2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Ship to Shore From The Oakwood Club
Spots tha t Define
Dayton Din ing PA G E 4 8
PLUS
DCDC Still Dancing at 45 75 on 75: Making a Difference Clark State’s New President Bucher Fights for Air Force One Teamwork Lands Fuyao
APRIL / MAY 2014 ISSUE 1 $3.95
VOLUME 2
w w w.T h e D ay t o n M a g a z i n e . c o m
St. Leonard 10TH A N N UA L
A FRANCISCAN LIVING COMMUNITY
5k Run/Walk
Saturday, June 7 8:30 a.m.
$25 if registered by June 1 $30 after June 1 and on race day
St. Leonard Campus 8100 Clyo Road, Centerville, Ohio
Free kids Fun Run & participation ribbons
Registration/Check-in at 7:30 a.m. Awards Ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
Includes t-shirt and breakfast
Overall top 3 males/females Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals 17 age groups
Register today at stleonard.net/5k For more information visit stleonard.net/5k or call St. Leonard Event Coordinator, Anna-Bridgette Shorten at 937.436.6423 or shortena@stleonard.net.
DAYTON ›› CONTENTS
APRIL/MAY ISSUE
48 Best Restaurant China Cottage
8 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Spring
32 CULTURE WORKS The agency
58 STATE OF AFFAIRS Clark State has
By Natasha Baker
35 DINING Bella Sorella Pizza brings
By Tracy Staley
is here. it's time to get out and enjoy everything the city has to offer, especially the restaurants.
10 LETTERS 13 UPFRONT Outdoor adventure comes
to Dayton and a local attorney's children's book gets a second edition. By Nick Hannah
16 COMMENT Bucher sounds off about
Texas company's intent to move retired Air Force One from our museum. By Jim Bucher
18 KEEP ON DANCING DCDC is still grooving to the music after 45 years. By Natasha Baker
farm-fresh pies to you. Plus listings. By Danny Restivo
43 TRAVEL KENTUCKY Take the road
less traveled on your next trip to Kentucky. By Corinne Minard
46 STYLE
finds in Dayton.
Update your home with fabulous
By Sarah Hibner
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
By Julie Bethlenfalvy
64 PLAY BALL The Dayton Dragons know how to entertain fans. By Tom Nichols
66 MAKING THE GRADE Kettering
68 THE GREAT OUTDOORS Get some
53 BUSINESS BOOST Global automotive 56 NO PLACE LIKE DAYTON Serial
By Mike Boyer
by Design will make you feel at home.
By The Editors
choices for distinctly Dayton restaurants.
By Julie Bethlenfalvy
Country Club has activities for the whole family.
62 HOME If you need to remodel, Kitchens
College prepares students for the health care job climate. By Danny Restivo
supplier Fuyao is coming to town and bringing jobs with it.
24 CALENDAR 30 MORE THAN FORE The Dayton
a new president and she has a vision for the school's future.
48 BEST RESTAURANTS Dive in to our
20 PHOTO OP Springfield Museum of Art welcomes an exhibit from iconic photographer, Ansel Adams.
4
launches a new fundraising platform.
By Jamie Kenny
entrepreneur Patrick Hood wouldn't do business anywhere else. By Val Hunt Beerbower
fresh air this spring with Miami Valley's natural wonders. By Carol Siyahi Hicks
69 75 ON 75 We honor companies and
individuals along I-75 metroplex that have made an impact in our community. By Mike Boyer
78 DAYTON SCENE Out and about at local community events.
Faithful Caring…
For Our Community. 'RACEWORKS ,UTHERAN 3ERVICES IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST
6430 Inner Mission Way • Dayton, Ohio 45459 • 937-503-8019 • www.graceworks.org
What makes us unique? The Bradley Financial Group services long-term client partnerships built around trust, mutual respect and personal chemistry. Our focus is helping clients envision, formalize, implement and maintain a comprehensive wealth strategy. We’ve developed a four-step process called Planning
Squared
:
1. We embrace client service as the core of our process, viewing our relationship with our clients as a partnership. We promise to keep our clients educated throughout the entire process with regularly scheduled meetings, correspondence and open dialogue.
John S. Bradley, CIMA® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management Wealth Advisor Senior Managed Accounts Consultant john.bradley@ubs.com Aaron S. Campbell, CFP® Account Vice President aarons.campbell@ubs.com The Bradley Financial Group UBS Financial Services Inc. 110 North Main Street, Suite 1600 Dayton, OH 45402 937-226-6563 937-226-6565 855-434-5988 fax ubs.com/team/bradleyfinancial
2. We audit and coordinate all aspects of our clients’ financial well-being, believing it is critically important to first frame the purpose of investing. That is, we seek to harness parts of clients’ wealth to specific goals, directing certain portions to run as quickly and prudently or slowly and safely as those goals dictate. We thereby lower investment risk by personalizing the needed rate of return to their lifestyle, goals and assets, which we call a client’s “family wealth index.” 3. We review, develop and fine-tune client estate plans, insurance, lending, gifting, and tax strategies. To ensure a comprehensive understanding, we include our clients’ other trusted advisors as needed, such as their CPA, attorney or other agents. 4. Finally, as our clients’ lives evolve, we are constantly analyzing and updating their financial plan, striving to maintain an efficient wealth strategy. Squared . We specialize in pulling This is the meaning of Planning everything together, coordinating all the different pieces of our clients’ financial and estate planning objectives so that they can ultimately experience and use their wealth in a way that is greater than the sum of its parts.
We invite you to contact us and explore whether our approach is appropriate for you. Financial Planning services are provided in our capacity as a registered investment adviser. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients in the U.S., we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus. UBS Financial Services Inc., its affiliates, and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. Clients should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/ workingwithus. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified finanCial PlannerTM in the U.S. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. in the United States of America and worldwide. ©UBS 2013. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. 7.00_DM_D21021_BradleyGrp
7KH %UDGOH\ )LQDQFLDO *URXS PHHWV«-LP %XFKHU Jim: For new readers, could you highlight a couple of points from our last conversation? John: Of course, last time we spoke we mentioned how we’ve managed client’s wealth through numerous market corrections and at least two recessions. We help advise and protect the wealth of successful business owners, executives, physicians, retirees and their families. Also, we relentlessly seek knowledge to stay equipped to address the issues that impact our clients, which includes maintaining a CIMA® and CFP®. Jim: Your investment philosophy really resonated with me last time, could you hit on a couple key points? Aaron: Most of our clients have been quite successful. They’ve built up a nice nest egg. Our job is first and foremost to protect that nest egg and then strive to intelligently grow it. We seek to allocate client capital in a way that both achieves their long term funding needs (with as little risk as possible) and reflects where we see the best value in the market. Jim: Tell us a little more about the services you offer. John: Our full range of financial services starts with a simple conversation and graduates to a full financial plan. This written plan organizes and analyzes all our client’s assets, liabilities, and retirement income (social security or pension) and helps determine what a client’s financial assets can safely produce in terms of income. Our clients love this aspect of our process because it gives them a year by year projection of their ability to retire comfortably and achieve their goals. A critical part of crafting this roadmap is determining their “family wealth index” – that is, their needed rate of return based upon their unique risk tolerance, assets and financial objectives. Just think about how powerful that is… By understanding the exact investment rate of return a client needs, we can thereby implement an investment strategy that is designed to achieve that return with as little risk as possible. It’s truly a simple but powerful idea.
Aaron: With any comprehensive wealth planning strategy; there are typically multiple pieces interacting and affecting one another – be it taxes, insurance, lending, estate planning, gifting, etc. Our goal is to coordinate and shape everything so that our clients can experience their wealth in a way that is greater than the sum of the parts. The bottom-line: Our team is designed to make our client’s lives easier by handling all aspects of the financial planning process. Jim: That sounds pretty comprehensive but how do you keep clients informed? John: Great question, Jim. We’ve purposely limited the number of clients we work with – recognizing that we can’t be all things to all people. By being selective we can provide exceptional service. We speak with our clients at least quarterly and meet in-person twice annually – always inviting open communication about any concerns, changes in their life, market views, and updating their written financial plan. Also, we encourage what we call an “advisor summit” where we’ll invite our client’s estate planning attorney and/ or CPA into the same meeting to better coordinate, get different perspectives, and drive toward the best solutions for the client. Aaron: In addition, each year we provide our clients with a couple of educational and fun events. We believe in giving our clients an opportunity to discuss their key topics of concern with industry leading professionals. These conversations benefit our clients and our partnership as we work together through constant dialogue to provide solutions. John: Lastly, we truly have a top-notch, fully licensed, client service staff. The five of them help with our day-to-day operations and client needs. They know our clients personally and take a hands-on approach to delivering exceptional service.
DAYTON ›› LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Spring Fever S
pring is finally here! After a very long, cold winter we’re excited to see warmer temperatures and green grass. And those of us who are parents are excited to have kids in school every day! One of my favorite parts about Dayton is our evergrowing food scene. For a self-proclaimed foodie like me, Dayton has a great mix of new favorites and old standards that makes the phrase, “Let’s get dinner out,” four of my favorite words! My family loves the Buffalo Bullburgers at Bullwinkle’s; I fell in love with them in high school! With your help, we picked the long-standing favorites that best represent Dayton. How many have you visited? In this issue, you’ll also hear from Clark State Community College’s new president and her drive to move the college forward. We had some informative conversations with area leaders about the impact of the new Fuyao plant on local workforce development, and you’ll find an inspiring piece about serial entrepreneur Patrick Hood to share with the budding business builders in your life. Dayton is starting to thaw and there is so much going on in and around town. Be sure to check out our entertainment listings for a full calendar of happenings, read our arts feature about the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and find some new places to shop for your home in our Style section. Be sure to let us know how we are doing through email at nbaker@thedaytonmagazine.com or through social media on Facebook or Twitter. I would love to hear from you.
A FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY Publisher Eric Harmon
Editor Natasha Baker Managing Editor Julie Bethlenfalvy Copy Editor Belinda Cai Contributing Writers Val Hunt Beerbower Mike Boyer Jim Bucher Nick Hannah Sarah Hibner Carol Siyahi Hicks Jamie Kenny Corinne Minard Tom Nichols Danny Restivo Tracey Staley Editorial Interns Nicole Hamme Allison Reuther Taylor Spaw Art Director Guy Kelly Designer Stacy Mallardi-Stajcar Account Executives Dave Ball Brad Hoicowitz Roni Roach Amy Robertson Advertising Manager Events Coordinator Production Coordinator Circulation/Marketing Coordinator
Kristine McDonough Jenna Toon Keith Ohmer Lindsey Gooch
Dayton Magazine on the Web www.TheDaytonMagazine.com — Natasha Baker
Dayton Magazine 714 East Monument Ave., Suite 132 Dayton, OH 45402 (937) 329-9060
WRITE US
Produced in partnership with:
We want to hear what you think. Send an email to comments@TheDaytonMagazine.com or a letter to 714 E Monument Avenue, Suite 132, Dayton, OH 45402. Letters should include the writer’s full name and city and may be edited for clarity and space. Go to www.TheDaytonMagazine.com to get your complimentary subscription of Dayton Magazine. Like Dayton Magazine on Facebook to receive updates.
8
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
4A2 7TP[cW WPb bPeTS >WX^ R^\_P]XTb ! \X[[X^] R^\_PaTS c^ cWT \PaZTc ^eTa cWT _Pbc & hTPab ?[P] WXVW[XVWcb X]R[dST) h /CTMGV $GCVKPI )TQWR 4CVGU h %QORTGJGPUKXG *GCNVJ 9GNNPGUU 2TQITCOU h (TGG (KVPGUU %NWD /GODGTUJKRU h 1P 5KVG 9GNNPGUU %QCEJGU
TaRWTP[cW R^\ QT]TUXcb '%% !! $%'! 8QGHUZULWWHQ E\ $QWKHP %OXH &URVV DQG %OXH 6KLHOG $17+(0 %/8( &5266 $1' %/8( 6+,(/' ,6 7+( 75$'( 1$0( 2) &20081,7< ,1685$1&( &203$1< ,1'(3(1'(17 /,&(16(( 2) 7+( %/8( &5266 $1' %/8( 6+,(/' $662&,$7,21 $17+(0 ,6 $ 5(*,67(5(' 75$'(0$5. 2) $17+(0 ,1685$1&( &203$1,(6 ,1& 7+( %/8( &5266 $1' %/8( 6+,(/' 1$0(6 $1' 6<0%2/6 $5( 5(*,67(5(' 0$5.6 2) 7+( %/8( &5266 $1' %/8( 6+,(/' $662&,$7,21
DAYTON ›› LETTERS TWITTER: @DaytonMagazine Thank you for recognizing GBD as an important part of The Food Revolution taking place in Ohio.
Loving this issue of @DaytonMagazine, especially ‘The Food Revolution’ article! As always, great work Natasha! #daytonlove
–GREEN BEAN DELIVERY @GreenBEANOhio
–KIM BALIO @kimballo
The Food Revolution Local Dayton growers and producers are more vital than ever. BY TR ACY STALEY
D
octors couldn’t get to the bottom of what was causing Heather Young’s severe allergic reactions. After almost every meal, she developed hives, stomach pain and headaches. Her daughter, Kennedy, began to experience similar symptoms. Young, a registered nurse and educator in Piqua, knew she had to take control of her situation and make drastic changes in the way her family ate. Researching food and watching documentaries about the food industry, she knew she would never go back to eating carelessly again. “I knew it was time for a change,” says Young. “I wanted to know where my food was coming from and what was in it.” After stripping their diet of processed foods and gluten, Jackson and her daughter were healthy again.
Five Rivers Metroparks 2nd Street Market boasts an incredible array of local growers and producers. The market is open Thursday through Sunday all year long.
