Steel Magnolia Nomination Deadline Extended

The deadline for the 2010 Steel Magnolia nominations has been extended through July 30, 2010.

For the second year in a row, the Middletown Community Foundation is accepting nominations for the Steel Magnolia Award. The award is for women who, according to the Middletown Community Foundation website, "have overcome obstacles to positively impact an AK Steel U.S. community." The award is funded by the AK Steel Foundation. Each year, up to ten awards are given out and the recipient's charity of choice receives a $1,000 donation. The award is available for women of all age, who, according to the website, "have faced personal adversity and have shown exceptional strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities."

Nominations should be submitted in the form of a 500 words or less essay and should be sent to the Middletown Community Foundation by 5:00 PM on July 30, 2010. While nominees must live in the vicinity of an AK Steel facility, they do not have to bee affiliated with the company. This includes Ashland, Kentucky; Butler, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Indiana; Rockport Indiana; and Coshocton, Mansfield, Middletown, Walbridge, West Chester, and Zanesville, all in Ohio.

For more information, call the Middletown Community Foundation at 513-424-7369, or visit their website at www.mcfoundation.org.

In 2009, the award went to eight magnificent women: Eleanor "Elle" Berry of Ashland, Kentucky and her charity, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Foundation; Etta J. Carver of Fairfield, Ohio and her charity, Citizens Against Domestic Violence; Martha Fitts Clark of Owensboro Kentucky and her charity, Impact 100 Owensboro; Kimberly Rae Fairchild of Mansfield, Ohio and her charity, Upward Bound Youth in Wooster; Jean Hooper of Zanesville, Ohio and her charity, the Ohio Genealogy Society; Shelly L. Reigle of West Lafayette, Ohio and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life; Tammy Robert of Middletown, Ohio and Berachah Baptist Church's Hands and Feet; and Renee Spohn of Butler, Pennsylvania and her charity, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Butler County.

You can watch a video of last year's ceremony below:

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Summer Fun & Festivals in Ohio

If you're looking for something to do this summer, Ohio is the place to be! Lots of fun festivals will be taking place, helping you celebrate and get into the summer mood. Below you'll find just a few activities for your family, whether you're looking to learn about history or celebrate the arts.

July 16 -17, the Marietta Sweet Corn Festival is the place to be! Fresh hot buttered corn on the cob will be served alongside delicious foods from local restaurants. You and your family can participate in or watch cornhole tournaments, historical re-enactments and more. You'll have the opportunity to pet your favorite farm animals, or take a hayride around historic downtown Marietta, along the Ohio River. Many local and regional artists will be performing, including Matt First Band, the Faculty, Todd Burge, and Odd Urges.

If you have twins, triplets or other multiples in your family, the Double Take Parade in Twinsburg is a must-attend event! With over 2,000 sets, this unique event is the world's largest annual gathering of twins and takes place this year from August 6 - 8.

If it's good German food you're looking for, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival is full of German heritage and takes place August 19 - 21. In addition to open-fire-roasted brats, you can watch parades, visit art shows, and participate in rides and games, or you can cheer on the annual bicycle race and the Bratwurst Festival Queen.

In the heart of Cincinnati, the Macy's Music Festival takes place from July 30 - 31 and has so much R&B, jazz, hip-top, and soul music to offer. Performers will include Charlie Wilson, Maze, En Vogue, Jill Scott, and others.

The Dublin Irish Festival is one of the biggest Irish festivals in the entire country. Attendees will experience over 60 musical acts, Celtic sports, hands-on workshops, an area to research genealogy, and a 10th-century authentic Irish village. The Irish Festival will take place August 6 - 8.

Another musical celebration that will take place that weekend is the Lebanon Blues Festival on August 7. You'll get to see live performances from groups including No Saints No Saviors, Bryan Lee, Robin Lacy, Them Bones and DeZydeco. In addition you'll want to check out the Blue, BBQ, and Bumpers car show for delicious food, hot cars, and more! Admission is free to this exciting event.

The Juneteenth Cincinnati festival in Eden Park celebrates the end of American slavery and fight for freedom. You'll see a unique parade of flags of the African Diaspora, as well re-enactments of speeches from Abe Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. There will also be live musical entertainment from jazz, gospel, blues, reggae, and R&B performers. this event takes place July 19 - 20.

August 6 - 8, Zanesville infamous Y Bridge will turn into an outdoor gallery, which showcases multi-media artwork and contemporary crafts from over 50 artists. In addition to the art, the Y Bridge Arts Festival will include live entertainment, gourmet treats from local restaurants, pottery, blacksmith, fiber arts demonstrations, and a children's activity area.

