WestChesterBuzz.com

Hundreds of band students celebrated at an assembly in Lakota West’s gym Monday, April 9, 2012. The assembly was held to celebrate the band's accomplishment of being invited to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013. Photo taken by Cara Owsley.

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 band to march in NYC Thanksgiving Day Parade – Band students celebrated a big announcement last Monday when school officials said that the band will perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2013.

Miami introduces new basketball coach – The Miami University athletic department chose its VOA Learning Center in West Chester Township to introduce its new head basketball coach last week. Former Tennessee State University head coach John Cooper will take over the job after Charlie Coles retired in March after coaching the Redhawks for 16 seasons.

Lakota West High School names new principal – Lakota West High School will have a new principal next school year as the school board voted unanimously last week to promote school administrator Gary Elgin Card to lead the 2,800-student school. Card, who is now associate principal at Lakota West Freshman School, will replace Lakota West Principal Richard Hamilton, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Lakota West comes back to defeat rival Mason – Trailing 3-0, the Lakota West Firebirds stormed back with a five-run sixth inning en route to a 6-3 win against Mason Wednesday at Mason Middle School. The win improved the Firebirds conference record to a perfect 8-0 and kept them in sole possession of first place in the Greater Miami Conference.

Reds legends make a visit to West Chester – Fans of the Big Red Machine visited memory lane and met the team’s Gold Glove winning centerfielder, Cesar Geronimo, during a special signing session at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Friday. Midway through the event, Geronimo’s former teammate George Foster stopped by.

KiteFest takes to the skies – One of West Chester Township’s most popular events, WGUC Airwaves KiteFest at Voice of America Park, took place over the weekend. Rain caused problems on Saturday, but Sunday was a perfect day for the event that draws between 13,000 to 15,000 kite enthusiasts annually.

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

Tags: Tags: Cesar Geronimo, Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds, Cesar Geronimo signing, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, John Cooper, John Cooper Miami basketball, Kite Fest, KiteFest, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Lakota West softball, Lakota West sports, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lakota West band, Miami basketball, Miami University basketball, Miami University Voice of America Learning Center, Richard Hamilton, Voice of America Learning Center

Sue Kiesewetter reports

The skies of West Chester Township will be full of color, strings and tails this Saturday and Sunday when the WGUC Airwaves KiteFest comes to the Voice of America Park.

Now in its eighth year, the festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. both days at the park. Depending on weather, organizers say there could be 13,000 to 15,000 kite enthusiasts over the two year festival.

“This is the first big spring event,’’ said Kevin Reynolds, community relations manager for WGUC. “The kids can run flying the kites, they can run for the parachute run. That’s one of the appeals to families – having the kids outside and being able to run.”

Two professional kite flying teams – Chicago Flyer and 180 Go – will have their kites in the air all afternoon both days. Team members will provide ongoing demonstrations and lessons.

New to this year’s festival is the addition of the United States championship boomerang team. They will alternate performances with the kite-flying clubs.

Kite making workshops will be ongoing for children, or families can bring their own kites to fly. Kits from two different vendors will be available, starting at $3. There will be a field behind the museum designated for children to fly their kites

Separate areas will be designated for kite flying lessons or demonstrations, kite clubs, big kites, open flying and each professional kite team will have its own field.

There will be space for concessions and an eating tent along with a kid’s area, balloon animals from noon to 2 p.m., each day, air brush tattoos from 3-5 p.m. both days.

A parachute run field will be marked for children. As kids run, a parachute in a harness they wear opens and flies into the air.

“It shows them the power of the wind,’’ Reynolds said. “The faster they run will open the parachute quicker but slow them down.”

The Cincinnati Zoo will bring animals to the children’s area from noon to 2 p.m., both days.

All parking will be offsite at the West Chester Medical Center, 7700 University Dr. There will be free shuttle buses to the KiteFest. Limited handicap parking will be available at the park.

There is no admission charge but attendees will be asked for a $2 parking donation that will benefit the Voice of America museum.

The festival is sponsored by WGUC, West Chester Township, MetroParks of Butler County, Pigs Aloft Kite Club, Thompson Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, and the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation.