Just wanted to let you know I received my first copy of the Dayton Magazine today. It’s a good read and I liked the Q and A portion on our new Mayor. –MALLORY MITCHELL II
Like Young, many Dayton residents are hungry for change. Dayton’s food revolution is everywhere. “There is more awareness in general of healthier eating, not just on the east and west coasts. It’s nationwide,” says Jimmy Harless, market manager at Dayton’s 2nd Street Market, which has 15 to 20 local producers each week. Walk through the farmers markets. Find local meat, eggs, milk, produce and freshbaked bread. Pick up a pastry: baked clean without preservatives, dyes or gluten. Peek into backyards, dotted with small urban gardens and chicken coops. Cruise past southwest Ohio’s acres of farmland, with crops, cows, goats and pigs. Count the boxes of fresh food left on porches, seasonal bounty from local farms
30
delivered straight to the doorsteps. Drop by Antioch College where students dine on food raised on the college’s farm. Pick up lunch at a growing number of local restaurants that buy and cook fresh, clean and local. The old farmers chuckle; they’ve been at this for years. But for younger generations, taking control of their food supply has meant embracing a lifestyle that pushes back at convenience and chemicals by learning the art of gardening, raising chickens, seeking out local growers and producers. More Dayton residents have demanded local, healthy food options, says Harless. As he points up and down the renovated freight station of KJB Farms, a local meat producer, Harless rattles off the various
vendors who are meeting the growing appetite for healthy and local foods. Also, farmers markets and the larger grocers are providing organic and local options across Dayton. Dayton’s chefs and bakers are trading traditional ingredients for healthier alternatives. Their customers want it: they’re concerned about genetically modified food and its impact on health, the connection to gluten intolerance, and more. Dawn Valfor, a baker at the market, was propelled by her own history of illness to transform her diet over the years and now offer clean treats and healthier alternatives through her business, Purely Sweet Bakery. “I meet people all the time who are newly diagnosed with wheat intolerance or celiac disease, or they simply wish to feel better
DAYTON MAGAZINE February/March 2014
DAYTON MAGAZINE February/March 2014
Robert and Helen Harmony wanted to help children...
What will be your lasting legacy? Former factory workers Helen and Robert Harmony worked hard all of their lives and wanted their labor to have a deeper, lasting meaning. They chose to establish a field-of-interest Community Impact Endowment Fund through The Dayton Foundation in 1993 that would give disadvantaged children what they never had – a chance to go to camp and enjoy their childhood. A Community Impact Endowment Fund enables individuals to be part of a greater effort to help our community broadly or in their area of special interest. Although the Harmonys have passed away, their endowed fund is fulfilling their legacy. Nearly 7,800 children have gone to camp to date, thanks to the Harmonys. Let us help you help others too. Go to www.daytonfoundation.org/legacy or call (937) 222-0410 to speak with Joe Baldasare or Whitney Briggs.
10
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
31
We asked our Twitter and Facebook followers, “If you could name the Best Restaurant or Dish in Dayton, what would be it be?” And you responded. Thanks for your input!
HERE’S WHAT SOME OF YOU HAD TO SAY: DANIEL CHIP JAMES @danielchipjames: Crab Rangoon from Thai 9 would be one of my top picks!
ANNIE @AnnieM4Life: There are so many! Currently, my faves are Nelly’s Chicken in Miamisburg... love the Bolivian Food. Olive is good too!
JORDAN HOCKETT @_JHock: The twin filet shrimp linguine dish from Oakwood Club!
EATTHROUGHTHIS @eatthroughthis: Taqueria Las Tapatias has the best torta in town. Hickory Bar-B-Q and Lucky’s have the best burgers. Benjamin’s is good too
BENJI BARKER @benjaminbarks: I can’t find anything better on a Friday night in #Dayton than the #RoastedDuckNoodleSoup at #LittleSaigon AMY NINLAWONG @amyninlawong: Roost!
BRYAN SUDDITH @bryansuddith: If Abner’s on E Third isnt on the list, then the list is incomplete. #dayton #burgers Also add #Foys!
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
11
£ ¬¬ ª¡¦ ¤¬ f§ª
Kettering Medical Center Dayton’s First and Only Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center
Time Lost is Brain Lost The primary stroke centers at Sycamore, Grandview, and Southview Medical Centers are ready to intervene when stroke symptoms appear. Patients needing an advanced level of care are transported to the comprehensive stroke center at Kettering Medical Center where we offer the highest level of stroke care for complex cases. Kettering Health Network, offering the advanced stroke care in Dayton.
DAYTON ›› UPFRONT
Dayton’s Excellent Adventure
Wright State University and Five Rivers MetroParks’ biennial Adventure Summit captures the human spirit, indoors and out. BY NICK HANNAH
T
he largest exposition of outdoor skill, fun and adventure in the Midwest returned to Wright State University’s Student Union on Feb. 14 and 15. Participants scaled the climbing wall, the Adventure Summit Triathalon, sank competitors’ canoes during Canoe Battleship, and even shed some unwanted clothes all for charity during the Frosty Cheeks 5K run across campus. Coordinated by Wright State and Five Rivers MetroParks, the event also included keynote speakers Dave Cornthwaite, a world record holder, and Jon Turk, one of National Geographic’s top 10 adventurers in 2012. Both speakers have extensive experience in paddle sports (this year’s event theme), such as canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Cornthwaite, a British adventurer and author, holds eight world records, and Turk has spent more than 40 years navigating remote and exotic locations. “Dave’s whole philosophy of non-motorized expeditions appealed to us, and it is something we thought the students would be interested in,” says Amy Anslinger of Wright State University’s Outdoor Recre-
ation Center. “It really ties into what we are all about. Hopefully people leave feeling empowered.” Cornthwaite is perhaps best known for his Expedition1000 project, in which he aims to complete 25 separate 1,000-mile non-motorized journeys, such as swimming, skateboarding and kayaking. He discovered his passion when he tried skateboarding in Swansea, Wales, to improve his snowboarding skills. Two weeks later he quit his day job to pursue skateboarding. In 2007, he landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for traveling the farthest distance on a skateboard—3,638 miles from Perth to Brisbane in Australia. He also paddle boarded down the Mississippi River, picking up another world record in the process. “I never trained for any of these journeys. I just start,” says Cornthwaite. “Anyone could do any of these things that I have done.” Five Rivers MetroParks hopes the Adventure Summit raises awareness about all of the outdoor activities Dayton offers residents right in their own backyards. “Five Rivers is really ramping up its of-
fering of outdoor education and recreation offerings, so there was a synergy between the two organizations [Five Rivers and Wright State] that led to this event,” says Kristen Wicker of Five Rivers. “We are offering some river run programs this year, such as the Mad River Run at Eastwood MetroPark, so the selection of speakers with a connection to paddle sports was a natural fit.” Cornthwaite, who was walking around the summit with a T-shirt bearing the words, “Say Yes More,” admits he has a difficult time saying no to a challenge. “We all have this innate ability to improve ourselves because we are human. We can evolve instead of just exist,” says Cornthwaite. “Sometimes it’s too easy to do nothing, to say no, and not try new things and develop new skills. I am certainly not a supreme athlete. I just have a really strong ‘yes’ muscle.” He adds that people realize what they are capable of when they take that first big adventure. “I recommend everyone take at least one big adventure in their life,” says Cornthwaite. Q DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
13
DAYTON â&#x20AC;şâ&#x20AC;ş UPFRONT
D
Laying Down the Law By NICK HANNAH
ayton attorney Merle Wilberding is back in the spotlight thanks in large part to a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation. In January, more than 40,000 students across the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; with 1,200 in the Dayton Public School Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;received the second edition of Wilberdingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activity book, Haki and the Rule of Law. Wilberding found himself in the national spotlight in 2011 when he represented the family of slain Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, who was denied a base transfer after accusing a fellow Marine of sexual assault and was later murdered while eight months pregnant. With Haki and the Rule of Law, Wilberding set out to provide the historical background and framework for the U.S. Constitution and rule of law in a way that children can understand. Haki and the Rule of Law follows the journey of Hakiâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Swahili word for â&#x20AC;&#x153;justiceâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;and explains to children the basic rights and protections they are
Merle Wilberding granted as American citizens. Wilberding wrote the first edition in 2009 and educators welcomed it at the annual Law and Citizenship Conference in Columbus. Educators found that the simple language
Live On Stage!
ŠDisney
NETworks presents
MAY 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JUNE 1 â&#x20AC;˘ SCHUSTER CENTER www.victoriatheatre.com LEADERSHIP SPONSORS:
Brady Ware â&#x20AC;˘ WKEF-TV ABC22
PERFORMANCE SPONSOR: Clear Channel Dayton
14
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
*52836 6$9(
Call (937) 461-8295
and the visual art enabled young children to better understand what can be a complex subject matter. “I was intrigued by the idea of educating children. I want to help underserved children understand the rule of law and the role it plays throughout their life,” says Wilberding. “I aimed to make them more receptive and accepting of the police in their community, to let them know they serve a good purpose.” Schools across Ohio have been incorporating the book into curriculum with successful results and feedback. The grant from the state bar allows the book to reach more students across the state. “Whether the kids are waiting for the school bus, obeying a stop sign, waiting in lines, behaving in school or dealing in encounters with police, I want the kids to know that if they follow the rules they will be treated fairly,” adds Wilberding. Haki and the Rule of Law transports children to 1215 for the signing of the Magna Carta, the framework for the U.S. Constitution. “To really help children understand what the rule of law is, we have to go back to how it came about and how it developed,” says Wilberding. “What I like about the Magna Carta is that it stated that the King of England was subject to the rule of law itself, and I thought that was an important statement to make. “It’s certainly not a perfect system, but you start out with a perfect principle, which is that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.” Q
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
15
DAYTON ›› COMMENT
THIS TEXAS-SIZED REQUEST IS JUST ‘PLANE’ CRAZY
Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 (Air Force One) in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo)
BY JIM BUCHER
S
o, have you heard about the group in Texas and their recent request to acquire one of the planes from our National Museum of the United States Air Force, what we affectionately call in these parts as The Air Force Museum? By the way, the “our” includes all Americans, but especially we who take pride in this world-class facility in our own backyard. The Texans have their eyes on SAM (Special Air Mission) 26000, which is a retired Air Force One aircraft. Yes, the president’s plane. This AF-1 was used first by John F. Kennedy and brought the slain president’s body back to Washington, D.C., after his assassination in Dallas. It's currently housed at our museum and will serve as the centerpiece of a $35 million expansion with all of the other
16
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
presidential aircraft. But for some reason, the LBJ (Lyndon B. Johnson) Presidential Library and Museum in Austin would like sole possession. Wyatt Thomas Johnson (no relation to the former president) heads the group as the chairman emeritus of the nonprofit LBJ Foundation. Johnson has said that he and other supporters are prepared to raise millions of dollars to house the plane there. One of their board members, Ben Barnes, is on the record as saying: “The LBJ Museum is a superior location compared to a town in Ohio.” Ah, excuse me, did you say “a town in Ohio?” That’s what I thought you said. OK, Mr. Barnes, let me inform you that this “town in Ohio” happens to be Dayton. Let me repeat with emphasis, DAYTON, OHIO. If you are unaware, Dayton is home to the Wright Brothers—you know, the guys who invented the airplane and without them there wouldn’t be an AF-1. Plus, OUR museum here has over 1 million visitors yearly and it’s free to the public. I understand if the plane were in Austin patrons would be charged a fee and you would have the added bonus of a
projected attendance boost for your library. Now I believe I understand your motive. The group from Texas heard from us about its plans for the plane loud and clear. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner sent a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James about their “serious concerns” that The Air Force Museum might lose the jet. She and the Air Force responded swiftly with a letter back to Portman and Turner: “The Air Force is not considering the transfer of this aircraft [or any other entity] to the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. The Air Force’s decades-long mission as the executive agent for presidential fixed-wing airlift is a great historical narrative and one that we are proud to present to the public. SAM 26000 is a key artifact to tell this important Air Force story.” Case closed, right? Well, not quite, because Mr. Barnes responded in a newspaper article: “That letter was not by any means the last blow landed in this fight.” Fight? This fight is over. Mr. Johnson says he’s not looking for an adversarial standoff between the foundation, the Air Force
