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.
Beckett Park opens its west side after $2 million upgrade – The west side portion of Beckett Park officially reopened June 29 after a $2.09 million upgrade that included the construction of a new shelter, a “natural” playground, a small pond that can used as an ice skating rink in the winter and a 1.25-mile trail that loops around two newly enlarged lakes. Beckett Park is 150 acres and straddles Beckett Road near the Union Centre Boulevard intersection. WestChesterBuzz.com got its first look at the upgrade to the park last week.
Brad Lovell. Photo provided.
Lakota names four new principals- Lakota officials recently announced that the school district will be adding new principals to four different schools following approval by the board of education. New principals include Brad Lovell (Creekside Early Childhood), Christina French (Hopewell Elementary), Stacy Millburg (Lakota East Freshman – associate principal) and Jason Jackson (Lakota West Freshman – associate principal).
AK Steel to cut 2013 pension contribution – Bloomberg News reported last week that West Chester-based AK Steel Holding Corp., will cut its estimated 2013 pension expense by one-third, or $100 million, after passage of a transportation bill extension lowered some required contributions. The bill stabilizes the minimum annual contributions to fund defined-benefit pension plans, while raising premiums paid to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., AK said.
Brennan Ryan. Photo provided.
Lakota West hires Brennan Ryan to lead wrestling program- The Lakota school district’s high school athletic department announced last Monday that it hired Brennan Ryan as its new head coach of the Lakota West wrestling program. Ryan, who has experience as a wrestling head coach at Roger Bacon and Madeira high schools, was hired to replace Tim Kessler.
Battelle for Kids honors 18 Lakota teachers – A total of 18 Lakota educators were recognized in late June for teaching excellence at the Ohio Educators Connect for Success Conference in Columbus, Lakota officials announced last Wednesday. Battelle for Kids honored the local educators as part of its “Celebrate Teaching” initiative that is used to find out what makes a teacher highly effective and how to best learn from their practices.
VOA Museum. Tony Jones/photo.
National VOA Museum gears up for tours – With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting announced that it will open for tours on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. starting July 21.
West Chester Library breaks checkout record – The West Chester location of the MidPointe Library System broke its previous record for checkouts in a month this past June. The local library announced last week that it had 136,512 items checked out last month, trumping its old record set in July of 2008 by more than 4,000 checkouts.
List: Reach Out Lakota back-to-school supply needs – Reach Out Lakota released its supply list for its annual Back to School program last Wednesday. Currently, only a small percent of the needed supplies have been donated for the more than 450 registered children in the Lakota school district.
Jay Bruce. Adam Kiefaber/photo.
Photos: Jay Bruce signing in West Chester – Less than a week from the Major League All-Star game, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce took time for an autograph session at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Sunday. Hundreds of fans packed the local sports memorabilia shop to get a glimpse and have their photo taken with the two-time MLB All-Star.
Photos: Crazy Cardboard Boat Regatta in West Chester – Tony Jones of The Cincinnati Enquirer photographed one of West Chester Township’s largest outdoor events this past weekend. Additional photos from the community will be posted on WestChesterBuzz.com later this week.
Four Lakota schools will be getting new principals following approval by the board of education.
Lakota High School graduate Brad Lovell is leaving his principal job at Smith Elementary School in the Milford Schools to become principal of Creekside Early Childhood School. He replaces Todd Petrey, who resigned to become superintendent of the Springboro Community Schools in Warren County.
A West Chester Township resident, Lovell also was an assistant principal in the Forest Hills Schools, and taught in the Wyoming Schools before going to Milford. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a master’s from Wright State University.
Christina French is leaving Shawnee Early Childhood School to become principal at Hopewell Elementary School. She replaces Denise Hayes who resigned to become principal of Fairfield Intermediate School.
Before coming to Lakota a year ago, French was a teacher and then assistant principal at Fairfield East Elementary School. The Liberty Township resident holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s from Xavier University.
Both Lovell and French were given two-year contracts, effective Aug. 1, and will earn a base salary of $89,500 annually.
Lakota East assistant principal Stacy Millburg is moving to the school’s freshman campus as its associate principal. She replaces Suzanna Davis, who was named Lakota East principal following the resignation of Keith Kline. He was named assistant superintendent of the West Clermont Schools.
