WestChesterBuzz.com

Rosie Red and the other Cincinnati Reds mascots will be in West Chester on Sunday for a free event at The Streets of West Chester. File photo.

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

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

When you are not out and about, visit the new video page on WestChesterBuzz.com To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Friday

Reds Futures High School Showcase – Both Lakota East and Lakota West will be involved in a doubleheader on Friday. Lakota West (3-5, 1-4 in the Greater Miami Conference) will play Sycamore (1-5, 0-5) in the first game at 5 p.m. Then Lakota East (6-2, 4-1) will play Mason (8-0, 5-0) in game two. Both games will be played at Prasco Park, 6125 Commerce Court in Mason. Tickets are $5 and include a voucher for a free view level ticket to select 2013 Reds regular season games at Great American Ball Park.

Saturday

EnterTRAINment Junction’s Dollhouse Miniature Show and Sale will take place this Saturday and Sunday. Photo provided.

Dollhouse Miniature Show – The 36th annual Dollhouse Miniature Show & Sale will be taking place this Saturday and Sunday at EnterTRAINment Junction in West Chester (off Tylersville exit on I-75). The show is a miniatures’ showcase with artisans and dealers from across the Midwest selling unique items in all scales and sizes. The show will be in the venue’s Expo Center from 12-6 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 4-12.

Album release party – Jillian Ellis, a 2010 graduate of Lakota West High School, will perform songs from her debut album at a CD release party this Saturday at 9 p.m. at 86 Club in Clinton, 2820 Vine Street. Tickets for the CD release party can be purchased in advance for $5 at the 86 Club, 513-341-8686 and by contacting Positive Message Music at 513-874-6836; or at the door for $8.

Sunday

Help Lakota West bands play in parade – Lakota West bands have partnered with the Beckett Ridge McDonald’s for a fundraiser this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beckett Ridge McDonald’s located at 8251 Princeton-Glendale Road (Intersection of Smith Road and Route 747). McDonald’s will donate a percentage of all sales to help offset some of the costs associated with its trip and performance in the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Reds mascots to host ‘Grand Slam Sunday’ – All four of the Cincinnati Reds mascots, Rosie Red, Gapper, Mr. Redlegs and Mr. Red will be in West Chester Sunday encouraging young baseball fans to sign up for their kids club. “Grand Slam Sunday” will take place from noon from 2 p.m. at The Streets of West Chester, which is located off the Union Centre Blvd. exit on I-75. The free event will feature kids activities, photos with Rosie Red and the chance to win tickets to an upcoming Reds game.

Posted in: Events, News, School events |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds mascots, Gapper, Jillian Ellis, Lakota West, Lakota West bands, Lakota West marching band, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lakota West band, Mr. Red, Mr. Redlegs, music, PM Music, Positive Message Music, Positive Message Music Jillian Ellis, Reds Heads, Rosie Red, Streets of West Chester

Jillian Ellis, a 2010 graduate of Lakota West High School, will perform songs from her debut album at a CD release party this Saturday at 9 p.m. at 86 Club in Clinton, 2820 Vine Street.

The album, “The Journey”, is the first released by the West Chester record label Positive Message Music, which focuses on producing uplifting messages through its music.

“We are excited about our first new artist as she debuts, ‘The Journey,’ a rich, R&B album with both riveting ballads and exciting dance music,” said Eric Ellis, Jillian’s father and founder of Positive Message Music.

• VIDEO: West Chester music label promotes positive message

“Jillian co-wrote most of the songs and they reflect her journey to womanhood. Jillian is a powerful and refreshing new voice for this generation.”

Tickets for the CD release party can be purchased in advance for $5 at the 86 Club, 513-341-8686 and by contacting Positive Message Music at 513-874-6836. Tickets are also available at the door for $8. CDs will be available at the event, through Positive Message Music and through iTunes.

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Eric Ellis Jr., hip hop, hip hop music, Jillian Ellis, Lakota West, music, PM Music, Positive Message Music, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis Jr., Positive Message Music Jillian Ellis

After Lakota West sophomore Amber Robinson was fatally stabbed in September 2009, Eric Ellis was asked by then-principal Richard Hamilton to talk to the student body about making good choices.

“As I thought about what I wanted to do, I decided that music was what I wanted to go after,” said Ellis, who is the president and CEO of Integrity Development Corporation, a consulting firm specializing in diversity solutions.

“I really thought that the music was sending messages to young people that were often times resulting in violence and bad choices.”

At the end of Ellis’ presentation to Lakota West students, his daughter, Jillian Ellis, who graduated from West in 2010, sang a song her father wrote for Robinson called “One more day.”

After the song, many students were left in tears.

The message was received.

Four years later, Ellis of West Chester Township is still trying to spread that message through his local record label, Positive Message Music.

“I believe that music is the language of this generation,” Ellis said. “Too often adults are talking about adult solutions to problems that relate to young people. I really want to give young people a chance to speak to their peers through music and we are seeing that happen.”