and members of congress, but rather a win-win for both communities. And Mr. Johnson, what would be that win-win scenario of which you speak? Well, let me speak the “plane” truth. First, the SAM26000 was also used by a boatload of presidents, such as Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Should we put the plane on tour and make the rounds to all the presidential libraries? Or, send a piece to each place? After all, based on your way of thinking, they all can lay claim to it. And do you really want the aircraft there as a reminder of one of the darkest chapters in our history? When Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office after Kennedy’s death? So, why don’t we all think your way? (I say with tongue firmly planted in cheek.) In that case, let’s call the Orbit Crane folks, Two Men and a Truck and jet up to The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan and haul the Wright Brothers bike shop and homestead right back here where it belongs. Since we’re laying claim, we could take the scenic route home through D.C. and grab the Wright Flyer currently displayed in the Smithsonian while we’re at it. Where does it end, Texas? Well, hopefully right here. But as Mr. Barnes said, this fight is far from over. Isn’t that what they said at the Alamo? Yes, we haven’t heard the last from them. And they haven’t heard the last from ‘a town in Ohio.’ Cheers, Buch
Q
President John F. Kennedy's casket is unloaded from Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 (Air Force One) after his assassination in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963. (U.S. Air Force photo)
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
17
Repertoire
BUILDING AN INCREDIBLE
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is still going strong after 45 years. BY NATASHA BAKER
PHOTO: SCOTT ROBBINS
he Dayton Contemporary Dance Company has become a fixture in the Dayton arts community. But did you know that outside of Dayton it is one of the premier dance companies in the world? Jeraldyne Blunden, the founder and artistic director of DCDC, knew it was possible. She took a dream and made it reality, which started a 45-year tradition of dance. In the 1940s when Blunden’s mother wanted to get her daughter dance lessons, finding a school that would accept an African-American student was difficult. Then sisters Josephine and Hermene Schwarz, founders of the Dayton Ballet, agreed to teach Blunden and a few of her friends. “With the help of the sisters, Jeraldyne performed around the world,” says Jay Peterson, director of marketing and special events for DCDC. “She became a recognized choreographer working and performing with the American Dance Festival, Dayton Ballet, Antioch Summer Theatre and many more.” After years of performing and choreographing, Blunden came home to Dayton in 1968 with the intent of creating the first modern dance company in Ohio. Her vision was to have the world’s greatest choreographers come to Dayton and create
18
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
works for her dancers. Now, DCDC is one of the largest companies of its kind between Chicago and New York City. The company has won national and international acclaim and is renowned for powerful, artistic performances, a diverse repertoire of works by world-class choreographers, and excellence in educational programming. “We have two companies and a touring season that runs from August to June,” says Peterson. “Our dancers travel the world. They have performed in Korea, Chili, Russia, China, and Europe.” DCDC has gone beyond Blunden’s original vision. Recently, the organization has developed partnerships with the University of Dayton, Central State University and Wright State University. Seeing possibilities beyond the dance department, DCDC worked with the universities to create education and management curriculum. “We also have programming for K-12 students offering everything from physical movement and dance to bullying and diversity, and even Math and weather. If a school needs a program, we develop it,” says Peterson. While the company holds annual auditions, there is rarely turnover. “Dayton is affordable. Dancers can afford to live here on a dancer’s salary,” he adds. Even more important, the dancers say, is
Debbie Blunden-Diggs carries on her mother’s dream as the company’s artistic director. that everyone is so supportive. The dancers are all receptive to criticism from choreographers, as well as each other. “Being a part of DCDC brings a consistent challenge and level of physicality I hadn’t experienced in other companies,” says Michael Green, a dancer with DCDC for the last seven years. “There is a constant pushing and perfecting. For me, I love that. I get to continually grow here.” While DCDC has evolved, the core of the company that Blunden began is still about the beauty and art of dance. “We dance purely from our hearts,” shares Green. “The technique and level of quality are certainly there, but all of us dance from our hearts. It makes every performance a beautiful thing.” ■
Natural Wonders The iconic landscapes captured on film by renowned photographer Ansel Adams have come to the Springfield Museum of Art. by Julie Bethlenfalvy
Moonrise, Hernandez, 1941
Spanish-American Woman near Chimayo, New Mexico, 1937
I
f you’re a photography buff, or just a collector of coffee table books, you’ve heard of Ansel Adams. And from now until May 11 at the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, you can view the intricate detail of Adams’ muses: the American West and National Parks. The exhibit, Classic Images: Photographs by Ansel Adams, is a collection of Adams’ works that he selected and printed for his daughter, Anne Adams Helms. Anne allowed the photographs to travel from the Peoria Riverfront Museum in Peoria, Ill. “It’s like having the artist curate the exhibit for us,” says Ann Fortescue, executive director of the Springfield Museum of Art. “It makes the visit personal, an experience they [guests] can share with Ansel Adams.” The self-guided exhibit leads guests through 72 prints, which span from the early 1920s through the late 1970s. Although somewhat chronological, the themes shift throughout the quiet, 3,000-square-foot space. The stark white walls and high ceilings lend to the iconic photographer’s wonder and love of the American wilderness. Also at the exhibition, adults and children alike can check out a similar camera that Adams used during his career, an 8 by 10 View Camera. “Students can see what kind of camera Ansel used since their camera is in their phone,” adds Fortescue. For all of his photos, he simply exposed,
20
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
developed and printed the images. There were no corrections, just his attention to shadows and light. In the 1920s, soft-focus wax paper was popular, but Adams moved away from that technique. His “pure photography,” a more honest view of use of the art, sought out sharpness in the images. The details are so intricate that it’s hard to imagine that his images were never altered. Around 1940, Adams’ accomplished the incredible detail in his photos using the Zone System, which he and Fred Archer devised. The Zone System moves from white to black along the maximum number of tones, allowing photographers to control the characteristics of black and white film, particularly the tonal range in the negative. Adams’ love of nature began as a child growing up in San Francisco. “He had a personal connection to Yosemite, he was a
naturalist and a guide,” says Fortescue. Adams also worked as a photographer for the Sierra Club. “[He] became a part of that and was inspired by other photographers.” The environmentalist was mostly known for his photographs of the natural world, but the exhibit includes some images of people, such as Georgia O’Keefe (a friend) and the SpanishAmerican Woman near Chimayo, New Mexico taken in 1937. “Since he selected these, he was pretty discriminating about the quality of the photos,” says Fortescue. You’ll find a variety of his recognizable images at the exhibition, such as Bridal Veil Falls, 1927, and of course, the renowned Moonrise, Hernandez, 1941. The story of Moonrise is legendary: he stumbled across the scene on a highway drive and only had time for one shot, which captured the graveyard crosses glowing in the moonlight. The grandeur of Adams’ landscape images makes you feel small, like in Monolith, The Face of Half Dome, which Adams took in Yosemite Valley in 1927. “The aesthetic of his work … it’s so attractive, it draws you in,” says Fortescue. “He captured pictures of the U.S. that makes it look other-worldly.” ■ Visit springfieldart.museum for ticket prices or for more information about the exhibit.
BENEFITS
Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a baseball fanatic or just a casual baseball fan, we have the right ticket package for you! Perfect for families, friends and companies of any size, our 17 or 9-game season ticket packages will fill the baseball-shaped hole in your heart.
Guaranteed Fun Your Own Seat, Every Game Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Gifts Special Event Access VIP Perks Be a Part of History Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the march to 1,000! Contact a sales representative today at (937) 228-2287 or at dragons@daytondragons.com.
DAYTON ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Isabella Kirkland, Ascendant, 2000; Oil paint, alkyd on canvas on display at Dayton Art Institute. Courtesy of the artist and Feature Inc., New York.
24
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
April
◀ ISABELLA KIRKLAND: STILLED LIFE
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
Tue, Apr 1 8pm Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 udayton.edu
MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL
Tue-Mon, Apr 1- May 4 La Comedia Dinner Theatre 765 W Central Ave, Springboro 937-746-4554 lacomedia.com
THE CLINE SHOW
Tue-Sat, Apr 1-19 Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N Jefferson St, Dayton 937-224-3822 daytonvisualarts.org
Tue-Sun, Apr 1-May 18 Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton 937-223-4278 daytonartinstitute.org
KARL BLOSSFELDT: ART FORMS IN NATURE
Tue-Sun, Apr 1-May 18 Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton 937-223-4278 daytonartinstitute.org
FORGED FROM NATURE: JEWELRY DESIGNS BY VIRGINIA BLAKENEY Tue-Sun, Apr 1-May 25 Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton 937-223-4278 daytonartinstitute.org
XENIA ROTARY PANCAKE DAY Thu, Apr 3 6pm Greene County Fairgrounds 120 Fairground Road, Xenia 937-327-8621
Helping Private Businesses Grow
A FLEA IN HER EAR
OPERA BALL 2014 “IN THE MOOD”
OH WHAT A NIGHT: BILLBOARD HITS OF THE 60S
2014 SPRING INTO HEALTH 5K
Fri-Sun, Apr 4-12 Blair Hall Theater 444 W 3rd St, Dayton 937-512-3000 sinclair.edu
Sat, Apr 12 6:30pm Moraine Country Club 4075 Southern Blvd, Dayton 937-434-8236 operaguilddayton.org
Sun, Apr 13 12:30pm Kettering College 3737 Southern Blvd, Kettering 937-395-5650 kc.edu/5k
Fri&Sat, Apr 4&5 Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.org
MOZART & THE ROMANTICS
DCDC’S ‘SYNCHRONICITY’
Sun, Apr 13 3pm Dayton Masonic Center 525 Riverview Ave, Dayton 937-224-9795 daytonperformingarts.org
Sat&Sun, Apr 5&6 3pm Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton 937-228-3232 dcdc.org
ARTSGALA
Sat, Apr 12 Wright State University – Creative Arts Center Recital Hall, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Dayton wright.edu/artsgala
17TH ANNUAL TASTE OF GREENE COUNTY
Sun, Apr 14 11:30am Ervin J. Nutter Center 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton 937-426-2202 nuttercenter.com
Like Magazine on
(PSLYVU THRLZ P[ LHZPLY MVY I\ZPULZZ V^ULYZ [V WYVMLZZPVUHSS` THUHNL HUK NYV^ [OLPY JVTWHU` ¸ <ZPUN (PSLYVU»Z 7YVMLZZPVUHS 4HUHNLTLU[ :`Z[LT ^L ^LU[ MYVT LTWSV`LLZ [V LTWSV`LLZ (Z V\Y PUK\Z[Y` NYL^ I` SLZZ [OHU V]LY [OL WHZ[ Ä]L `LHYZ 2LSJOULY 0UJ OHZ NYV^U I` ¹ ;VKK 2LSJOULY *,6 2LSJOULY 0UJ
3LHYU TVYL HIV\[ WYVMLZZPVUHS THUHNLTLU[! ^^^ HPSLYVU VYN
f
Chat with other Dayton Magazine fans, post pictures, find out about giveaways & events and keep in touch with others who love the beauty, the adventure and the fun of Dayton, Ohio.
Visit us at www.thedaytonmagazine.com to subscribe today DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
25
DAYTON ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT KINGS ISLAND OPENING ▶
Fri, Apr 18 Kings Island 6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason visitkingsisland.com
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE SERIES: JODI COBB-UNCOVERING HIDDEN WORLDS
AN INSPECTOR CALLS
Fri-Sun, Apr 18-May 4 Dayton Theatre Guild 430 Wayne Ave, Dayton 937-278-5993 daytontheatreguild.org
BRING IT ON
Mon, Apr 21 7pm Victoria Theatre 138 N Main St, Dayton 937-228-7591 victoriatheatre.com
Tue, April 22 – Wed, April 23 ; 7:30 pm Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W Second St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.org
MEMPHIS
ANIMAL FARM
Apr 8-13 Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.org
MID-DAY ARTS CAFE: DVAC
Tue, Apr 8 11:30am Schuster Performing Arts Cafe 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.org
Fri-Sun, Apr 25-May 11 Zoot Theatre Company Dayton Art Institute 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton 937-223-4278 daytonartinstitute.org
EARTHFEST 2014
Sat, Apr 26 7am Garden Station Community Garden and Art Park 509 East 4th St., Dayton
MIAMI VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: VIVA ITALIA!
DCDC2 ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT: CHANGE
SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: MASTERWORKS IV
May
Sat&Sun, Apr 26&27 8pm Kettering Seventh Day Adventist Church 3939 Stonebridge Road, Kettering 937-530-0515 mvso.org
Sat, Apr 26 8pm Clark State Performing Arts Center 300 S Fountain Ave, Springfield 937-328-3874 springfieldsym.org
ANNUAL CONSIGNMENT SALE
Sat, Apr 26 9am A Great Start Preschool 5980 Wilmington Pike, Dayton 937-312-1621 agreatstartpreschool.com
MARCH FOR BABIES
Sat, Apr 26 UD River Campus 1700 S Patterson Blvd, Dayton marchforbabies.org
Sun, Apr 27 4pm University of Dayton, Kennedy Union Boll Theatre 300 College Park, Dayton 937-228-3232 dcdc.org
FIRST FRIDAY
Fri, May 2 5pm Downtown Dayton Third & Main St, Dayton 937-224-1518 downtowndayton.org
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Fri-Sun, May 2-18 Town Hall Theatre 27 N Main St, Centerville 937-433-8957, ext 2832 washingtontwp.org/ recreation/theatre
1461 East Spring Valley Pike in Centerville (937) 433-0790 • www.springvalleyacademy.org
Spring Valley Academy offers: • Preschool to 12th grade • College Prep Christian Education • Performance Arts Program • Medical Magnet Program • Excellent Teacher-Student Ratio • International Mission Trips • Global Education and Service • Cutting-Edge Educational Technology
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth If there’s room in your heart, then there’s room in your home. In Ohio, there are many abused, neglected and dependent children who need your special attention, time and love. SAFY foster parents receive specialized training as well as reimbursement for expenses, care, and time! By working together, we can make a difference in the lives of children.