Festival Latino in Columbus' Genoa Park will take place August 14 - 15 and will feature Ohio's Hispanic culture. There will be multiple stages of continuous salsa, cumbia, meringue, norte no and banda music. You can dance to the Mexican beats or explore the marketplace for Ecuadorian crafts and Mayan Jewelry.

If history is your thing, the Tall Ships festival returns to Cleveland July 7 - 11. You'll see vessels representative of maritime history from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, Great Lakes trading Schooners, Baltimore Clippers, and so much more! The event is great for the entire family, and even offers a children's play area in addition to live entertainment and the maritime marketplace.

The Summer Moon Festival in Wapakoneta will take place July 15 - 17. Wapakoneta is the hometown of Neil Armstrong. The Festival features a moon rock hunt and a rocket building demonstration among other fun, unique activities. Participate in the moon pie eating contest, wiener dog races, festival rides, live music entertainment and more.

Celebrate Dayton's aviation heritage at the Vectren Dayton Air Show July 17 - 18. Watch as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds display skill, power, and precision in their F-16 Fighting Falcons. You can also watch world-class aerobatic champions, military jet demonstrations, and other entertainment for the entire family!

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown Site is One of State's First Job Ready Sites

Ohio's Job Ready Site program is aimed at creating and building more development sites that can be readily offered to companies who would like to move to or expand within the state and a new Middletown office development by Al Neyer Inc. is one of the first sites to be certified.

The program was approved by Ohio voters in 2005 and was started with a $2 billion bond issue.

In a press release, Lisa Patt-McDaniel, the director of the Ohio Department of Development said, "The Job Ready Site certification requirements have heightened standards, making Ohio an attractive choice for leading industries to relocate for job expansion and company growth"

Smart Offices at East Point Centre, located in Middletown, was among the 18 sites first selected for a grant about four years ago. The state awarded $2.2 million to what is being marketed as a "technology district" near the Atrium Medical Center.

The area includes a 50,000 square foot office building and it has been awarded a Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In addition, there is room to build two more buildings of up to 90,000 square feet each. Right now, 114 jobs have been created from the site.

In addition to the Middletown site, another technology site has been built and certified in Clark County. Named the Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park, the 55,572 square foot building is open for leasing and there is room to build an additional 111,000 square feet.

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

What Next? Ohio Career Sim for Students

Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced the launch of "What Next? Ohio Career Sim for Students. What Next? is an interactive career website designed to encourage students to explore career opportunities in the high-growth industries in Ohio.

Of the website, Strickland said, "Today's students are tomorrow's creators and entrepreneurs. By encouraging our young people to match their interests with potential career paths, we're helping them discover growing industries right here in Ohio while also preparing them for a purposeful and productive future."

The website allows students in middle school and high school to explore and try careers interactively. It focuses on "STEM" careers - those in science, technology, engineering and math, and what steps in education students need to take to reach those career goals. It was created in collaboration with Scholastic, a leader in educational technology, as well as a large publisher and distributor of children's books.

The hope for the website is that it sparks students aspirations and helps them prepare for a career by matching their passion and curiosity with particular high-growth industries and careers in Ohio.

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

2010 Census Form - 10 Questions in 10 Minutes

After months of preparation the United States government is finally ready to put the census in the hands of local residents and will mail over 120 million census forms across the United States within a month. Even though the 2010 census will contain only 10 questions and take approximately 10 minutes to fully answer, the residents of Middletown will be affected by the outcome for the next 10 years to come.

During the last census 10 years ago, nearly a quarter of Butler County residents failed to complete and return this form. In Hamilton and Middletown the census response rate was 70 percent and 67 percent respectively. Of course this is absolutely normal as there are challenges reaching every single person in Butler County and there are those who mistrust the federal government. Donna Marsh, regional Census Bureau spokeswoman, expects the rate to be higher this year. “That is a challenge,” she said. “So we spent more time trying to educate them on why the census is important.”

Apart from determining how many Ohio representatives will be in congress, an accurate count is important due to the $400 billion in federal funds that will be awarded based on the census data. In addition, completing and mailing back the form in a timely manner will save taxpayer money and local residents a hassle. "Enumerators” will begin going door to door in late April visiting the homes of those who haven't yet returned the form.