Jason Jackson. Photo provided.
Lakota West assistant principal Jason Jackson is moving to the school’s freshman campus as its associate principal. The move follows the appointment of associate principal Elgin Card to principal. He replaces Richard Hamilton, who is retiring after 13 years as principal.
Both Millburg and Jackson received two-year contracts, effective Aug. 1. Each will earn an annual base salary of $87,000.
The Lakota East Freshman Campus will host an all-you-can-eat fish fry this Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, which is in its 56th year, will benefit the Liberty Township Firefighter’s Association.
Besides fish, diners can opt for a four-piece chicken dinner. Both entrees come with fries, coleslaw, hush puppies and drinks.
Along with the meal there will be raffles.
Firefighters will also have equipment and vehicles on display.
The cost is $10.50 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $5 for children ages 4-12 and free to those children under the age of 4.
Tickets are available at fire headquarters, 6682 Princeton-Glendale Road, at Liberty Township hall, 6400 Princeton Road, or at the door.
The Lakota East Freshman Campus is located at 7630 Bethany Lane in Liberty Township.
Tickets are $6. Purchase of tickets in advance is recommended due to the expectation of the show selling out.
For more information about advanced ticket sales, email beautyandthebeasttickets@hotmail.com. Available tickets will also be sold at the door one hour before each performance.
The Lakota East Freshman Theatre is located at 7630 Bethany Lane in Liberty Township.
Parents can learn more about Lakota Local Schools kindergarten program and sign out a registration packet during one its kindergarten information nights this week. Shawnee ECS and Wyandot ECS will each host an informative session this Tuesday, March 8, at 7 p.m., while Creekside ECS and Liberty ECS will each host its session this Thursday, March 10, at 7 p.m.
Then, on next Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the school district will have its kindergarten registration day at the Lakota East Freshman Campus.
Parents will need the following items for registration day:
• Completed registration packet
• Driver’s license or state I.D. of residential/custodial parent
• Child’s original birth certificate
• Proof of residency—lease/rental agreement, deed, mortgage statement, purchase contract with custodial/residential parents’ names and signatures (no exceptions). Resident affidavits will not be accepted during spring registration
• Custody paperwork if applicable
• Immunization/Medical Records—If available, please submit during registration. School nurses will be available to review records and check for any missing immunizations. This information must be presented within 14 days after student’s first day of attendance or student will be excluded from school
• IEP/MFE (if applicable)
For more information, contact the Lakota Enrollment Center at 513-682-4120.
Both Lakota West and Lakota East high schools have released dates and times for its students to pick up their academic fall schedules.
Lakota East seniors will have the opportunity to pick up their schedules at an ice cream social from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 12. Seniors, who cannot attend, can pick up their schedules at the school’s main office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13-18.
Lakota East freshmen, sophomores and juniors can also pick up their schedules from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13-18 at the main office.
Sophomore orientation/pictures will take place at the high school for students whose last names begin with A through Mc at 7 p.m. Aug. 18. Sophomores whose last names begin with Md through Z are asked to attend the orientation/pictures session at 7 p.m. Aug. 19.
Freshmen orientation/pictures will take place at the Lakota East Freshman Campus for students whose last names begin with A through G at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16, last names that begin with H through O are asked to attend the orientation/pictures session at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 and last names that begin with P through Z are asked to attend at 8 p.m. Aug. 18.
Lakota West juniors and seniors can pick up their schedules at the main office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 18-20. Freshman and sophomores will have to attend orientation this month. During the orientation, students will tour the building and pick up their schedules.
Incoming freshmen will need to report to the Lakota West Freshman Campus for orientation. Freshmen, whose last names begin with A through G, will report to the campus at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16, last names that begin with H through 0 will report at 8 p.m. Aug. 16 and last names that begin with P through Z will report at 6:30 p.m.
Sophomores will need to attend one of the following orientation sessions at the high school on Aug. 18: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
For more information about Lakota West schedules or orientation, call 513-874-8390. And for more information about Lakota East schedules or orientation, call 513-735-7211.
First day of school is Aug. 25 for both high schools.