We’re in the Top 10% of Ohio’s Academic Schools Based on the 2012 Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) Results. Last year, our senior class was awarded a combined total of more than 2.5 million dollars in scholarships! 96% of our graduates attend college! 26
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 937-853-9061 x 1222 OR VISIT WWW.SAFY.ORG
Dinosaurs Alive! at King's Island
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
AIDA
THE BUTLER DID IT
DERBY DAY DASH 5K RUN/WALK
BLACK VIOLIN â&#x2013;ś
JIG AND JOG 5K RUN/WALK
Fri-Sat, May 2-17 Dayton Playhouse South 3750 Far Hills Ave, Kettering 888-262-3792 playhousesouth.org Fri-Sun, May 2-4 Troy Civic Theatre 300 Adams St, Troy 937-339-7700 troycivictheatre.com Fri&Sat, May 2-3 Victoria Theatre 138 N Main St, Dayton 937-228-7591 victoriatheatre.com
Fri-Sun, May 2-4 Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.org Sat, May 3 Island Metro Park 101 E Helena St, Dayton 937-586-0545 lifeessentials.org
Sat, May 3 9:30am Eastwood MetroPark 1385 Harshman Rd, Dayton 937-387-7092 celticacademy.com
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
27
DAYTON ›› ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SPRING 5K Sat, May 3 9am Montgomery County Job Center 1133 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton 937-222-7349 stvincentdayton.org
GEM CITY ROLLER GIRLS GAME
Sat, May 10 4:30pm Hara Arena 1001 Shiloh Springs Rd, Dayton 937-278-4776 gemcityrollergirls.com
DAYTON SHARKS INDOOR FOOTBALL
BILL GOODMAN’S GUN & KNIFE SHOW
Sat&Sun May 3&4 Hara Arena 1001 Shiloh Springs Rd, Dayton 937-278-4776 gunshow.net
PETER PAN
Tue, May 6 9:30am Victoria Theatre 138 N Main St, Dayton 937-228-3630 victoriatheatre.com
GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON
Sat, May 3 7:30pm Hara Arena 1001 Shiloh Springs Rd, Dayton 513-386-9077 daytonsharks.com
Thu, May 8 10am Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center 444 W Third St, Dayton 937-853-3111 heart.org
DAYTON BOOK EXPO
ALL SHOOK UP
Sat, May 3 11am Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center 444 W Third St, Dayton 888-802-1802 daytonbookexpo.com
Thu-Sun, May 8-Jun 29 La Comedia Dinner Theatre 765 W Central Ave, Springboro 937-746-4554 lacomedia.com
BATTLE FOR LIFE
A WORLD A’FAIR
ERNEST KOERLIN AND RAYMOND MUST
DAYTON HAMVENTION
Fri, May 9 7pm Nutter Center McLin Gym 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy 937-775-3498 nuttercenter.com
Fri-Sat, May 9-Jun 21 Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N Jefferson St, Dayton 937-224-3822 daytonvisualarts.org
WINDOW WORKS: DAVID TENG-OLSEN
Fri-Sat, May 9-Jun 21 Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N Jefferson St, Dayton 937-224-3822 daytonvisualarts.org
BEST OF BROADWAY WITH THE STARS OF THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE
Fri&Sat, May 9&10 8pm Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-224-3521 daytonperformingarts.com
Fri-Sun, May 16-18 Dayton Convention Center 22 E 5th St, Dayton 937-333-4700 daytonconventioncenter.com
Fri-Sun, May 16-18 Hara Arena 1001 Shiloh Springs Rd, Dayton 937-276-6930 hamvention.org
BEETHOVEN’S GREAT NINTH
Fri&Sat, May 16&17 8pm Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-224-3521 daytonperformingarts.com
MARK LOWRY
Fri, May 16 7pm Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-228-3630 daytonperformingarts.com
Classic Images: Photographs by Ansel Adams Feb 14-May 11, 2014
Left to right: Ansel Adams | MOONRISE, HERNANDEZ, NEW MEXICO; Ansel Adams | SPANISH-AMERICAN WOMAN NEAR CHIMAYO, NEW MEXICO; Ansel Adams | CLEARING WINTER STORM, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA | ©The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust | All photographs from the collection of Anne Adams Helms; exhibition coordinated by the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, Il.
Wed-Sat, 9am-5pm; Sun 12:30-4:30pm; Closed Mon & Tue. Adults $8; Members & under 17 $3 107 Cliff Park Road, Springfield, Ohio springfieldart.museum 937.325.4673
+LSSH :LSZVY ;Y\Z[ Sponsored by Sarica with additional support from Jon & Lori Bartell, Andy & Cathy Bell, Bryce Hill, Inc., Comfort Keepers, Patrick Field, Jim & Joan Foreman, Clayton Hays, Deborah Hill, Mark Kearns, Tom, Tina, Argeri & Yanni Lagos, Ross McGregor & Dr. Cathy Crompton, Dr. Rick Nedelman & Lori Thomas, Dr. Charles & Jade Parsons, Pentaflex, Steve & Connie Schneider, and Wallace & Turner, Inc., and with assistance from the Convention and Facilities Authority.
28
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
CELTIC WOMEN THE EMERALD TOUR
Sun, May 18 Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-224-3521 daytonperformingarts.com
MID-DAY ARTS CAFE: THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE Tue, May 20 11:30am Schuster Performing Arts Center Mathile Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-224-3521 daytonperformingarts.com
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ▶
Tue-Sun, May 27-Jun 1 Schuster Performing Arts Center 1 W 2nd St, Dayton 937-224-3521 daytonperformingarts.com
THE DEAD GUY
Fri-Sun, May 30-Jun 15 Dayton Theatre Guild 430 Wayne Ave, Dayton 937-278-5993 daytontheatreguild.org
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Fri-Sun, May 30-Jun 1 Town Hall Theatre 27 N Main St, Centerville 937-433-8957 washingtontwp.org/recreation/ theatre
MIAMI VALLEY DANCE ACADEMY RECITAL Sat, May 31 Dayton Convention Center 22 E 5th St, Dayton 937-833-3368 daytonconventioncenter.com
REFER TO COMPLETE LISTINGS AT THEDAYTONMAGAZINE.COM
3UHPLHULQJ 0D\ DW SP
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
29
Something Old,
Something New
The historic Dayton Country Club offers amenities for the whole family.
By Mike Boyer 30
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
F
ounded by a group of Daytonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading industrialists, the Dayton Country Club is the oldest continuously operating club west of the Alleghenies. Originally known as the Dayton Golf Club, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in its current location until 11 years after it was created. In 1908, club leaders incorporated and purchased more than 100-acres that were formerly occupied by an Oakwood winery and changed the name to the Dayton Country Club. A clubhouse and a nine-hole golf course were completed in 1910 and a riding club stable was added in 1912. That closed in 1962. Famed golf architect Donald Ross visited in 1917 and made recommendations that included expanding to 18 holes.
Dayton Country Club's dining room A fire heavily damaged the clubhouse in 1929 when the boiler overheated. The clubhouse was immediately rebuilt, but the club struggled through the Depression and World War II, according to a history of Dayton golf. During the war, the second floor was remodeled and equipped to serve as a dormitory for military officers. Over its history, the club has hosted a number of U.S. presidents and other celebrities. The club hosted the famed Bogie Busters golf tournament from 1967 to 1974, an event that drew celebrities to Dayton. The city’s own Martin Sheen also was once a caddy. Despite its history, there are a number of private clubs in the Dayton area and the club’s approach has been to differentiate itself as a one-stop location for members and their families. “There’s a lot of competition, and we have a lot of great private facilities in the area,” says Jeff Grant, general manager. “We’ve positioned ourselves over the last few years as the number one family club in the area.” That means having something for every one in the family at the Kramer Road complex minutes south of downtown Dayton. Of course, there’s the golf pro shop, practice facility and the golf course, a challenge for beginners and scratch players alike. There are two pools: one Olympic-sized and a small kiddie pool. For tennis fans, the club has four clay courts and two platform tennis courts. There’s also a half-court basketball area
The landscape is ready for wedding pictures. Dayton Country Club's Olympic-sized pool
and a full fitness center to help stay in shape during the winter months. The club also offers four full-service dining areas. The main dinning room can seat up to 300 for a wide range of events from weddings to fundraisers to business meetings. The club’s appeal is apparently resonating with Daytonians. Grant says memberships have grown 10 percent over the last couple years to 415, and that’s allowed the club to invest in the facilities. This winter, a dining area and the men's locker rooms were renovated, and there are plans in the works to upgrade the platform tennis courts. New carpet has been installed upstairs along with new
windows and roofing. “We’ve been doing a lot of updating,” adds Grant. And that includes the staff. In December, the club hired new golf pro Rob Karnes, who was formerly with the Monroe, Mich., Golf and Country Club, and brought in well-known local chef David Glynn to oversee the kitchen. Last summer the club hosted the Women’s Western Golf Open, featuring 144 of the nation’s best amateur female golfers. This year it will host the First Tee Pro-Am sponsored by Lexus of Dayton in May and the Play for Pink breast cancer research fundraiser in June. ■ DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
31
A New Cultural Marketplace
C
ulture Works launched power2give. org for the Dayton Region on March 6. This online fundraising platform represents a new way for nonprofits throughout the region to raise funds for projects relating to arts and culture. On the evening of March 5, a prelaunch celebration was held in partnership with the Dayton Art Institute. Following a champagne toast, nonprofit representatives, their board members, and other community representatives were given a preview of the new site. Gift card giveaways allowed attendees to immediately begin searching the 35 project postings on the site, choosing their favorites. Using iPads and mobile phones, lucky gift card recipients were able to make real time contributions to the nonprofits of their choice.
32
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
Dayton Power & Light Foundation added to the excitement of the evening with its $50,000 contribution providing dollar for dollar matches for gifts made to projects on the site. Additionally, the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District is providing $10,000 in matching funds. The CareSource Foundation received kudos during the evening for serving as the founding sponsor of power2give, making it possible for Culture Works to host this exciting new cultural marketplace on behalf of the entire Dayton region. The Ameri-
can Advertising Federation of Dayton is serving as the media sponsor. Projects posted on the site reflect a diversity of nonprofits from traditional arts organizations to a wide range of health and social service organizations. Nationwide, power2give has raised more than $5 million since it began in Charlotte, N.C., in August 2011, supporting more than 2,000 projects and processed 22,000 donations. The Dayton site is No. 24 in the nation. Culture Works is excited about the potential of power2give to attract new donors, embed arts and culture much more deeply into our community, and provide greater access to arts and culture to a broader segment of our citizens. To experience power2give for yourself, visit cultureworks.org. â&#x2013;
%(&20( $
0(0%(5
225 E. Sixth Street Historical District (937)222.2892 www.jays.com
“Where Seafood and Wine come together” WHAT MAKES JAY’S SEAFOOD SPECIAL? • Voted BEST Seafood 2012 • Family owned and operated for 38 years • Housed in an 1850 brick building formerly operated as a corn and grist mill • Antique Mahogany Wood Handcrafted Bar built in 1882 • Award Winning Wine List with over 300 selections • Accepts all size reservations seven nights a week • Private Dining Room seats up to 32 guests with no room charge • Fresh Seafood flown in 4 times weekly from Boston, Portland and Hawaii • Housemade Desserts, Sauces and Salad Dressings • Wine Tastings every Friday 4pm to 8pm and Saturday 1pm to 6pm • Monthly Wine and Beer Dinners • Private Luncheon seven days a week available for 20-100 guests
Open seven nights a week at 5pm accepting reservations
SPECIALS Monday Night 25% OFF Wine Bottles Thursday Night Specials on Crab and Live Lobster
DAYTON ›› DINING
SISTER ACT
Bella Sorella's wood-fired pizzas are topped with farm-fresh flavor.
BY DANNY RESTIVO
G
rowing up in an Italian family, Gail Corrado Okafor and Elizabeth Corrado Weizman learned to appreciate freshly made meals. “We never ate out much growing up; our parents were always cooking,” says Corrado Weizman, who owns and operates Bella Sorella Pizza with her younger sister Gail. Drawing on family tradition, the sister duo began making and selling quality pizzas with farm-fresh ingredients last year. The farm-to-table concept has become the underpinning of Bella Sorella Pizza, which has Dayton’s first mobile wood-fired pizza oven. The 800-degree oven creates a slightly charred and crispy crust in less than two minutes, all while maintaining quality taste with garden-grown ingredients. Although the pizza is delicious, it’s the mobile oven that attracts a gathering. “A lot of people find it enjoyable just sitting and watching their pizza cook in a wood-fire oven,” says Corrado Okafor. “It always brings a crowd.” Many of the toppings originate from Elizabeth’s one-acre farm in Englewood, where the sisters grow tomatoes, zucchini, corn and other pizza toppings. They even have their own chickens lay eggs that are used in pizza dough. “A lot of the menu is based on what is fresh in the garden,” says Corrado Weizman, who built her first brick oven pizza eight years ago. She mixes her knowledge of wood fire ovens with her sister’s eight years of chef training in San Francisco. Their combined skills shine through in the scents and flavor of their pizza. To find Bella Sorella’s next stop, visit bellasorellapizza.com or check out Bella Sorella on Facebook. ■
Gail Corrado Okafor and Elizabeth Corrado Weitzman
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
35
DAYTON ›› DINING
Dayton Dining Destinations AMERICAN The Blue Berry Cafe 72 Bellbrook Plaza, Bellbrook 937-848-5900 blueberrycafe.net
Buckin’ Donkey Grille 3808 Wilmington Pike, Kettering 937-723-7888
The Caroline 5 S Market Street, Troy 937-552-7676 thecarolineonthesquare.com
The Café Ole 131 N Allison Ave, Xenia 937-372-2800 thecafe-ole.com
CBCB Bar & Grill 2495 Commons Blvd, Beavercreek 937-426-3287 cbcbbeavercreek.com
OUR MISSION
To be the advocate on behalf of our members, to provide value to those we serve, to enrich, support, connect, and motivate all young professionals in the Dayton region.
