WestChesterBuzz.com

In August 2010, thousands of people sweated through the Union Centre Boulevard Blast. This year’s event, also formerly known as the Union Centre Boulevard Bash, is scheduled to take place Oct. 14-15 at the Square at Union Centre under its new name – the Union Centre Music and Food Festival.

Last summer, the Blast was expected to draw upwards to 35,000 people. However, extreme heat (heat index was more than 100 degrees on all three days of the festival) kept many people from attending during the afternoon hours.

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

“It was so hot,” said Jillian Kelley, event co-chair and volunteer. “We had extremely bad weather that weekend (Aug. 13-15), so this year we wanted to make it more enjoyable and that is why we chose Oct. 14th and 15th.”

Separating itself from the Blast and other festivals, the new Union Centre Music and Food Festival will eliminate all of the amusement rides and games that are common place at summer festivals and fairs in West Chester and in the Greater Cincinnati area. Instead of the games, the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association has decided to focus on two of the more popular items at last year’s Blast – the food and the music.

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

It is not currently known, but the new fall festival is expected to host 30-to-50 food vendors in 2011.

Festival organizers also have many of the bands already lined up for the event. Performing Oct. 14 will be the Rumpke Mountain Boys and DV8 (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.). On Oct. 15, the salsa band Tropicoso (1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.), the Swimsuit Models (4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and The Beatles tribute band Britbeat (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.) will take the stage.

This year’s event will take place from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct 14 and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 15.

For more information about the event or to become a sponsor, email Kelley at jilliankelley@hotmail.com or visit the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association website.

Posted in: 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

West Chester’s Voice of America Chorus will be having a show this Sunday entitled “Sundae with the VOA” at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at VOA Park in West Chester.

The show will re-create a ‘50’s/’60’s diner setting and is a benefit for the chorus. Showtime is 3 p.m. and ticket prices are $20.00 in advance or at the door.

A 50/50 split-the-pot raffle, door prizes, ice cream sundaes, a cash bar with beer, wine and soft drinks will be provided.

The show will feature music from Voice of America Chorus and a wide variety of musical and comedy acts, according to the event’s press release. Special guests include Forte, a barbershop-style quartet that earned third place honors at the 2010 Johnny Appleseed District contest.

Other acts will include everything from folk and country guitar groups, a flute/piano duet, a dulcimer band and a group of young singers from Adena Elementary School in West Chester.

For show information, call 937-308-0202.

The chorus group, made up of 23 women, celebrated its one-year anniversary Aug. 1 and officially joined Sweet Adelines International four months after the group’s first rehearsal.

For more information on the chorus or to find out how to participate, call 513-755-7977 or visit www.voachorus.org.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: music, Ronald Reagan Lodge, Sweet Adelines International, VOA, VOA Chorus, VOA Park, Voice of America, Voice of America Chorus, Voice of America Park

West Chester’s Voice of America Chorus will be having a show Sept. 25 entitled “Sundae with the VOA” at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at VOA Park in West Chester.

The show will re-create a ‘50’s/’60’s diner setting and is a benefit for the chorus. Showtime is 3 p.m. and ticket prices are $20.00 in advance or at the door.

A 50/50 split-the-pot raffle, door prizes, ice cream sundaes, a cash bar with beer, wine and soft drinks will be provided.

The show will feature music from Voice of America Chorus and a wide variety of musical and comedy acts, according to the event’s press release. Special guests include Forte, a barbershop-style quartet that earned third place honors at the 2010 Johnny Appleseed District contest.

Other acts will include everything from folk and country guitar groups, a flute/piano duet, a dulcimer band and a group of young singers from Adena Elementary School in West Chester.

For show information, call 937-308-0202.

The chorus group, made up of 23 women, celebrated its one-year anniversary Aug. 1 and officially joined Sweet Adelines International four months after the group’s first rehearsal.