Ellis’ four kids didn’t share his vision. In fact, when he came up with the idea for Positive Message Music, his children teased him.

“At the beginning we thought he was insane,” said his 18-year-old son Eric Ellis II. “We thought he had lost his mind. He was just sitting in front of his computer every night, making up songs. He sounded like a maniac.”

Their opinions changed, however, when two of his children were among the first seven local artists to sign with the record label in August of 2011.

“When things started to come together, my sister and I thought that this could be something,” Ellis II said. “Once we realized that, we have been in the studio, writing music and enjoying it ever since.”

Ellis’ son, aka “E2,” and daughter, aka “J. Faith,” are among the 12 artists signed with Positive Message Music. Other artists include Chris Douglas (rap – “Chris D.”), Aaron Collins (rap – “Double A”), Kendra Northgrad (country), Jerron Long (rap – “K. Starr”), Constance Dee (gospel r&b) and Chris Brokamp (rock). The label also has a group called the Mudd Gang, which is made up of Marisa Moore, Jakhaari Blackmon, Quentin Walker and Tenise Propes.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Aaron Collins, Amber Robinson, Amber Robinson Lakota West, Brice Satterwhite, Chris Douglas, Eric Ellis Jr., hip hop, hip hop music, Jillian Ellis, Lakota West, music, PM Music, Positive Message Music, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis Jr., Positive Message Music Jillian Ellis, Royel Bridges

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Music and food will be the focus this weekend at The Square @ Union Centre.

The Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association is sponsoring the two day event that features almost continuous live music by the region’s most popular groups, food, craft beer, wine, artisans and a car show on Saturday.

Booths along the boulevard will include local artists exhibiting and selling artwork include photography, ceramics, glass and jewelry. Restaurants in the area will sell samplings of their signature dishes.

Among the groups that will be performing are DV8 on Friday and Blue Stone Ivory, the Modulators and the Rusty Griswolds on Saturday.

There is no admission fee for the festival, which runs from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday; and from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

Saturday opens with a car show at 11 a.m. The $10 registration fee for cars will benefit Cheering for Charity, a group that raises money for Alzheimer’s research.

“We’re expecting about 250 cars,’’ said Bob Hutsenpiller, one of the show’s organizers. “We’ll have classic cars, off road, old cars – even some 2013 Corvettes.”

To accommodate the festival road closures will begin at 9 a.m. today and continue through noon Monday. West Chester Towne Centre will be closed from Centre Loop, north to The Square. Centre Pointe Drive will close from Centre Loop to Centre Loop. Access will be maintained to all businesses in the area.

The music line-up includes:
Friday
5 p.m.: Color Blind
7:30 p.m.: DV8
10 p.m.: BritBeat – Beatles Tribute Band

Saturday
12:30 p.m.: Modulators
3 p.m.: Parrots of the Caribbean salute to Jimmy Buffett
5:30 p.m.: Blue Stone Ivory
8 p.m.: The Remains
10:30 p.m.: Rusty Griswolds

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: dining, festival, food, music, the square @ union centre, Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association, union centre music & food festival, West Chester

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations next Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high schools.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day

Band members from Lakota East and Lakota West will be going door-to-door seeking donations next Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high schools.

Donations will be used to purchase and maintain uniforms for the instrumental groups.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, tag day

Lakota West and Lakota East marching bands both ended their 2011 competitive seasons by earning superior ratings at the Ohio Music Education Association state finals Oct. 29 in Dublin.

For Lakota East, it was the 15th straight year that the band earned the highest possible ranking.

>>>PROVIDED PHOTOS OF LAKOTA BANDS AT STATE FINALS<<<

DVD and T-shirt order forms are available on lakotawestbands.org.

Pictures from the OMEA state finals have been provided by community members. To add your own pictures to the photo gallery, email photos to akiefaber@westchesterbuzz.com or share your photos through the Photos page.

There are also many other great moments captured on our Flickr photostream. And more West Chester and Liberty Township related photo galleries on our Photos page.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: band, Lakota East, Lakota East Band, Lakota East band photos, Lakota East marching band, Lakota West, Lakota West band, Lakota West band photos, Lakota West marching band, marching band, music, photo gallery, photos, West Chester photos

The first annual Union Centre Music and Food Festival took place over the weekend, Oct. 14-15. The event, known last year as the Union Centre Boulevard Blast, was expected to draw between 15,000 to 20,000 people.

Evolving itself from the Blast, the Union Centre Merchants Association decided to do away with amusement rides and games, make the event a day shorter and feature a smaller and more localized group of food vendors.

Cincinnati Enquirer photographer Tony Jones attended the event on Saturday afternoon.

>>>PHOTOS OF THE UNION CENTRE MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL<<<

There are also many other great moments captured on our Flickr photostream. And more West Chester and Liberty Township related photo galleries on our Photos page.

Also, remember to share your photos through the Photos page.