REFER TO COMPLETE LISTINGS AT THEDAYTONMAGAZINE.COM
Citilites
109 N Main St, Dayton 937-222-0623 schustercenter.org/citilites
Coco’s Bistro
The Heights Coffee Café
The Pour Haus
6178 Chambersburg Rd, Huber Heights 937-233-4321
536 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton 937-439-3688 pourhaus.com
The Jug
250 Warren St, Dayton 937-228-2626 228coco.com
3610 Central Ave, Middletown 513-424-1677 thejugmiddletown.com
Coldwater Cafe
Lily’s Bistro
19 E Main St, Tipp City 937-667-0007 coldwater-cafe.com
329 E 5th St, Dayton 937-723-7637 lilysbistro.com
Dayton Racquet Club
The Golden Lamb
27 S Broadway, Lebanon 513-932-5065 goldenlamb.com
1054 Central Ave, Middletown 513-217-7365 stained1054bistro.com
5531 Far Hills Ave, Dayton 937-434-4750 meadowlarkrestaurant.com
Stubbies Bar and Grill
Olive, An Urban Dive
The Tropics Restaurant
722 W National Rd, Vandalia 937-898-9373 580 Lincoln Park Blvd, Kettering 937-293-8800 thetropicsohio.com
416 E 3rd St, Dayton 937-222-3483 olivedive.com
Hawthorn Grill
28 S Limestone St, Springfield 937-521-1200 seasonsbistroandgrille.com
Stained 1054 Bistro
The Meadowlark Restaurant
40 N Main St, Dayton 937-224-4381 clubcorp.com/clubs/ dayton-racquet-club
Seasons Bistro & Grille
1222 E Stroop Rd, Dayton 937-298-2222 hawthorngrill.com
75 on
Celebrate & CELEBRATION Connect April 8, 2014 • 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM Miami Valley Gaming - Grandstand
A social event celebrating 75 successful people and places on the I-75 corridor, Cincinnati, and/or Dayton region as featured in Cincy & Dayton Magazine. Sponsored By:
Generation Dayton Is Seeking Young Professionals To Get Involved: ATTEND MEMBERSHIP 411 JOIN ONE OF OUR COMMITTEES COME TO EVENTS BRING COLLEAGUES USE OUR MESSAGE BOARDS INTERACT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
To learn more or to become a member visit www.generationdayton.org 36
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
%87/(5 7(&+
Presented By:
If you are interested in obtaining more information about this event, please contact Jenna Toon at 513-297-6215 or email jtoon@cincymagazine.com
DAYTON ›› DINING Voltzy’s Hamburger & Root Beer Stand 4668 Springboro Pike, Moraine 937-299-1440 voltzys.com
The Winds Cafe 215 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs 937-767-1144 windscafe.com
ASIAN China Cottage
6290 Far Hills Ave, Centerville 937-434-2622 chinacottagerestaurant.com
iYara Thai Restaurant
6118 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights 937-237-7767 iyarathaidayton.com
Osaka Japanese Steakhouse
2476 Commons Blvd, Beavercreek 937-320-1188 osakasteakhouseoh.com
-IAMI 6ALLEY
!PRIL
$ARKE #OUNTY
!PRIL
#LARK #OUNTY
-AY
5$ 2IVER #AMPUS
Thai 9
11 Brown St, Dayton 937-222-3227 thai9restaurant.com
BARBECUE Company 7 BBQ
1001 S Main St, Englewood 937-836-2777 company7bbq.com
Dark Horse Tavern
209 Byers Rd, Miamisburg 937-866-6960 dhtmiamisburg.com
Hickory Bar-B-Q
1082 Brown Street, Dayton 937-228-5252 hickorybarbq.com
OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ
3910 Far Hills Ave, Kettering 937-985-9346 oinkadoodlemoo.com
Original Rib House
275 E National Road, Vandalia 937-898-4601 theoriginalribhouse.com
$ARKE #OUNTY &AIRGROUNDS "UCK #REEK 3TATE 0ARK
4O REGISTER OR SIGN UP AS A TEAM GO TO
marchforbabies.org 38
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
CAJUN De’Lish Café & Ultra Lounge
139 N Main St, Dayton 937-461-2233 delishdayton.com
LeDoux’s Restaurant & Bar 118 W Main St, Troy 937-552-9347 ledouxsrestaurant.com
Taste Creative Cuisine
C’est Tout Bistro 2600 Far Hills Ave, Dayton 937-298-0022 cesttoutbistro.com
Current Cuisine 237 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs 937-767-8291 currentcuisine.com
Marce’s Sabor 1410 Yankee Rd, Middletown 513-422-4593 marcessabor.com
2555 Shiloh Springs Rd, Trotwood (937) 854-7060 daytontaste.com
Racquets Restaurant
INTERCONTINENTAL
1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd, Dayton 937-610-1061 ruedumainerestaurant.com
The Amber Rose Restaurant & Catering 1400 Valley St, Dayton 937-228-2511 theamberrose.com
Central Perc European Cafe
2315 Far Hills Ave, Dayton 937-299-5282
4242 Clyo Rd, Dayton 937-848-9200
Rue Dumaine
Salar 400 E 5th St, Dayton 937-203-3999 salarrestaurant.com
INDIAN Ajanta India Restaurant 3063 Woodman Dr, Kettering 937-296-9200 ajantaindiacuisine.com
Namaste India
Giovanni’s Pizzaria e Ristorante Italiano 215 W Main St, Fairborn 937-878-1611 giovannisfairborn.com
Giuliano, an Anticoli Tavern 67 S Main St, Miamisburg 937-859-3000 giulianotavern.com
9632 Springboro Pike, Miamisburg 937-433-0101 namasteindiadyt.com
La Piazza
ITALIAN
2 N Market St, Troy 937-339-5553 lapiazzatroy.com
Beppo Uno Pizzeria & Trattoria
Mamma DiSalvo’s Italian Ristorante
414 W Water St, Piqua 937-615-1100 beppouno.com
Café Paradiso 13 Monument Square, Urbana 937-653-8040 cafeparadiso4u.com
MEDITERR ANE AN/ La Fiesta 836 W Main St, Troy TURKISH 937-335-6800 Grecian Delight
lafiestatroyoh.com
1300 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, Middletown 513-424-5411 greciandelight.com
Las Piramides
Pasha Grill
5392 Burkhardt St, Dayton 937-254-6645
72 Plum St, Beavercreek 937-429-9000 pashagrill.com
LATIN AMERICAN Carmel’s Southwest Grill
1375 E Stroop Rd, Kettering 937-229-5831 mammadisalvo.com
1025 Shroyer Rd, Dayton 937-294-1261 carmelsgrill.com
Roost Modern Italian
El Meson
524 E Fifth St, Dayton 937-222-3100 roostdayton.com
Franco’s Ristorante Italiano
905 E Dixie Dr, Dayton 937-859-8229 elmeson.net
El Sombrero 1700 N County Rd 25A, Troy 937-339-2100 elsombrerotroy.com
824 E Fifth St, Dayton 937-222-0204 francos-italiano.com
Ha Ha Pizza 108 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs 937-767-2131
Marion’s Piazza
101 W Franklin St, Centerville 937-291-0900
Taco Loco
711 Shroyer Rd, Dayton 937-293-6991 marionspiazza.com
Milano’s
PIZZA
9572 Springboro Pike, Miami Township 937-434-7827 milanossubs.com
Al’s Pizza
Ron’s Pizza
13 Weston Rd, Troy 937-335-2100 alspizzatroysidney.com
A Fat Boyz Pizzeria
1469 S Market St, Troy 937-339-6969 afatboyzpizzeriatroy.com
Cassano’s Pizza
510 Central Ave, Carlisle 888-294-5464 cassanos.com
Figlio Wood Fired Pizza 424 E Stroop Rd, Dayton 937-534-0494 figliopizza.com
1 S Main St, Miamisburg 937-866-4321 ronspizza.com
Serendipity Bistro 25 S St Clair Street, Dayton 937-760-5380 serendipitybistro.weebly.com
Sinfully Gluten-Free 9146 Dayton Lebanon Pike, Centerville (937) 433-1044 sinfullygf.com
May 25, 2014 | Carillon Historical Park | Starts at 11:00am Admission: $8 per Adult (18-59), $7 per Senior (60+), $5 per Child (3-17), FREE PARKING! Dayton History Members and Children under 3 are FREE!
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Historical Demonstrations
Fireworks Finale
For more infor mation call 293-2841 or visit us online at www.daytonhistory.org
facebook.com/daytonhistory
twitter.com/daytonhistory
1000 Carillon Boulevard | Dayton, OH 45409 | www.daytonhistory.org | 937-293-2841 DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
39
DAYTON ›› DINING Wheat Penny Oven & Bar 515 Wayne Ave, Dayton 937-496-5268 wheatpennydayton.com
PUB FARE Barleycorn’s 6204 Wilmington Pike, Dayton 937-848-6999 barleycorns.com
Blind Bob’s 430 E Fifth St, Dayton 937-938-6405 blindbobs.com
Club 55 Bistro & Bar 845 W Market Street, Troy 937-552-7679 theclub55.com
Doubleday’s Grill & Tavern 199 E Alex Bell Rd, Dayton 937-436-4666 doubledaysgrillandtavern.com
Dublin Pub 300 Wayne Ave, Dayton 937-224-7822 dubpub.com
The Filling Station Sports Bar & Grill
2331 W Market St, Troy 937-339-4800 thefillingstationsportsbar.com
Flanagan’s Pub
O’Conners Irish Pub 2336 Northmoor, Springfield 937-717-6915 oconnerspub.com
Peach’s Grill
101 E Stewart St, Dayton 937-228-5776
104 Xenia Ave, Yellow Springs 937-767-4850 peachsgrill.com
Fox and Hound Bar & Grille
Roosters
2661 Fairfield Commons Blvd, Beavercreek 937-426-4145 foxandhound.com
Harrison’s Restaurant
3501 N Main St, Dayton 937-277-0114 roosterswings.com
South Park Tavern
106 E Main St, Tipp City 937-667-5200 harrisonsrestaurant.com
1301 Wayne Ave, Dayton 937-586-9526 southparktavern.com
Jimmie’s Ladder 11
Slyder’s Tavern
936 Brown St, Dayton 937- 424-1784 jladder11.com
836 Watervliet Ave, Dayton 937-258-1222 slyderstavern.com
Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery
Tickets Pub & Eatery
520 E 5th St, Dayton 937-222-6800 luckystaproom.com
7 W Main St, Fairborn 937-878-9022 ticketspub.com
Nick’s
1443 N Detroit St, Xenia 937-372-3202 gotonicks.com
SEAFOOD Amelia’s Bistro
129 W Franklin St, Bellbrook 937-310-3040 ameliasbellbrook.com
937-503-3482 • bellasorellapizza.com • bellasorellapizza@gmail.com 40
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
Carvers Steaks & Chops
225 E 6th St, Dayton 937-222-2892 jays.com
1535 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton 937-433-7099 carversdayton.com
Sweeney’s Seafood
The Hickory Inn
28 W Franklin St, Dayton 937-291-3474 sweeneysseafood.com
652 N Limestone St, Springfield 937-323-1779
Treasure Island Supper Club
The Oakwood Club
4250 Chief Woods Ln, Moraine 937-299-6161 treasureislandsc.com
STEAKHOUSE The Barnsider
5202 N Main St, Dayton 937-277-1332 barnsider-restaurant.com
Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro 19 N Main St, Miamisburg 937-859-7677 bullwinklestophatbistro.com
/LWWOH 0LDPL 5LYHU &DWHULQJ &RPSDQ\
GRADUATION special: Book by April 7 for $100 off
8800 Meeker Rd, Dayton 937-890-3261 buckhorntavern.biz
Jay’s Seafood
/05 '$<721 6 ),567 02%,/( :22' ),5(' 3,==$ 29(1
Buckhorn Tavern
2414 Far Hills Ave, Dayton 937-293-6973 theoakwoodclub.com
The Paragon Supper Club 797 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd, Centerville 937-433-1234 theparagonsupperclub.com
The Pine Club 1926 Brown St, Dayton 937-228-5371 thepineclub.com
80 E. Franklin Street Dayton, OH 45305 Phone: 937-848-2464 Fax: 937-848-7150 lmrcatering.com
With over 27 years of catering in Dayton Ohio, Little Miami River Catering can create and cater for you an Extraordinary event to remember. Catered Events from formal sit down dinners to casual backyard barbecues, shows our ability to create a catered meal that fits your personality, budget and fine taste in food. We can accommodate groups from 20 guest to 5000 guest.
UPSCALE OFFERS FOR LIFE & HOME
Look in your Mailbox for...
Deals in Bloom • Home Improvement • Exclusive Retailers • Health & Beauty
• Dining & Entertainment • Professional Services • Resort & Travel
View and print exciting offers from the region’s finest businesses at www.rsvpohio.com. For advertising information, call 888-958-7787 or email sales@rsvpUpscaleOffers.com.
WE TURN CEOs
INTO HEROES. Let Sebaly Shillito + Dyer lawyers help make you a hero. We share the risks and rewards of lawsuits by taking many business cases on a contingency. We’ll help you fight tough adversaries without blowing the budget. Learn more at www.ssdlaw.com/contingency or call Toby Henderson at 937.222.2500.
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK Dayton + West Chester
DAYTON ›› TRAVEL
Rediscover Kentucky
If you think you’ve done everything Kentucky has to offer, you’re missing out on the state’s more offbeat attractions. BY CORINNE MINARD
W
hen you think about Kentucky, your mind probably goes to horses, bourbon and caves. After a trip to Mammoth Cave or the Kentucky Horse Park, you may think you’ve done everything Kentucky has to offer. But you’d be wrong. Kentucky is full of lesser-known attractions that are off the beaten path. “I’m hearing more and more from travelers, ‘We don’t want to go to the things that everybody knows about. We want to go where the locals are,’ ” says Scottie Ellis, communications manager for the Kentucky Department of Tourism & Travel.
Red River Gorge in Eastern Kentucky is an ideal place for rock climbing. No matter where you are in the state, you can find a local attraction you may never have heard of before.
WESTERN KENTUCKY It may come as a surprise, but Western Kentucky has a fantastic art scene. You may never of heard of Paducah, a Kentucky city on the Ohio River, across from Missouri. But it was recently named a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and it’s easy to see why. Its LowerTown Arts District is a 26-block district listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is filled with studios and galleries featuring potters,
jewelry makers, painters and printmakers. Paducah’s “Wall to Wall” Murals are life-size paintings on the city’s floodwalls done by renowned artist Robert Dafford. But what Paducah is most known for is its quilts. The city is home to the National Quilt Museum, which features classic and modern quilts in its 27,000-square-foot exhibition space. “To think that someone actually stitched those things is kind of mind-blowing. I think I was very shocked when I saw it for the first time,” says Ellis. Music lovers can travel northwest of Paducah to Owensboro to bask in some DAYTON MAGAZINE . APRIL/MAY 2014
43
DAYTON ›› TRAVEL bluegrass. There, you can take part in the annual ROMP Bluegrass Roots and Branches Music Festival. “It’s almost like Bonnaroo, only for bluegrass,” laughs Ellis. Held June 26-28 this year, popular bluegrass artists like Ricky Scaggs, Sam Bush and Del McCoury will perform.
CENTRAL KENTUCKY The Bourbon Trail is a Kentucky staple, but you can take a trip into Louisville if you’re craving more. The city is ready to quench your thirst with its Urban Bourbon Trail. Instead of looking at how it’s made, you get a chance to taste how it’s used. Each stop is stocked with anywhere from 50 to 150 varieties. But even nondrinkers can enjoy this tour, since the bars and restaurants also serve plenty of food made with bourbon. “They’re really emphasizing that you go into these local restaurants and you can experience bourbon outside of the distillery,” says Ellis. “The Urban Bourbon Trail really offers a whole other side of bourbon away from historic sites but into how it is really consumed here in Kentucky.”