For people who would like help filling out the form, the Census Bureau will open 31 questionnaire assistance centers in Butler County by Friday, March 19. There will be 12 in Middletown, 13 in Hamilton and 4 in Oxford. These will be conveniently located in places such as senior centers, libraries, government offices and churches.

Residents needing Braille or large-print questionnaires, or needing a foreign language assistance guide, may call toll-free (866) 872-6868. Residents are also encouraged to call that number if they fail to receive a form by April 12.

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Ohio Attracts the Most New Businesses

For the fourth year in a row, Ohio beat out every other state in the country in attracting new businesses. This according to Site Selection Magazine, who has awarded the state its annual Governor's Cup Award for "leading the nation in new and expanded facilities in 2009."

The Ohio Business Development Coalition, which is a nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment, says the award, "demonstrates that Ohio's purposeful redesign of its business climate is making the state an ideal location for businesses to compete in a 21st century global economy," according to a press release.

The March issue of Site Selection Magazine highlights Ohio's achievements. Not only does it show how the state leads development and expansion in both the micropolitan and metropolitan categories, but it also points out the state's overall achievements in economic investments.

Governor Ted Strickland believes the award can be attributed to a number of efforts made by the state, including lower taxes, less regulations, and more, "One of the reasons I believe in Ohio is that companies know Ohio is a great place to do business. We have reduced taxes and regulations, we have increased the skills and education of our workforce, and we have been recognized once again by setting the pace for the nation in new and expanded capital investments."

The magazine arrived at the ranking by looking at the number of private capital investments for new or expanded facilities. They had to have an investment of at least $1 million, create at least 50 new jobs, or added at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area. Ohio had 381 of these types of projects. Texas came in at a close second with 374 projects, followed by Michigan with 371, and Pennsylvania and Tennessee rounded out the top five with 333 and 234 respectively. Ohio has won the award eight times, in the years 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Ohio Business Development Coalition Executive Director Ed Burghard had this to say about the award, "Winning the 2009 Governor's Cup for the last four years in a row means that, after completing due diligence, CEOs decided Ohio was the ideal location for their business more often than any other state in the country. What's also appealing is the lack of congestion in Ohio allows executives and employees to enjoy professional success without having to sacrifice personal aspirations. Ohio provides people the opportunity for a life in perfect balance."

In addition to winning the award, Ohio had a number of cities that ranked in the top ten metropolitan and micropolitan categories. Cincinatti/Middletown ranked sixth among metropolitan areas with a population over one million. For the second year in a row, Dayton came in second in the mid-sized metropolitan areas with a population between 200,000 and one million category. In the category for micropolitan cities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000, Wooster, Ashtabula and Findlay ranked 2nd, 6th, and 10th respectively.

For more information, visit SiteSelection.com

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown is 4th Best Place to Buy a House

If you've been thinking about making the jump from renting to home ownership, now is the time to do so. Or so says Forbes Magazine. Middletown was named one of the top cities (number four to be exact) for renters to become buyers. The government has been encouraging this kind of behavior by introducing and extending a tax break for first-time homeowners, as well as keeping federal tax rates at their lowest rates since the 1940's.

According to Forbes, the premium to buy - the spread between what they'd spend to rent and what they'd pay for a mortgage - is a lot lower than the fifteen-year average in a number of cities. To compile the list, Forbes computed the premium and combined that with locations where economists predict home prices will go up the most in the next five years.

Below, you'll find the rest of the top ten:

1. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts

2. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, North and South Carolina area

3. Chicago-Naperville-Jolet, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin area

4. Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana area

5. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colorado

6. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota and Wisconsin area

7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area

8. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Oregon and Washington area

9. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, California

10. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia area

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

2010 Census Portrait of America Tour Comes to Middletown

The 2010 Census Portrait of America tour will be in Hamilton and Butler Counties this week. It will begin on Monday, at 7:00 AM, at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. Displays will help people become familiar with the significance of the census form that should begin arriving in mailboxes in March. The tour will also be promoting jobs, according to even coordinator, Theresa Brundage, "We want to make sure people are hired to work in their own neighborhoods." Each location will offer testing to see if people qualify for a job.

Brundage says it's about, "political power and money." The census results determine the number of congressional seats in Ohio and how federal dollars will be distributed to states and communities.

NBC's "The Today Show" plans to broadcast live from the convention center and it has been described as a two hour "pep-rally." Speeches will be made by a number of local celebrities and dignitaries, including Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and funk bassist Bootsy Collins.