For more information on the chorus or to find out how to participate, call 513-755-7977 or visit www.voachorus.org.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: music, Ronald Reagan Lodge, Sweet Adelines International, VOA, VOA Chorus, VOA Park, Voice of America, Voice of America Chorus, Voice of America Park

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

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high school and freshman campuses.

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

“Our marching bands are totally self-funded through student fees and community support,’’ said Jill Cleaves, chairwoman of Lakota East’s Tag Day.

“Both West and East high school bands greatly appreciate all the support provided by the community for this fundraiser and throughout the year.”

Lakota West and Lakota East could still use the help of adult volunteers (21 years and older) to transport students to neighborhoods. To volunteer for Lakota West email tagday@lakotawestbands.org with your name, address, phone number and size of vehicle. To volunteer at Lakota East, email Cleaves at jcleaves@cinci.rr.com.

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 Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual Tag Day fundraiser will benefit all bands at both high school and freshman campuses.

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

“Our marching bands are totally self-funded through student fees and community support,’’ said Jill Cleaves, chairwoman of Lakota East’s Tag Day.

“Both West and East high school bands greatly appreciate all the support provided by the community for this fundraiser and throughout the year.”

Lakota West is currently seeking adult volunteers (21 years and older) to transport students to neighborhoods. To volunteer, email tagday@lakotawestbands.org with your name, address, phone number and size of vehicle.

Lakota East also needs drivers. To volunteer to be a driver for Lakota East bands, email Jill Cleaves at jcleaves@cinci.rr.com.

Posted in: Events, School events |

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

At this time last year, thousands of people sweated through the Union Centre Boulevard Blast. This year’s event, also formerly known as the Union Centre Boulevard Bash, is scheduled to take place Oct. 14-15 at the Square at Union Centre under its new name – the Union Centre Music and Food Festival.

Last summer, the Blast was expected to draw upwards to 35,000 people. However, extreme heat (heat index was more than 100 degrees on all three days of the festival) kept many people from attending during the afternoon hours.

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

“It was so hot,” said Jillian Kelley, event co-chair and volunteer. “We had extremely bad weather that weekend (Aug. 13-15), so this year we wanted to make it more enjoyable and that is why we chose Oct. 14th and 15th.”

Separating itself from the Blast and other festivals, the new Union Centre Music and Food Festival will eliminate all of the amusement rides and games that are common place at summer festivals and fairs in West Chester and in the Greater Cincinnati area. Instead of the games, the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association has decided to focus on two of the more popular items at last year’s Blast – the food and the music.

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

It is not currently known, but the new fall festival is expected to host 30-to-50 food vendors in 2011.

Festival organizers also have many of the bands already lined up for the event. Performing Oct. 14 will be the Rumpke Mountain Boys and DV8 (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.). On Oct. 15, the salsa band Tropicoso (1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.), the Swimsuit Models (4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and The Beatles tribute band Britbeat (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.) will take the stage.

This year’s event will take place from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct 14 and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 15.

For more information about the event or to become a sponsor, email Kelley at jilliankelley@hotmail.com or visit the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association website.

Posted in: 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

West Chester’s Positive Message Music and its newly signed local music artists Jillian Ellis, Chris Douglas, Royel Bridges, Aaron Collins, Brice Satterwhite, Phil Stacey and Eric Ellis Jr. will perform this afternoon, Aug. 17, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati.

The new music company, led by Integrity Development President and CEO Eric Ellis, has the mission of encouraging young hip hop artists to focus on producing uplifting messages that would distinguish it from today’s mainstream hip hop music, which predominantly focuses on violence, drinking, drugs, money and sex.

The idea of creating a studio for young people to produce music with a positive message came to Ellis after the death of Lakota West student Amber Robinson, who was fatally stabbed in 2009.

For the story about how the company was created and the idea behind it, visit WestChestBuzz.com’s Aug. 5 post “Local artists share stories with Positive Message Music.”