Proof on Main, which serves more than 75 of Kentucky's finest bourbons, is just one of the stops on the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville. For those who want to explore Louisville’s Nulu district the way the locals do, try the First Friday Trolley Hop. You can jump on the trolley at any of its stops and visit the restaurants, shops, clubs and galleries along the way for free. The stops
include Garage Bar, which features some crashed cars out front and lit-up table tennis in the back; Flame Run Glass Studio & Gallery, the region’s largest glassblowing studio and gallery; and Flea Off Market, a once-a-month outdoor flea market that
Find your new favorite restaurant on WWW.THEDAYTONMAGAZINE.COM
Visit us at WWW.THEDAYTONMAGAZINE.COM
for a complimentary subscription 44
DAYTON MAGAZINE . APRIL/MAY 2014
includes live music and food trucks. If you want to cool off during the day, take a trip underground to Louisville’s Mega Caverns. A massive limestone quarry created this underground cavern, but now adventurous visitors can take zip line tours or explore a ropes challenge course in the approximately 100 acres of caves. Have a fear of heights? Mega Caverns also offers an educational tram tour. “It really is a challenge,” Ellis says. “I would say that that is probably a different approach [to caves] because [when] you think about going through caves, you think about climbing or learning about things that live there … but the Mega Caverns, you zip line down below the ground.”
EASTERN KENTUCKY
KENTUCKY
HO
Events
RS R PA
GA TE
AY
THE O T
E
W
Clark County celebrates being the birthplace of beer cheese with its Beer Cheese Trail.
Both foodies and outdoor adventurers can rejoice in Eastern Kentucky. For those that like to get their hands dirty, Red River Gorge offers opportunities for climbing, kayaking and hiking. If you want to make a weekend of it, Natural Bridge State Park has the space for camping.
When you need a food break or some climbing advice, visitors can go to Miguel’s Pizza for both. “It’s a climb shop and pizza shop,” says Ellis. “Most people go there and they gear up for their stuff ... or they find out the best hiking routes or where to go paddle around, then they grab some slices of pizza and they go.” If you’re a lover of delicious beer cheese, a trip to Winchester for the Beer Cheese Trail is a must. Clark County is considered to be the birthplace of beer cheese, so it celebrates this heritage by serving it in new and fun ways at its many restaurants. “You can eat at all these local places, you can experience the outdoors of Eastern Kentucky, but then you can also get a local favorite that most states wouldn’t be able to offer in the way that Winchester does,” says Ellis. From the arts scene of the West to the cuisine of the East, an area of Kentucky is always waiting to be rediscovered. “It really is the local gems that make Kentucky what it is,” says Ellis. ■
• Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event at The Kentucky Horse Park, April 23-27 • The Horsey Hundred bicycling rally in Georgetown Memorial Day Weekend
K
Attractions • Adjacent to the Kentucky Horse Park • Toyota Factory Tours • Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm • Fall Festival of the Horse • Horse Farm Tours
GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY 14 AFFORDABLE HOTELS & OVER 50 RESTAURANTS 1-75, EXITS 125, 126 & 129 15 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON
www.GeorgetownKy.com
Picturesque Downtown
• Specialty Shops • Antiques • Cafes and One-of-a-kind Restaurants • Local History Museum
Outdoor Activities • Yuko-En Japanese Friendship Garden • Golf Courses • Barn Quilt Trail • Nearby Wineries and Bourbon Distilleries • Hunting and fishing • Scenic bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, and country drives
Georgetown Tourist Information Center (minutes from the Kentucky Horse Park entrance)
399 Outlet Center Drive, Georgetown, KY • 888-863-8600 GSC-7239 Cincy Mag 1-2 Pg Apr 2014-final.indd 1
3/5/14 4:35 PM
DAYTON MAGAZINE . APRIL/MAY 2014
45
DAYTON ›› STYLE
Home is Where the Heart Is BY SAR AH HIBNER
CHALK IT UP Ever y DI Y home decorator k nows t hat t he secret to af fordable transformations is paint. Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan is a best seller at Winsom Cottage Cottage, which is run by husband and wife, Kim and Marykay Gaffney. The duo subscribes to an eclectic style of shabby chic meets new-industrial modern. Clients fall in love again with old furniture that is freshly coated with the Chalk Paint® signature powdery soft finish. Shop their curated collection of vintage and new home décor and jewelry. 93 S. Main St., Waynesville, 513-897-0667, winsomecottage.net.
PAVE THE WAY If you can’t stand the heat, get an outdoor kitchen expertly built by JB Pavers & Hardscapes. Wine and dine alfresco surrounded by beautifully styled concrete pavers and natural stone features. Business owner Jared Black says outdoor kitchens improve the value of homes and provide a space to enjoy time with loved ones. Backyards are made over with their full-service landscaping, mulching and decorative rock installation. 3372 W. National Rd, Dayton, 937-454-1145, jbmulchco.com.
PHOTO: MARK MASSA
KNOCK ON WOOD Gather family and friends around a solid hardwood kitchen or dining set from Clear Creek Amish Furniture. Made to perfection in the Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania Amish communities, these heirloom-quality pieces are handcrafted with the finest workmanship in the furniture market. Visit Clear Creek’s 8,000-square-foot showroom where store owner and furniture designer Tim Nichols helps clients customize style selections to suit their needs. 1558 East S.R. 73, Waynesville, 513-897-9669, clearcreekfurniture.org.
46
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
STEP ON IT When only the best will do, find highquality, imported, handmade oriental rugs at Mousaian Oriental Rugs. At Mousaian, which has been owned by the same family for four generat ions, you can select from a wide range of sizes, designs and colors to accommodate any decor. The rugs are mostly made of wool, which is highly durable and easy to clean. Complimentary in-home consultations and free trials prior to purchase are offered. 2419 Far Hills Ave., Dayton, 937-223-8088, mousaianrugs. com.
Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell We reinvented the dealership experience. (Starting with giving you a positive one.)
A dealership with exceptional services and amenities including service that comes to you (no charge pick-ups and drop-offs) and a variety of courtesy vehicles available for your convenience. We are happy to provide you a complimentary car wash and Pit Stop vehicle inspection during regular service department hours - no matter where you purchased your car. Our service department offers full-service Saturdays and we only recommend services that follow the Mercedes-Benz maintenance schedule to save you time and money.
Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell
EXPRESS SERVICE GUARANTEE*
Oil Change† 30 minutes or it’s FREE ($84.95 value) Introductory Special of $59.95
“A” Service 45 minutes or it’s FREE ($249.95 value) Introductory Special of $149.95
*Slightly higher for V12 and AMG® models. Pre-production vehicle shown with optional and non-US equipment. Price advertised for Service A/Service B includes all factory required components. Please refer to your maintenance booklet for the complete list of factory specified service requirements and details on the specific intervals for your vehicle’s year and model. †Applies to 1998 models and older only.
Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell
Where Above and Beyond Comes Standard.™
I-71/I-75 and Dixie Highway, Exit #188, Fort Mitchell, KY 1-800-MERCEDES 859-331-1500 www.mbfortmitchell.com
2014
BEST
Restaurants Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a lot of growth in our restaurant scene in the past several years. There are lots of great new restaurants to talk about, but there are some Dayton standards that still provide fantastic food and friendly atmospheres.
We asked our readers and social media followers, what were their favorite go-to restaurants around town? We picked the long-standing favorites that represent Dayton: hardworking and enterprising, yet familiar and comfortable. Our Best Restaurants, which range in cuisines from Italian to Chinese and from steaks to ribs, have been around for years and are distinctly Dayton.
By T he Editors 48
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
‹‹‹ Mama DiSalvo's Ristorante ››› Mama DiSalvo’s keeps Italian traditions and authentic cuisine alive by cooking all the meals from scratch. Like their recipes, the DiSalvo family comes from the Abruzzi Molise region of Italy and shares their provincial classics with the Miami Valley. “We have a variety of Italian dishes that people keep coming back for,” says Roberto DiSalvo, son of Rinaldo and Elena DiSalvo. The couple opened Mama Disalvo’s Ristorante in July 1978, and with the help of their three sons, Roberto, Rinaldo and Nicola, it has cemented itself as the premier location for Italian food in Dayton. As the head chef at Mama DiSalvo’s, Roberto features several renowned pasta entrées including linguini with pesto sauce, rigatoni alla vodka and Mama DiSalvo’s gnocchi in homemade sauce. The DiSalvo menu also caters to seafood lovers with favorites like penne ziti con salmone, cooked in Chef Roberto’s special cognac sauce. There’s also the linguini sautéed in either clam broth or marinara with calamari. Diners can top their meals off with a bottle from the extensive wine list and “buon appetite!” “It’s all cooked from Mama’s heart and soul,” says Roberto. “Everyone feels like they’re at home when they come here.” 1375 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, 937-299-5831, mammadisalvo.com.
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
49
‹‹‹ The Oakwood Club ››› Guests know the Oakwood Club venerates class and elegance once they step through the door and experience the dark decorative wood, leather booths and low light. “We’re a New York-style American steakhouse in Dayton,” says Lance Stewart, Oakwood Club owner since 1992. Lance is the son of Ray and Margie Stewart, who opened the restaurant in 1962. Since he was a teenager, Stewart saw the impact their restaurant had on family and friends celebrating monumental occasions. “We’ve always maintained this restaurant as a cornerstone of the community,” he says. “We’re such a gathering place for locals and people coming from out of town.” The well-marbled and hand-cut steaks, complimented with fresh seafood flown in daily, have made the restaurant a marquee name throughout Ohio. While the Oakwood’s dishes satisfy hungry guests, Stewart believes the restaurant’s reputation originates with the hard-working staff that keeps customers coming back. “Our success can be attributed to [the staff],” says Stewart. “We’ve hardly had any turnover and the people here have been here a very long time. They know what this place means to the customers.” 2 4 1 4 F a r Hi l l s Av e ., D a y t on , 9 37- 29 3 - 69 7 3 , theoakwoodclub.com.
In the heart of historic downtown Miamisburg, Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro has a large moose head over the bar. But it’s not the moose head that attracts patrons, it’s the award-winning slow-cooked ribs and signature barbecue sauce, dubbed “Q Sauce.” The Lyons family opened Bullwinkle’s in 1986 by and it quickly became one of Dayton’s most popular restaurants. John Forman bought it eight years ago and decided not to change the recipe for Bullwinkle’s slow-cooked ribs and barbecue sauce. But Bullwinkle’s is more than just a barbecue ribs joint and includes steaks, seafood, salads and burgers. “We have something for everyone,” he says. Bullwinkle’s introduced a new menu a few months back with items such as the Pulled Chicken Chopped Salad and the Avocado Turkey Burger. Forman is also making changes upstairs, expanding the dining room by including a formerly unused space. Bullwinkle’s is also a great place to unwind. It recently added 10 new beer taps at the bar, increasing the number of taps to 16, and has plans to double that number this summer to keep up with the growing demand for local and regional craft brews. “We’re always changing something,” he says. 19 N. Main St., Miamisburg, 937-859-7677, bullwinklestophatbistro.com.
50
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
PHOTO BY GARY HARTMAN DESIGN
‹‹‹ Bullwinkle's Top Hat Bistro ›››
LeDoux’s Restaurant and Bar
Louisiana native Don LeDoux holds one philosophy when it comes to Cajun food: “It’s all about simplicit y,” says the LeDoux’s Restaurant and Bar owner. “Cajun food consists of uncomplicated dishes.” It may be simple, but it’s far from bland. At LeDoux’s, you can find the zestiest cuisine north of the Gulf Shore. The menu has an eclectic mix of southern favorites, including coastal treasures like shrimp, gator, catfish and oysters. The Bayou Trash captures the essence of Louisiana cooking with a mix of seafood and sausage in a blackened sauce accompanied by red beans and rice. “Cajuns are very resourceful with their food and you can [pretty much] make anything you can cook with rice,” says LeDoux, who recommends the jambalaya for anyone looking to test his or her spice boundaries. This bayou-staple consists of of shrimp, crawfish, onion, green pepper, sausage and an assortment of spices. It also has a reputation for clearing sinuses. While your taste buds soak in the flavorfilled dishes, you might confuse the Miami Valley for Bourbon Street. LeDoux’s also has nightly happy hour and drink specials, as well as a Friday and Saturday night DJ starting at 10 p.m. 118 W. Main St., Troy, 937-552-9347, ledouxsrestaurant.com.
The Buckhorn Tavern
Barbecue is the ultimate American cuisine and The Buckhorn Tavern holds the area’s title for being the best in the Miami Valley. The restaurant’s slow-roasted fall-offthe-bone ribs are slathered in a tangy vinegar-based barbecue sauce that keeps customers and critics raving. “That’s our marquee dish that people know us for,” says Manager Aaron Fields. But it’s not the only dish Buckhorn does well. “We have a lot of comfort food that you can’t find anywhere else.” For 33 years, the Tavern has served homestyle favorites like liver and onions, cabbage rolls and Kentucky hot browns. The menu also features classic seafood, steak and chicken entrees. Like the name might suggest, the Tavern has a rustic décor with deer antlers serving as chandeliers and tables and booths consisting of dark wood. It’s not all country cooking, though. The
tavern also has a wine list with more than 100 bottles, many of which come from Napa Valley, as well as several local brews on tap for beer lovers. “The bar is one the main focal points of our restaurant,” says Fields. 8800 Meeker Road, Dayton, 937-890-3261, buckhorntavern.biz.
The Paragon Supper Club
The Paragon's sophistication and class attracts dinner guests on any evening. Since 1978, the dinner club has provided an enchanting and classic ambiance. Their selection of steaks and chops features excellent cuts of tender beef and pork, including Paragon’s twin filets. The dish has two three-ounce bacon-wrapped filets accompanied by crabmeat, artichoke hearts and fresh béarnaise. After indulging in a Paragon entrée, diners can take a peek at the dessert menu for a finishing touch. The acclaimed Paragon Supreme includes Crème de Cacao, Chocolate mint liqueur, peanut butter and ice cream. For the finishing touch, check out the Pecan Fudge Ball. This Paragon classic comes with Haagen-Dazs ice cream and toasted pecans smothered in fudge sauce. 797 Mi ami sburg- C ent e r vill e R d ., Washington Township, 937-433-1234, theparagonsupperclub.com.
