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

Darryl and Carol Denham sit with their son, Daniel, 21, in the bedroom of their other son, Sam, who they say committed suicide in 2011 because of bullying. Enquirer file photo

Educators, parents and West Chester and Liberty township residents attend pre-screening

Jessica Brown reports

Carol and Darryl Denham, of Taylor Mill, left a pre-screening of the film “Bully’’ last week hoping those in the audience would now understand what their son Sam, 13, went through.

The eighth-grader at Woodland Middle School in Kenton County committed suicide in October. Students said he had been bullied.

“Kids aren’t learning empathy or compassion or respect,” said Carol Dunham, who wore a photo of her son on a chain around her neck. “They’ve got to see what these kids are going through.”

She also hopes the film prompts those doing the bullying to get the help they need.

That’s what the documentary, which opens to wider audiences Friday, aims to do.

The Dunhams were among nearly 200 educators, community leaders, politicians and youth advocates who attended the pre-screening Wednesday evening at the School for Creative & Performing Arts. It was intended to galvanize the community into action around this hot-button issue. A panel discussion followed the film.

The film’s goal is to get local leaders to talk more about the problem and plot ways to combat bullying in their communities. (more…)

Posted in: News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Bully, Bully movie, Carol Denham, Darryl Denham, Edgar L. Smith Jr., Edgar Smith, Eric Ellis Jr., Jessica Logan, Jessica Logan Act, Jillian Ellis, Lee Hirsch, Positive Message Music, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis, Positive Message Music Eric Ellis Jr., Positive Message Music Jillian Ellis, Toni Robinson-Smith