn’t be on every patrol, he insisted on conducting the very first one in a heavily contested area,” Clapper said. “He wanted to be certain that he understood what his team would be going through every time they went beyond the wire. And his fellow Marines respected him for that.”

Pyeatt was also praised for his leadership in training his team before deployment.

Pyeatt was killed Feb. 5 by an improvised explosive device in the southern province of Helmand. He had been in the country less than two weeks on his first deployment.

For the entire story, visit Cincinnati.com’s post “Slain Marine was ‘great young leader.’”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Afghanistan, death, funeral, Lucas Pyeatt, Lucas Pyeatt funeral, Lucas Pyeatt funeral arrangements, Lucas Pyeatt funeral services, military, military families

Karen Moeller, 65, who taught 17 years at Adena Elementary and was also a teacher at Shawnee Early Childhood School, passed away Saturday, June 18, at her Liberty Township home. The career elementary school teacher was diagnosed with brain cancer in November of 2007 and was given a year to 18 months to live.

Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Kimball Perry wrote a story about Moeller’s life, which included how she met her husband.

On the first day of his senior year at Otterbein University, Steve Moeller convinced a gorgeous sophomore to hop in his car for a ride.

He took Karen Fischer out for a sandwich – and was with her through more than 40 years of marriage, two children and a life of hop-scotching across the country as a basketball coach’s family.

Perry’s story also went into the type of marriage the couple would have, their children and Moeller’s caring personality.

“I was drawn to her immediately. She had a great personality, was very funny, very easy going, smart,” said her husband, Steve Moeller.

“It was just a whirlwind romance.”

Two years later, the couple married. A high school football coach at the time, he had to be at practice two days after their Saturday marriage, so he took his bride for an abbreviated honeymoon at Niagara Falls.

“She didn’t care about the sizzle. She didn’t care about anything other than making other people happy,” her husband said. (more…)

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Adena Elementary, Adena Elementary School, basketball, Bob Huggins, brain cancer, death, funeral, Karen Moeller, Lakota Local Schools, Shawnee Early Childhood School, Steve Moeller

While the nation commemorates its soldiers who died while serving in the military, locally West Chester and Liberty Township residents will honor their fallen soldiers, which include Lance Corporal Timothy M. Bell Jr. (died in Aug. of 2005 in Iraq) and Marine Corporal Lucas T. Pyeatt (died in Feb. of 2011 in Afghanistan).

>>>PHOTOS OF BELL JR., PYEATT AND FUNERALS<<<

To honor other fallen service men and women, the West Chester Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7696 organized a parade that will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Union Day School.

Marchers are asked to gather at 9 a.m. in the school’s north parking lot, which is located at 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road. World War II veteran Byron Seales will serve as grand marshal of the parade.

Also beginning at 10 a.m., the West Chester Historical Society will begin reading names of the veterans buried in the cemetery. When that is completed and the parade arrives, a 45-minute service will begin.

The service includes the playing of “Taps” and “The Star Spangled Banner” by the Lakota East and West bands. Ohio Senator Bill Coley will speak at the service. It will end with the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums Band’s rendition of Amazing Grace.

On another note, Chick-fil-A will be offering free meals to local heroes on Memorial Day. West Chester’s Chick-fil-A, located at 7733 Voice of America Park Dr., is offering all uniformed active and retired military, firefighters, police officers and first responders a free meal on Memorial Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The meal includes an entrée of choice, a side item and a beverage.

PHOTO: A U.S. Marine Corps firing party fires three volleys during the burial service of Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy Michael Bell Jr. at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005. Bell was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Aug. 3. (Gannett News Service, Bill Clark)

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Afghanistan, death, funeral, Iraq, Lucas Pyeatt arrangements, Lucas Pyeatt funeral, Lucas Pyeatt funeral services, military, military families, Timothy M. Bell Jr., Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral, Timothy M. Bell Jr. funeral services