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

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Zoo, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Park, voice of america broadcasting museum, Voice of America Museum, Voice of America Park

One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will take flight at Voice of America Park next weekend, April 14 and 15, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This is the eighth year for the event, which draws around 15,000 people each year.

KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite-building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite-flying lessons and demonstrations.

In attendance at this year’s event will be Chicago Fire, one of the oldest and most renowned kite-flying teams in the country. Also in attendance will be 180Go, a choreographed kite team that has become a crowd favorite, according to West Chester Township public information officer Barbara Wilson.

Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital off Cox Road. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to and from the event. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting off Tylersville Road.

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

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Zoo, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Park, voice of america broadcasting museum, Voice of America Museum, Voice of America Park

One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will continue this afternoon, Sunday, April 10, at Voice of America Park and Museum from noon to 5 p.m. Rain and thunderstorms put a damper on the festivities on Saturday, however, the forecast for today could be ideal for kite flying.

According to the National Weather Service, the West Chester area will have mostly sunny skies today with a high near 85 degrees. It will also be breezy, with a south wind of 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Wind gusts could be as high as 33 mph.

>>>PHOTOS: KITEFEST PAST AND PRESENT<<<

This is the seventh year for the festival. Last year, approximately 15,000 people visited the event.

KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite flying lessons and demonstrations. The zoo animals will be at the festival from noon to 2 p.m.

>>>VIDEO: KITEFEST PROMOTIONAL VIDEO<<<

Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to KiteFest. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at the VOA Park and Museum. Parking donations of $2 will be accepted to support the Voice of America Museum.

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

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Zoo, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, VOA, VOA Park, Voice of America Park

Butler Tech will have its 5K Run/Walk, hosted by the Butler County United Way, around the lake at Voice of America Park tomorrow, April 9. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. under the gazebo. The actual race will begin at 9 a.m.

The 5K “chipped” race is $25 for adults and $20 for youth under the age of 18.

Butler Tech’s website provides information about its history:

Butler Tech has been helping Butler County youth and adults to achieve their dreams since 1975. Starting with the original high school building, D. Russel Lee Career-Technology Center, it was one of the first joint vocational school districts in the state of Ohio. The original program offerings emphasized mechanical, industrial, and office occupations, all housed at a single campus located south of Middletown on State Route 4.

For more information, call 513-863-0800.

After the race, Voice of America Park will be hosting one of the area’s biggest events of the year in KiteFest, which will take place April 9-10 from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This is the seventh year for the festival. Last year, approximately 15,000 people visited the event.

For more information about that event, visit AirWavesKiteFest.com.

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: 5K, Butler County United Way, Butler Tech, Butler Tech 5K, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, VOA Park, Voice of America, Voice of America Park

One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will take flight at Voice of America Park and Museum this weekend, April 9-10, from noon to 5 p.m. each day. This is the seventh year for the festival. Last year, approximately 15,000 people visited the event.

>>>PHOTOS: KITEFEST PAST AND PRESENT<<<

KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas. There will also be kites available to purchase and separate areas designed for kite flying lessons and demonstrations. The zoo animals will be at the festival from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

>>>VIDEO: KITEFEST PROMOTIONAL VIDEO<<<

Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to KiteFest. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at the VOA Park and Museum. Parking donations of $2 will be accepted to support the Voice of America Museum.

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

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Zoo, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, VOA, VOA Park, Voice of America Park

One of West Chester’s more recognizable events, KiteFest, will take place at Voice of America Park and Museum April 9-10 from noon to 5 p.m.

KiteFest features various activities for children including a kite building workshop, a parachute run, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo and play areas.

Parking for this year’s event will all be offsite at the West Chester Hospital. Shuttle buses will be used to deliver people to KiteFest. Only guests with approved handicapped parking permits will be allowed to park at the VOA Park and Museum. Parking donations of $2 will be accepted to support the Voice of America Museum.

Fore more information about the event, visit AirWavesKiteFest.com.

(If video above is not working – visit YouTube.com)

Posted in: Events, News, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnat Zoo, Kite Fest, KiteFest, MetroParks, MetroParks of Butler County, VOA, VOA Park, Voice of America Park