Once the tour leaves the convention center, it will stop at Cincinnati State college on Monday afternoon before making three various stops in Butler County on Tuesday, January 4, 2010. The first event is at 9:00 AM at the Richard Allen III Academy in Hamilton. A fire truck will then escort the tour into Middletown around 1:50 P.M. The trailer will make a brief stop at the Area Senior Citizens Center on Central Avenue before heading to the Middletown Community Center on Lafayette Avenue. Exhibits open at 4:30 P.M. at the Community Center and 5:00 P.M, a parachutist will drop from an airplane into Douglas Park.

---

Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown Among Fastest Recovering Cities

According to Forbes magazine, Middletown is one of the top cities that is recovering quickly from recent economic woes. Ranked at number 55, Middletown was just one of three Ohio cities on the list. The others were Dayton and Columbus. Ironically, Forbes named Middletown one of the fastest dying cities earlier in the year.

Omaha, Nebraska topped the list that included several Texas metro cities, a few other Northeastern manufacturing bases, and a few Southern cities. According to Forbes, "diversified industry and relatively stable housing fundamentals" are what is helping these cities with recovery. Cities where home prices don't fluctuate at extremes and where multiple industries thrived seemed to fair the best.

The list was made by ranking the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in five categories that included home prices, sales rates, foreclosures, size of a city's economy and unemployment rate.

Middletown to Receive Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund Grant

Last week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel announced $28 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants to be awarded throughout the state. The funding will allow for the usage of of idle industrial and commercial properties and is expected to create over 1,400 jobs for the state.

Middletown will receive a $1.6 million grant to conduct remediation and demolition at the STM Redevelopment Project property. The property, which started out as the Sutphin Wrenn Union Paper Mill in the 1850s, was purchased by STM Partnership in 1979 and several industrial operations have occurred there since. Today, four small storage and light manufacturing operations make up part of the property, but part of it is vacant and owned by the City of Middletown. Once remediation is complete, the city and another owner hope to attract a commercial project that will help the city with economic growth.

"Too many of our workers and businesses are reeling from this global economic recession, which makes our partnerships with local communities and our efforts to improve Ohio's business climate even more important. Clean Ohio investments encourage business development and job creation by revitalizing our communities and previously-used industrial properties," Governor Strickland said in a statement.

The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund is a statewide competitive program that provides grants to acquire property, demolish structures, conduct environmental cleanup, and improve infrastructure on or serving a brownfield property. It has served 80 projects since it began. Read more about the various Ohio city projects here: Dayton Minority Biz.com

2009 Midfirst Ohio Challenge

The 7th annual Midfirst Ohio Challenge is set to be held in Middletown, Ohio on July 17-19. It will be held at the gorgeous 100-acre Smith Park. This event features hot air balloon competitions and lots of festival fun such as the Team Fastrax professional skydiving team, live musical entertainment, a classic car show, arts and craft vendors, hot air balloon rides, a variety of fun festival food, airplane and helicopter rides, carnival games, and so much more.

It only costs $5 per carload or $2 per person if you walk in for everyone 13 and up. 12 and under are free. There are a variety of events that will be held throughout the festival ranging from early morning balloon launches to the Mega Arena set up for a mess-free version of paintball to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast served by the Guinness World Book of Records “Fastest Flipper” Chris Cakes.

Come out for a fun-filled weekend with the family at the 2009 Midfest Ohio Challenge! Click here for more information concerning the Midfest Ohio Challenge.

The Beach Waterpark - Opening 2009

The fun-filled, tropical themed Beach Waterpark located in Mason, Ohio is now open for the 2009 season. This tropical oasis, with its live palm trees, rolling waves, Reggae music, and white sand, has something fun for the whole family. Whether guests prefer to splash in the Kahuna Beach Wavepool, relax on the 1,200 feet long Lazy Miami, or test their adventurous side on one of the many pulse-pounding water slides, they are sure to have a wonderful experience at the Beach.

The Beach has a multitude of fast paced, breath-catching water slides for those looking for a thrill. The Aztec Adventure is the only water coaster in the Midwest area. It features 500 feet of hairpin twists, surprising turns, and an ultimate plummet through the gaping mouth of a jaguar. The newest slide, Volcanic Panic, is the longest slide at the Beach. It sends you crashing through 360-degree spirals and along 180-degree horseshoe turns before plunging to the end. The Cliff is the most visible waterslide adventure at the Beach. It has been voted one of the best slides in the country because of its three seconds of pure air as you plummet down its five-story free fall flume. Other featured rides at The Beach include: Typhoon Twist, Banzai, Hidden Rapids, and Twilight Zone.