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

Tags: Tags: festival, food, music, Music and Food Festival, photo gallery, photos, Square at Union Centre, the Square at Union Centre, Union Centre Boulevard Bash, Union Centre Boulevard Blast, Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association, Union Centre Merchant Association, Union Centre Music and Food Festival, West Chester photos

The first annual Union Centre Music and Food Festival will kickoff Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight. The event, known last year as the Union Centre Boulevard Blast, is expected to draw between 15,000 to 20,000 people.

The festival will also take place from noon to midnight Saturday. Alcohol will not be served past 11 p.m. on either night.

Union Centre Music and Food Festival entertainment schedule

Friday

5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Rumpke Mountain Boys

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. – DV8

Saturday

Noon to 5 p.m. – Car cruise-in show

Noon to 1 p.m. – Anada

1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Tropicoso, salsa lessons

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Local firemen’s chili competition sponsored by Firehouse Subs

4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – The Swimsuit Models

7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Wing-eating contest sponsored by Willie’s Sports Café

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Britbeat, Beatles tribute band

Under the names of Union Centre Boulevard Blast and, before that the Union Centre Boulevard Bash, the event took place in August. Due to unpredictable weather, the Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association decided to push the event, which was entering its eighth year, back to the fall.

Last year, the heat index was greater than 100 on all three days of the event. This year, the National Weather Service is predicting highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-40s on the event’s two days. It also appears that it remain dry.

Admission is free, but parking is $5 which supports Lakota After Prom. People are also being asked to bring canned goods for Reach Out Lakota.

For more information about the event and why it was moved, visit WestChesterBuzz.com story “Union Centre Music and Food Festival puts down fall roots.”

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

Tags: Tags: Britbeat, DV8, festival, food, music, Music and Food Festival, photo gallery, photos, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Square at Union Centre, Swimsuit Models, the Square at Union Centre, the Swimsuit Models, Tropicoso, Union Centre Boulevard Bash, Union Centre Boulevard Blast, Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association, Union Centre Merchant Association, Union Centre Music and Food Festival

After seven years of successful growth, West Chester Township’s signature summertime festival at the Square at Union Centre has been reconfigured by the Union Centre Merchants Association and pushed back to the fall.

The Union Centre Boulevard Blast will take place this Friday and Saturday under a new name – the Union Centre Music and Food Festival.

Like the summer version, this new fall festival will feature free admission and numerous bands.

Evolving itself from the Blast, the Merchants Association has decided to do away with amusement rides and games, make the event a day shorter and feature a smaller and more localized group of food vendors.

“We decided that we were going to downscale it this year … and then start back up with the three-day event next year,” Union Centre Boulevard Merchants Association President Pam Shrout said.

“We just felt that we had to put something out because so many people look forward to this event every year. We decided to make it smaller and will try to use a learning curve to grow it next year.”

>>>2010 UNION CENTRE BLAST PHOTOS FROM METROMIX<<<<

The Merchants Association’s vice president, Michael Klaber, said that the association wants to create a “new foundation to build upon” and learn from last year’s mistakes.

Hague Atkinson, who was hired to promote last year’s event, estimated that 35,000 people would attend the Blast and within three years the event “could grow into one of the largest festivals in the state of Ohio.”

>>>2010 UNION CENTRE BLAST PHOTOS FROM WESTCHESTERBUZZ<<<

“I think the mindset there was that he wanted to make it as big as possible, which really wasn’t what we wanted in the first place,” said Klaber, who expects this year’s event to draw somewhere between 15,000 and 25,000 people. “We wanted to be featuring our local area, so I think there might have been a little bit of a disconnect there.”

This year’s event will feature 10-to-12 local food vendors, which will include Firehouse Subs, Bravo!, Asiatique Bistro and Lounge, Stone Creek Dining Company, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Raymond’s Pizza.

Performing at this year’s festival will be the Rumpke Mountain Boys (5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday) and DV8 (8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday), Anada (noon to 1 p.m. Saturday), salsa band Tropicoso (1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday), the Swimsuit Models (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday) and The Beatles tribute band Britbeat (8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday) will take the stage.

Other unique attractions taking place Saturday include a chili cookoff sponsored by Firehouse Subs (4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) between the fire houses in West Chester and Liberty townships, a wing-eating contest (7 p.m. to 8 p.m.) sponsored by Willie’s Sports Café, art booths (11 a.m. until dark) and a free car show cruise-in (Noon to 5 p.m.).

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to Reach Out Lakota. Parking will be offered for $5 around the Square at Union Centre, with proceeds benefiting the Lakota After-Prom.

The festival will take place from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and from noon to midnight Saturday. Alcohol will not be served after 11 p.m. on both nights.

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

Tags: Tags: Britbeat, DV8, festival, food, music, Music and Food Festival, photo gallery, photos, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Square at Union Centre, Swimsuit Models, the Square at Union Centre, the Swimsuit Models, Tropicoso, Union Centre Boulevard Bash, Union Centre Boulevard Blast, Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association, Union Centre Merchant Association, Union Centre Music and Food Festival