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

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, Phil Stacey, PM Music, Positive Message Music, Royel Bridges

West Chester’s Voice of America Chorus celebrated its one-year anniversary Aug. 1 by hosting a patriotic-themed party for its members.

The chorus group, made up of 23 women, officially joined Sweet Adelines International four months after the group’s first rehearsal.

“We had a vision of a chorus that would focus on the joy of making beautiful, barbershop-style music with good friends”, said Jane Buehler, chorus team leader. “We also knew that we wanted to compete last spring at our regional contest, so we had to get moving if we were going to meet that goal.”

The group performed in Sweet Adeline Region 4 Competition in Covington, Ky., after only eight months together, and came home with two medals – First Place Small Chorus and Fourth Place Overall.

The chorus group will be having a show Sept. 25 entitled “Sundae with the VOA” at the Ronald Reagan Lodge at VOA Park in West Chester.

The show will feature music from Voice of America Chorus and a wide variety of musical and comedy acts, according to the event’s press release. Special guests include Forte, a barbershop-style quartet that earned third place honors at the 2010 Johnny Appleseed District contest.

The show will re-create a ‘50’s/’60’s diner setting and is a benefit for the chorus. Showtime is 3 p.m. and ticket prices are $20.00 in advance or at the door.

For show information, call 937-308-0202.

For chorus information or to find out how to participate, call 513-755-7977 or visit www.voachorus.org.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: music, Ronald Reagan Lodge, Sweet Adelines International, VOA, VOA Chorus, VOA Park, Voice of America, Voice of America Chorus, Voice of America Park

Seven local music artists, Jillian Ellis, Chris Douglas, Royel Bridges, Aaron Collins, Brice Satterwhite, Phil Stacey and Eric Ellis Jr. became the first to sign with West Chester’s Positive Message Music this past Thursday.

The new music company, led by Integrity Development President and CEO Eric Ellis, has the mission of encouraging young hip hop artists to focus on producing uplifting messages that would distinguish it from today’s mainstream hip hop music, which predominantly focuses on violence, drinking, drugs, money and sex.

The idea of creating a studio for young people to produce music with a positive message came to Ellis after the death of Lakota West student Amber Robinson, who was fatally stabbed in 2009.

“When Amber died, no one knew what to do. There was so much going on at our school. There were fights. People were angry, devastated and depressed,” said Jillian Ellis, Eric Ellis’ daughter and 2010 Lakota West graduate. “The school then had my dad come in to speak, because people were starting to try to fix what had happened with more violence.”

At the end of Ellis’ presentation to the students, Jillian sang a song her father wrote for Amber Robinson called “One more day.”

After the song, students were left in tears.

The message was received.

Fellow PM Music signee rapper Chris Douglas, who lives in West Chester, also wants to share his message. (more…)

Posted in: Business, News, Schools, Student achievements |

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, Phil Stacey, PM Music, Positive Message Music, Royel Bridges

Bridgewater Falls is adding a cornhole tournament to its last concert in its Jammin in July summer music series, according to Cincinnati.com. The tournament will take place July 27.

The prize for the first-place team in the adult tournament will receive a year of free subs (one per week) from the Jimmy John’s located at Bridgewater Falls and tickets to an upcoming Cincinnati Reds game.

Meanwhile, the second-place will receive 25 free subs, while third place will receive 10 free subs.

In the kids’ tournament, top finishers will receive Best Buy gift cards. The winners will each receive a card worth $50, second place earns a $25 gift card and third place earns a $10 gift card.

The kids’ tournament begins at 4 p.m., while the adult tournament will start at 6 p.m.

The tournament is free, but limited to the first 16 teams to sign up for each tournament. Participants can sign up at the Jimmy John’s location at Bridgewater Falls.

The concert, which will feature The Menus, will take place between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Bridgewater Falls, Cincinnati Reds, cornhole, cornhole tournament, Jammin in July, Jimmy John's, live music, music