For the kids, The Beach offers more toned down sorts of adventures. To start their fun-filled day, they can head on over to Splash Mountain or Jolly Mon’ Shores. Splash Mountain features kid-friendly water fun including a miniature inner tube rapids ride, a 30 foot water flume slide, and a smooth belly-flop slide. They can also enjoy a kid’s pool with lots of fountains and waterfalls to enhance their water play experience. Over on Jolly Mon’ Shores, the kids can enjoy a water play world filled with rope ladders, swinging bridges, and a water slide ending in a shallow splash pool just begging to be played in. Also for the kids there is the Kahuna Beach Wavepool, Lazy Miami, and a variety of other tropical spots.

Tickets for this hot summer spot can be purchased on line at The Beach’s website or at the front gate. General adult admission is $27.99 at the gate, but can be bought for $22.00 online. Senior and child’s admission (individuals over the age of 60 or children under 48” in height) is $10.50 a piece at the gate or $9.00 online. Children under the age of 2 are free.

Season passes for The Beach can also be purchased online or at the front gate. An adult general season pass can be purchased for $75.00, a senior or child’s season pass can be purchased for $25.00, and a season long parking pass costs $25.00.

The Beach Waterpark is celebrating the opening of its 25th season, so head on down for a fun-filled day with the family. There’s something for everyone at The Beach Waterpark.

Address: 2590 Water Park Dr, Mason, Ohio 45040

Phone: 800-866-SWIM

AK Steel to Have 5 Percent Pay Cuts

AK Steel recently announced there will be a 5-percent pay reduction for all salaried workers. More than 800 people will be affected locally. Currently there are close to 300 corporate employees that work at the West Chester Twp. headquarters of AK Steel. Right now there are also 525 managerial and support personnel that are employed at the research and development center on Grove Street in Middletown.

The workers that are included in the reduction are the executive workers, the president, chairman and the CEO Jim Wainscott. There are around 1,500 salaried workers at operations in four different states. By January 1st all of the workers will be reduced by 5 percent.

When the global steel market started to go down in the third quarter of 2008, AK Steel started considering the pay reduction. So far it looks as if the employees have understood in what the company is doing and have overall been supportive. In the first nine months of this year the company performed better than all of last year.

So far AK has idled two plants and laid off almost 1,000 hourly employees. There have been 350 voluntary retirement packages offered to employees.

Visit The Middleown Ohio Community Forums to discuss the 5% AK Pay Cut For Salaried Workers

Ohio Issue 6 Fails Forth Time

If at first you don’t succeed try, try again? We have to give it to Ohio issue 6 for persistence. But Ohioans have once again decided that the 600 million dollar casino was not in the best interest of the state with a 63 percent to 37 percent difference when 93 percent of the vote had been counted.

Arguments made in favor of passing Issue 6 include:

- It would bring 5,000 jobs to Ohio. A declining economy makes the potential of new jobs very inviting, therefore a main focus of their campaign.

- The casino would generate $800 million a year in revenue, with $240 million to be split among Ohio counties based on population. Keeping Ohioans who currently go to the Argosy Casino in Indiana, 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati, in Ohio to gamble.

Arguments made against Issue 6 include:

- Ohio would fork out a $1 billion give-away to a private casino company; whose base is in a different state.

- There is no guarentee that Ohioans would get any of the jobs promised. The casino could bring people from out of state trained and already working the casino circuit .

- The possibility of not taxing means no money for counties as promised

- Moral issues like families loosing money needed for living expenses and the invitation of more high profile crimes to Ohio.

- Many legal loopholes provided in the wording of the initiative allows for more than one casino to be built in the state by Indian tribes which may also not be taxed.


The state of Ohio spoke very clear on the casino issue as it has since 1990. As tempting as 5000 new jobs looked to Ohio’s troubled economy and despite the potential of new traffic for local businesses, there was just more problems than Ohio was willing to buy.

Port Middletown

Port Middletown 01
Originally uploaded by John Beagle

by Linda Fisler

The Economic Restructing team is putting together a website to house our information and keep us thinking and engaged through our revitalization work.

In constructing the website, I'd like include some historic and current pictures of Port Middletown.

If anyone has any photos digitally that they wouldn't mind letting us use, please send them to [web@xponex.com and we will forward them to] Linda Fisler.

I'd be happy to include a reciprocal link to any website here in Middletown..please send that along as well.