WestChesterBuzz.com

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.

EnterTRAINment’s holiday attractions continue to grow – WestChesterBuzz.com visited one of the region’s biggest holiday attractions last week. More than 20,000 people will visit EnterTRAINment Junction’s free holiday train display and its Journey to the North Pole attraction before the new year, according to EnterTRAINment general manager Bill Balfour.

Police looking for West Chester laundromat thief- A female suspect is believed to have stolen a purse in early November from the Splash N Dash at 7770 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, according to a police report that was shared by Crime Stoppers last week. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

Nude protesters jam John Boehner’s D.C. office – Several AIDS protesters took off their clothes in House Speaker John Boehner‘s office last Tuesday. A reporter for Talking Points Memo witnessed the disrobing and chanting, in which they rhymed “budget cuts will make us sick” with a “Boehner don’t be a (word we can’t use here.)”

Exchange “Food For Fines” at West Chester Library – WestChesterBuzz.com announced last Monday that the MidPointe Library System is once again offering its “Food for Fines” promotion, which allows library goers a chance to eliminate their overdue fees when they donate food. The program, which runs through Dec. 31, will eliminate one dollar of outstanding fines for each non-perishable food item a patron donates.

IKEA debuts redesigned marketplace – IKEA has redesigned the accessories marketplace (lower level) of its West Chester store and now has updated displays, new products and a redesigned layout for its cookware, bedding, lighting, home organization and textiles departments, among others.

Basketball season tips off – The Lakota East and Lakota West varsity basketball teams began the 2012-2013 season this past week. Through Sunday, both the Lakota East (2-0) and Lakota West (1-0) boys’ teams are unbeaten, while the Lakota East (0-3, 0-1 in GMC) and Lakota West (2-1, 1-1 in GMC) girls’ teams are getting adjusted with young rosters.

Posted in: Business, Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, EnterTrainment Junction, EnterTrainment Junction train display, EnterTrainment Junction West Chester, IKEA, IKEA Cincinnati, IKEA Ohio, IKEA West Chester, Journey to the North Pole, Liberty Township Christmas, Splash N Dash, Splash N Dash West Chester, Thorntons, Thorntons gas station, train display, Urban Active West Chester, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester Christmas, West Chester laundromat thief, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

A female suspect is believed to have stolen a purse earlier this month from the Splash N Dash at 7770 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, according to a police report.

The victim in the incident report told police that she believed a female around 40-to-45 years old, 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds, took her purse while she switched her laundry on Nov. 9.

Credit cards from the purse were then used within an hour at Thorntons and Kroger in West Chester and again at Drug Mart in Mason, according to information provided by Sergeant John Kleinfeldt of the West Chester Police Department.

According to Crime Stoppers, the female suspect arrived at Thorntons in an older vehicle driven by a white male.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

People can also contact the West Chester Police Department, 9577 Beckett Road Suite 500, by calling 513-777-2231.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, Splash N Dash, Splash N Dash West Chester, Thorntons, Thorntons gas station, Urban Active West Chester, West Chester laundromat thief, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

The West Chester Police Department is looking for information to help identify a suspect, who is wanted for taking credit cards out of lockers at local fitness clubs in West Chester.

The suspect, who is being described as a heavy set male with a European accent, was able to get into locked lockers at both Urban Active and LA Fitness in West Chester on July 21 and 22, according to Crime Stoppers.

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He then used credit cards at various electronics and camera stores in the Cincinnati and Dayton area, police say.

None of the lockers at the local gyms were damaged and the suspect also left behind cash and electronics that were in the lockers, according to information provided by detective Travis Oakes of the West Chester Police Department.

On Friday morning, Crime Stoppers announced that there are three victims in this case with charges totaling more than $17,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. All calls are anonymous and callers may be eligible for a cash reward.

Posted in: Crime, News |

Tags: Tags: Crime Stoppers, LA Fitness, LA Fitness Cincinnati, LA Fitness West Chester, Urban Active, Urban Active Cincinnati, Urban Active West Chester, West Chester fitness club thief, West Chester Police, West Chester Police Department

West Chester will represent the City of Cincinnati as part of Urban Active’s Get Active Challenge from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The event, which is open to gym members and non-members, is part of a 10-city fitness tour that is taking place Jan. 7-19.

Urban Active Quality Control Director Josh “JB” Bowen is leading the challenge, which will includes a 40-minute New Year, New You Boot Camp and a 10-minute informational session on nutrition and lifestyle.

Bowen will also give all his participants “Eat 2B Fit” healthy menu options from the Texas Roadhouse to show people how they can maintain a healthy lifestyle by making the correct meal choices while dining out.

Blogging participants, who are Urban Active members, will earn points towards complimentary membership upgrades, personal training services and prizes. Participating non-members will receive a 14-day pass to the gym.

Gift cards to Texas Roadhouse will also be given to the first 80 participants (8 per city) who sign up for the Get Active Challenge and does a blog post at www.getactivegourban.com.

West Chester’s Urban Active is located at 9282 Allen Road and be reached by calling 513-895-4653.

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

Tags: Tags: Get Active Challenge, JB Bowen, Josh “JB” Bowen, Texas Roadhouse, Urban Active, Urban Active Cincinnati, Urban Active West Chester, Urban Active’s Get Active Challenge

The Urban Active Fitness Club in West Chester will host a party to celebrate its fifth year anniversary from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The party will include complimentary food, prizes, vendor samples and music. There will also be a drawing for a free one-year membership.

According to the event’s release, this will be the last day of 2011 pricing and last day that future members can join or renew to get 12 months free.

The anniversary party is open to the public.

The fitness club is also featuring a toy drive, which runs through Dec. 22.

During the drive, local Urban Active members and non-members who donate one new unwrapped toy for children from infant to 18 years old, will receive the choice of one of the following: a personal training session, a 14-day buddy pass, a free tan/upgrade or a small smoothie.

Urban Active is located at 9282 Allen Road, off Union Centre Boulevard.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Urban Active, Urban Active anniversary, Urban Active toy drive, Urban Active West Chester

Urban Active and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital began their fourth annual holiday toy drive Wednesday. The toy drive will take place through Dec. 22.

During the drive, local Urban Active members and non-members who donate one new unwrapped toy for children from infant to 18 years old, will receive the choice of one of the following: a personal training session, a 14-day buddy pass, a free tan/upgrade or a small smoothie.

“Our mission is to bring joy to thousands of children during this Christmas holiday season,” Urban Active CEO Royce Pulliam said. “I am so proud to have an incredibly compassionate team at Urban Active and very loyal members who have the same vision as we do, which is helping those less fortunate.”

Urban Active, 9282 Allen Road in West Chester, also has Greater Cincinnati locations in Western Hills, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Deerfield, Colerain, Erlanger (Ky.), Bellevue (Ky.) and Florence (Ky.).

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Urban Active, Urban Active West Chester