Archer’s Tavern
More than 200 years ago Archer’s Tavern was Centerville’s gathering spot. Owner John Archer was the post master, local officials met there and, according to legend, famous figures such as General William Henry Harrison, the future 9th U.S. President, stopped in when passing through town. John Archer’s original log cabin is gone, but three long-time friends have tried to recapture that same community spirit in the new Archer’s Tavern, located not far from the original. “We wanted to create the type of place where you want to come in two or three times a week,” says Dan Apolito, who teamed up with Mike Fullenkamp and Scott Dorsten to open Archer’s almost four years ago. Archer’s is an American-style tavern featuring a variety of pizzas, burgers and wings. The wing sauces are made especially for Archer’s by locally-owned Crazy Uncle Jester’s and the meat comes from Zink’s Meat Market down the street. Archer’s desserts, particularly its cheesecakes, bread puddings and cupcakes have
drawn raves. As part of its community focus, Archer’s offers a restaurant takeover program to help local nonprofits raise funds. Participating organizations spread the word and their volunteers supplement Archer’s staff on the selected date. Archer’s donates 10 percent of sales during the takeover to the organization. “We had one group raise $2,000 in a single night,” says Apolito. 9496 Dayton-Lebanon Pike, Centerville, 937-401-1015, archerstavern.com.
F resh g r illed tuna at Jay 's Sea food
Jay’s Seafood
Jay’s has established itself as a premier destination for seafood. From the Atlantic to Pacific coasts, Jay’s flies in the tastiest saltwater creatures. It’s a culinary tradition that’s served seafood enthusiasts well. For an opening dish, try the Asian crab cakes marinated in lemon ginger and panfriend with shallots. It’s accompanied with Asian coleslaw and drizzled with Japanese vinaigrette dressing. Jay’s also has a variety of salmon selections, including the marinated cedar plank salmon. With pineapple, soy and spices, it creates a moist and delicious fish that will make anyone salivate. Their fresh tuna is cooked rare and served with grilled vegetables with a side of wasabi and two of Jay’s signature side dishes. If the seafood’s not enough, maybe dining in a building that dates back to 1850 will be. With a 5,400-pound Honduran Mahogany bar serving as the restaurant centerpiece, dinner guests can have a drink where Buffalo Bill Cody and John Dillinger once bellied up. 225 E. Sixth St., Dayton, 937-222-2892, jays.com. DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
51
China Cot tage
If you’re looking for authentic Chinese cuisine, you don’t have to go further than China Cottage, which has four locations in the Dayton area. Aside from the usual items like Mu Shu Pork, Kung Pao Beef and Szechuan Chicken featured in every Chinese restaurant, China Cottage offers a traditional Chinese menu aimed at Chinese natives. It features dishes such as Mei Cai Kou Rou (steamed pork belly and mustard greens) and Niu Nan Bao (a stewed beef dish). Tiger Wong started China Cottage with his brother Wen at a single location on Wilmington Pike in Kettering. He did this in 1987 after emigrating from his native country of Taiwan. “My brother and I felt there was much more to Chinese cuisine than what other restaurants were serving,” he says. “So we came up with the idea of building a separate Chinese menu. We introduced a lot of different dishes to the area.” While the sauces and preparation are similar to what most Americans view as Chinese cuisine, the ingredients are much simpler, according to Wong. Despite the variety, Wong says that the American-Chinese items on the menu— particularly the Rock Salt Prawns and Spicy Mala Chicken—remain the most popular. Each China Cottage location offers dinein and carryout service. The chain also offers catering. Dayton, various locations, chinacottagerestaurant.com.
52
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
Tavernet te Inn
For years, the Tavernette Inn in Medway was the place to go for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. This has been less so with time because of the growth of chain restaurants and changing highway traffic patterns. Owner Lawren Williams, who bought the restaurant a couple years ago, is now trying to restore the Tavernette’s prominence by maintaining its reputation for fine food and service and by adding new features like craft beer and expanded hours. The restaurant, which is reaching its 80th anniversary, gives the effect of stepping back in time with its turquoise booths, orange vinyl chairs, and extensive collection of old toys, toiletry tins and other vintage wall items on display. One of Tavernette’s long-time features was its complimentary relish tray with cottage cheese, pickles and sauerkraut served to guests when they were seated. The relish tray is still there, but it is now a $2.99 appetizer. “Tastes have changed. So instead we offer it as an option,” says Williams, who grew up in Fairborn and used to go to the Tavernette with his parents. The Tavernette still features its hand-cut steaks, fresh walleye, frog legs and its own sweet-and-sour salad dressing. And to be more family-friendly, kids eat for free when their parents purchase a meal. Although the Tavernette hasn’t been the go-to place for special occasions for a while, it has stood the test of time. “We’re the kind of restaurant where you can order a craft beer or a Grasshopper or Brandy Alexander. We still know how to mix those,” says Williams. 111 W. Main St., Medway, 937-849-0423.
The Amber Rose
Located northeast of downtown in Old North Dayton, the Amber Rose has been in business roughly 24 years, but its roots go much deeper. The Amber Rose is housed in a 104-year-old former general store in what was the heart of the city’s East European community. Specializing in the enthic fare of the Germans, Poles, Hungarians and Lithuanians who moved here more than a century ago, the menu features traditional items such as cabbage rolls, pierogis, virtinai (meat dumplings), and some new twists on traditional favorites like the Hunter Schnitzel, a pretzel-encrusted pork loin. Dayton native Joe Castellano, who bought the restaurant 14 years ago from original owner Elinor Sluzas, says Amber Rose remains popular because of its distinctiveness, featuring “things you don’t see everywhere.” Elinor Sluzas retired about 10 years ago, but her recipes are still on the menu. One example is her signature turtle soup made from scratch with freshwater turtle. Castellano says Amber Rose’s niche menu is popular with both young families and older residents. “The other night we had a 94-year-old lady in who remembered buying candy here when this was a general store,” he says. If cabbage and schnitzel isn’t your thing, the Amber Rose has a popular catering business on- or off-site featuring pastas, baked ham, chicken cordon bleu, seafood, prime rib, and other choices. 1400 Valley St., Dayton, 937-228-2511, theamberrose.com.
P R E PA R I N G F O R
Fuyao A global automotive supplier brings a much-needed boost to workforce development. BY J A M I E K E N N Y
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
53
"It’s an exciting time to watch manufacturing grow again.”
A
major global automotive supplier is coming to Dayton and will breathe new life into the former General Motors (GM) assembly plant, reaffirming Ohio’s dominance in the automotive industry. In January of this year, Gov. John R. Kasich announced that a major global automotive supplier, Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co. Ltd., would build its first North American automotive glass manufacturing facility in Moraine, a $200 million investment, creating approximately 800 new jobs over the next three years. It’s a win for Ohio, but even more importantly, this new company will have a positive impact on the local community from many perspectives.
54
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
—Michael Davis, economic development director, City of Moraine.
“Not only are we glad that Fuyao selected this Montgomery County location, but this is going to help bolster a community that has been hit hard by the loss of GM and other companies,” says David Burrows, vice president of development for the Dayton Development Coalition. “We believe that this organization will help revitalize the community, from the 800 people they will hire to the cascading effect of the investment to local businesses. Many people and organizations are working together to make this a success.”
DAYTON TEAMWORK STRIKES AGAIN Effective collaboration has been the key from the beginning. The city of Moraine, The Job Center and the Dayton Coalition
worked in conjunction with the State of Ohio to bring Fuyao to the area. “The new JobsOhio structure that Gov. Kasich put into place recently to privatize development work on projects like these opened the door to proceed at the speed of business without the bureaucracy of the government,” says Burrows. “Once we knew Fuyao was interested in this property, we were able to put preliminary packages together in a week which would have normally taken several weeks or even months to put together.” This fast response definitely put Ohio at the top of the prospect list in 2013. According to Burrows, the GM plant made the list of locations to visit even though Fuyao was originally looking for a green field where
“If the employer is engaged and willing to work with us, we can identify the education, skills and training required for today’s workforce and make that happen. And that means we all succeed.” —Deb Norris, vice president of Workforce Development and Corporate Services for Sinclair Community College
Fuyao into the community makes this an especially successful endeavor.” The top people at Fuyao are fantastic,says Burrows. “They are very smart and respectful business leaders who are mindful that this was a shuttered facility that hurt the community when it closed. They are excited to be a good corporate citizen who can now help a lot of those same people,” he says.
READY FOR ACTION
they could build a new facility. Once Fuyao saw the existing plant, they realized that they could save money by using many of the building and site attributes that were already in place, and they also liked the surrounding community. Fuyao has a rich history of giving and Burrows believes it will be an outstanding community citizen. “Fuyao Chairman and Founder Cao Dewang is one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and has been named China’s most generous philanthropist four times by China’s Hurun Report,” says Burrows. “It is important for people to understand what the impact of being a good corporate citizen could have on our community. Bringing a company and leadership like
Moraine stands to benefit most from the company establishing its headquarters within the city limits. However, according to Michael Davis, Moraine’s economic development director, this will also be a boost to Dayton’s overall manufacturing heritage. “While we are excited about this opportunity, this is also a victory for manufacturing companies throughout our region. This is a new facility with new technology and Fuyao will be able to pull from a broad geographic area to meet its hiring needs,” says Davis. “I believe that businesses throughout the region will pick up steam as a result of this contract. It’s an exciting time to watch manufacturing grow again.” Fuyao is expected to hire roughly 800 workers, which will be a boost to the local workforce. According to Deb Norris, vice president of Workforce Development and Corporate Services for Sinclair Community College, the Dayton area is well-positioned to fill these jobs now and to keep the pipeline full for future opportunities. “A company’s largest investment today should be in human capital,” says Norris. “In the past five to seven years, employee
talent and investment [have] taken on a greater importance because there is more of a demand for increased skills due to technology.” There are fewer jobs in manufacturing in the current economy, and the new jobs being created require a higher skill level. The manufacturers who are going to succeed must have access to employees who have learned that by investing in themselves through education and training, they are investing in their own future success. ”Manufacturing is still the number one job provider in the Dayton region, even though many production jobs have been outsourced to Mexico or overseas,” adds Norris. “Today, companies have to innovate to determine how they can produce more, and often that comes from quality management and process improvement." Norris believes that Dayton has a wonderful opportunity to transform itself by relying on its strong heritage of innovation to continually provide the talent pool and human capital that Fuyao and other businesses need to build the products and services they offer. “This is a complex issue, but in Dayton, we believe workforce development is a team sport,” she says. She also adds that the area is very fortunate to have many resources that come together often to determine the best ways to offer programs and find solutions that assist in aligning overall workforce needs in our region. “If the employer is engaged and willing to work with us, we can identify the education, skills and training required for today’s workforce and make that happen,” says Norris. “And that means we all succeed.” Q
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
55
BREAKING the mold
{ { Serial entrepreneur Patrick Hood brings a “West Coast attitude” to the Midwest, and he’d rather do it here than anywhere else. By Val Hunt Beerbower
P
atrick Hood isn’t afraid of chemic a l r e ac t ion s . T he fou nder of C or ne r s t one R e s e a r c h G r ou p also doesn’t settle for expected results, both in the emerging technologies he helps create and the new businesses that spring from those developments. Hood, a transplant to the Dayton region from the technological shores of Silicon Valley, launched his own business that has enjoyed success for more than a decade. He's also helped many Dayton entrepreneurs realize their dream. Even though economic news often seems bleak, the truth is there are highly successful new businesses in varying stages of development all around the Miami Valley. “The Midwest is a fantastic place for new businesses,” says Hood. “People still know how to work in this part of the world! Dayton especially.” Perhaps it’s his outside influence that gives Hood his positive perspective on Dayton’s entrepreneurial scene. Regardless, Hood’s practically cavalier pursuit of new
56
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
business ventures has given him a reputation as a “serial entrepreneur,” helping countless Dayton-area residents achieve their goals of leading a successful business. After graduating from the University of California Davis, Hood started working for an applied research facility where he participated in projects for various federal agencies. “I was living in Silicon Valley during the very heyday of entrepreneurs bootstrapping themselves to new ventures,” says Hood. “It was hard not to get the ‘entrepreneur itch’ when you’re living in that region.” Hood was inspired and had started the process of raising capital to launch his concept when he received an offer from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Realizing this was an opportunity to understand his target audience from the inside out, Hood decided to take them up on their offer and move to the Midwest. “If you’re going to make burgers, who better to learn from than by working in
the burger shop?” says Hood. After spending some time at Wright-Patt, Hood realized he had the building blocks for his own business. He simply needed a strong impetus. And for Hood, time was of the essence. “Projects take a long time to launch in the military,” he says. “A long lead time can mean the death of a project.” Once Hood amassed enough income to venture into the world of the small business owner, he quit his full-time job at WrightPatt. His years of research and on-the-job data collection seemed to pay off. “I had about nine months’ savings in the bank. I set up an office in my basement and I just started writing proposal after proposal,” Hood says. “My first year, I got one program, then in January, I got three more. [In] my second year of business, I was at about a half million dollars. From there, I kept up my proposal-writing pace, and we grew at a rate of about 40 percent over the next 10 to 12 years.”
{ { Being an entrepreneur is all about creating things out of nothing. There are other ways to make money with a lot less risk. But if you want to create something, if you want to make a rewarding place where people like working with you, that’s where it pays to take the leap. — Patrick Hood, Cornerstone Research Group
No-Oven, No-Autoclave (NONA) composite is a fast-curing manufacturing product.
TAKING BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL Rather than follow typical procedures for CRG spinoff Nona Composites’ No-Oven, No-Autoclave composite processing, which exists as its own entity now, Hood and his team took a closer look at the product itself and sought to find a way to make it work for them instead of fighting the product’s chemical reaction. In typical composite creation, heat curing is the final step. But what CRG discovered is the composite itself goes through a chemical reaction that produces heat in a matter of hours. Previously it would take much longer. When CRG observed the limitations of the infusion process, they decided to harness the power of heat produced in the chemical reaction instead of fighting the composite’s natural energy. CRG came up with a composite technology so innovative it was sought by organizations like NASA. Similarly, Hood and CRG have developed an approach to spinning off new companies by giving small business owners an opportunity to harness their own energy rather than fight it. Like his out-of-the-mold thinking that inspired quick-setting composites, Hood has been able to successfully harness the creative powers of budding entrepreneurs. CRG not only thrives as a stand-alone business but has spun off several independent companies. “CRG Industries was my first foray into spinning off a company,” Hood recalls. “It started out as a means of supplying our customers with products they needed to test their business models, but it became so
popular that it generated its own demand, so we spun it off into its own company with a functioning board. Now both facilities can interface with one another as we need to nurture new businesses.” Launching a new company isn’t a completely freewheeling process. There are specific criteria Hood says he looks for in a spin-off. “I have set of factors—about 33, in fact— that help me get a feel for the viability of the business. I’m looking for investment-grade businesses. You can’t get out and raise funds for a business that doesn’t have significant market opportunity,” says Hood. Fortunately for Hood and entrepreneur hopefuls, the Miami Valley is just as good a place to start a business as Silicon Valley, even more so if you ask Hood. “When you can create businesses that can offer the kind of excitement that you can find on [the] West and East Coasts, you’ll get a lot of people who prefer to stay near family, so that’s a benefit,” says Hood. “I can compete as a small company and get talented, hardworking employees—people that I might not be able to get if I were in San Francisco or Boston because there’s so much competition.” If there were one thing Hood could change about the place he now calls home, it would be the pervasive defeatist attitude. “Don’t ever lament not being on the coast or a big city like Chicago,” he says. “We shouldn’t try to be like someone else because we’re the best at being ourselves. You can build a company without having to watch your back. We’re different and that’s what makes us valuable.” ■
BRINGING SILICON VALLEY TO THE MIAMI VALLEY Cornerstone Research Group founder Patrick Hood shares his top tips for budding business owners: There’s no safe road. As a business owner, you won’t ever get to a point where you can just coast. You’ve got to plan, present, and repeat. Do that over and over until you’re sick of convincing people your idea will work. Rely on yourself. Don’t count on people who are relying on you to be successful. You really have to be prepared to risk a lot to accomplish your dream. You might run up some debt and your house might be on the line, but you need to make it happen. Cash is king. Many ideas will die of a cash-star ved death waiting on investors to save them. Then competition moves in and takes your product, your idea, because you stalled. Stay true to you. Personal and business ethics are paramount to long-term survival. Your relationships are going to pull you through the bad times.
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
57
58
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
Rolling Out the Welcome Mat Clark State’s new president hopes for a slam dunk. By Tracy Staley
To understand Jo Alice Blondin, first know this: she is a fervid college basketball fan. She lists her favorite teams as Purdue, Butler and Ohio State, in that order. She rarely makes a speech without quoting basketball player and coach John Wooden, whose ethical leadership she has long admired. She doesn’t consider herself an athlete, but she’s fascinated by the strategy of sports and coaching and sees the parallels of those strategies to leading a college. “I find myself in meetings and talking to folks using sports metaphors,” says Blondin. “I try not to overdo it. I think about strategy and how it’s used in basketball, although I miss the 45-second shot clock. I would like a little more time.” DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
59
And she needs time. Blondin has an aggressive agenda for Clark State, where she became president in July. She’s diving in to keep the Springfield community college, which serves students in Clark, Logan, Champaign, and Greene counties, a pipeline of educated graduates for the region. “Listening. That’s what I have been doing for the past eight months,” she says from a hotel room in Washington, D.C. where she had traveled to speak with lawmakers about higher education. Her ears are tuned to her campus, listening to the thoughts of students, faculty and staff as they go through a formal strategic planning process to set the course for the college’s future. She’s calling on industry and economic leaders to find out how the college can align itself to the workforce opportunities in the region, including a new associate’s degree program to train students to use drone technologies in agriculture. And she’s listening—and doing a bit of talking, as well—to legislators to let them know how important financial aid funding is for Clark State’s students. Nearly 65 percent of Clark State students get needbased Pell Grants. “The financial aid office is the admissions office,” says Blondin. “The good news is that our legislators understand the importance of the Pell Grant.”
The New Frontier: Agriculture and Manufacturing
Researching the Dayton region and Clark State, Blondin landed on an exciting possibility—using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to cull information about crops for farmers. Agriculture is a strong program at Clark State and one of its oldest. With onein-seven jobs in Ohio related to agriculture, Blondin dove in, hired a consultant, set up an advisory committee and brought shareholders to campus in January. The Ohio Board of Regents must approve the
Blondin wants to keep college affordable and to create a seamless experience for Clark State students as they navigate financial aid, registration and all the working parts of the college experience. college’s plan for an associate’s degree. Blondin hopes for an approval in August. “I knew that our ag [agriculture] program was a strong one; I knew that one of the emerging industries in the Dayton region is Unmanned Aerial Systems,” she says. “The application of UAS in agriculture is, in my opinion, a key component of regional economic development.” Students will still learn traditional agriculture practices but will also learn about UAS technology. Flying over the field, a sensor detects information about the crops below and reports detailed information back , such as what crop is low in a particular nutrient in a specific location. Students will learn to analyze the data and apply a solution, adds Blondin. The program will pull from Clark State’s strengths in agriculture, information technology and cyber security. “Farmers right now know as much IT as almost any area,” she says. “An ag program isn’t cheap, and then you add the high level of technology,” she says. The college is currently applying for grants to fund the new degree. Along with agriculture, Blondin is interested in continuing a strong manufacturing training component at Clark State. "I’m a firm believer that insourcing is happening,” she says. “Training people for those jobs is key to the future of our area. Not just because it is part of the history of the Dayton region, but because those jobs
Her ears are tuned to her campus, listening to the thoughts of students, faculty and staff as they go through a formal strategic planning process to set the course for the college’s future. 60
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
are and will come back.”
A Midwest Homecoming
Coming to Ohio is a return to the Midwest for Blondin, who was born and raised in Carmel, Ind., along with her identical twin sister, Jill Blondin, who is a college professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Blondin wants to keep college affordable and to create a seamless experience for Clark State students as they navigate financial aid, registration and all the working parts of the college experience. She wants to “put out a welcome mat instead of road blocks.” At her former job, as Chancellor of Arkansas Tech University – Ozark Campus, she worked on similar student retention and success issues, and increased enrollment by 600 percent. In fact, she first became interested in the mechanics of higher education as a sophomore at Purdue University. Active in student government, she began to wonder how and why things worked the way they did. It was then she decided to pursue a career in higher education administration. She earned a Ph.D. in 18th Century British Literature, taught English and moved into leadership positions. A voracious reader, Blondin finishes two books a week, although these days she chooses mysteries over the reading lists of her Ph.D. She did step back into the classroom this semester to teach a lesson on Frankenstein. Her passion for community colleges came as a graduate student at Arizona State University as part of a program called “Preparing Future Faculty.” She had to visit a community college and she fell in love with the culture. She wants all students to have that same feeling of belonging and opportunity she did. “I never wanted to leave college,” admits Blondin. But when she does leave campus, she “fires up the Kindle and turns on ESPN” to relax, and picks up a little strategy along the way. ■
DAYTON ›› HOME
ALL IN THE FAMILY Family-owned Kitchens by Design has helped Daytonians spruce up their homes for nearly 20 years. By Julie Bethlenfalvy
E
very remodel is different. Whether it’s a kitchen or a bathroom, a remodeler should consider your tastes and spaces. “You think a kitchen is a kitchen, but each one is different,” says Cathy Johnson, who co-owns Kitchens by Design in Kettering with her husband, Miles. “We’re very hands on; we work with you from the beginning of your project to the end. We do everything in house.”
62
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
The Dayton natives have been married for 42 years and opened the first Kitchens by Design store in 1995, but Miles has been remodeling for 30 years. “We’re partners in everything,” says Cathy. Cathy runs the administrative aspects of the shop, but Miles and Jarrod Shell do the design. “If I learn the design part, then he [Miles] doesn’t need to be here,” laughs Cathy. “We tag team on selling and we work together
Miles Johnson with designer Jarrod Shell
Co-owners Cathy and Miles Johnson on all the selections. Customer interaction is our favorite part [of the job].” If you stop by the store, try some of Geneva Bowman’s cooking. Bowman, Cathy’s mom, is always cooking in the showroom’s full kitchen, nicknamed Jenny’s kitchen. You can also find her recipes online, like her broccoli soup. “There’s not a day that goes by where there’s not a cake or cookies,” says Cathy. “I sold a kitchen for them [Cathy and Miles] one time. I was making broccoli soup and I asked if he [the customer] wanted a bowl, and he ate that soup and looked at her [his wife] and said, ‘We’ll buy our kitchen here,' ” laughs Bowman. The family business, which now includes daughter Melissa, sells everything customers need from floor to ceiling, such as cabinets, decorative hardware, lighting, flooring, quartz and granite counter tops. Melissa, who is learning the ropes after 20 years in the medical industry, came on board as part of the company’s succession plan. “We didn’t have anything in place, except for our 10-year-old grandson who says he will run it,” says Johnson. “He’s helped lay floor. He truly loves the aspect of it. But in the meantime, Melissa is changing her career, coming into the business to learn the design aspect. “I read every trade magazine that comes in this building from front page to back, research all the things our manufacturers
send us. But we try to focus on the things that have the most longevity,” says Cathy. The Johnsons are up on the trends and they follow the ones that will stand the test of time. “Trends tend to become time dated. Some of the trends right now are wonderful, open design and more lighting: those are going to be traditional,” adds Cathy. “You don’t want to notice that the kitchen was done in the ‘90s.” Kitchens by Design is remodeling itself. They’re expanding the showroom from 1,500 square feet to 4,500 square feet so there will be more kitchens and baths. There will be a warehouse on site and more convenient parking. And once the renovations are complete, Cathy intends on bringing in a Keurig because even now, there’s always a pot of coffee brewing at the store to make guests feel at home. Someone in the family is at the store almost every day. It’s become almost a second home with plenty of memories. “I have pictures of her [Melissa’s] oldest daughter, who’s [now] 15, sitting in one of the sinks. She was so small it looked like a bathtub,” says Cathy. “When our daughterin-law found out she was expecting, we actually held her baby shower here in the shop. Our grandchildren have been part of commercials. It’s such a part of our family and tradition.” Cathy also credits Miles for the company’s success. “He’s very good. There’s
almost nothing that he can’t fix or repair. I’ve never paid a repairman, but I have paid a lawn man. He hates yard work,” laughs Cathy. Although Miles didn’t go to school for design, he had a lot of on-the-job training as a subcontractor for a lumber company. “They had these displays they wanted to put in and asked him. It snowballed from there,” says Cathy. “It was one of those things where he had these innate talents. He truly has a God-given talent.” Kitchens by Design will work with you from start to finish, including plumbing and electric. They also have a 3-D design system that can show you a rendering of your kitchen throughout the design process, which is helpful because there’s a lot to choose from. Most of Kitchens by Design’s suppliers are local or at least based in the United States. Medallion Cabinetry, from Minnesota, is the biggest brand name that Kitchens by Design sells. It includes 195 color and stain combinations, about 40 different door styles and three different lines of cabinets from good to better to best. “It’s a lot to look through, but that’s where we help and guide them. That’s why we like to go to their home,” says Cathy. “If you have a light-stained baseboard, you may or may not go with a dark cabinetry. We try to make sure that everything works together. We want your home to flow.” ■ DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
63
SUCCESS
A
s the Dayton Dragons prepare for their 15th season at Fifth Third Field, their list of past accomplishments is staggering. The Dragons' awards, honors and milestones have brought national recognition to the Dayton area, and the success of the franchise has remained consistent, at a level that even the most optimistic observer could not have foreseen when the franchise began operating in 2000. The Dragons have the longest streak of consecutive sold-out games in the history of North American sports. The streak stands at 983 entering the 2014 season. “The Dayton Dragons epitomize how a Minor League Baseball club should operate,” says Pat O’Conner, the president of Minor League Baseball. “They have become a cornerstone for the community.”
64
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
Fans at Fifth Third Field have seen 63 Dragons players advance to play in the Major Leagues, most of them with the Dragons big league affiliate, the Cincinnati Reds. The list of players includes: former National League Most Valuable Player, Joey Votto; all-stars Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn; and standouts Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto and Todd Frazier. The Dragons have also received numerous honors that have gained recognition throughout the world of sports. They were the first Minor League team in any sport to be selected as a finalist for the prestigious SportsBusiness Journal “Team of the Year” award in 2012. They shared the honor of being a finalist with four major league clubs: the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball, the Boston Bruins of the National
BY TOM NICHOLS
Hockey League, Stewart-Haas Racing of NASCAR, and Sporting Kansas City of the Major League Soccer. Perhaps the largest contributing factors to the Dragons success over their history have been the club’s focus on family entertainment and customer service. Several entertainers are part of the nightly scene at Fifth Third Field including the Dragons 'two primary mascots, Heater and Gem. The Dragons' legendary entertainment group, the Green Team, orchestrates skits, contests and sing-a-longs at every Dragons home game. “We have 70 opportunities each season to provide a night of entertainment to our fans,” says Robert Murphy, Dragons president. “Whether you’re attending a game on a Tuesday night in April or a Saturday
evening in July, our commitment to our fans is the same. At every Dragons game, we work hard to provide an upbeat, fun atmosphere that will appeal to everyone, whether you’re a huge baseball fan or simply want to enjoy a night with the family.” The Dragons’ customer service is visible on game nights inside the ballpark, but it also includes the entire ticket-buying experience. Every season, the Dragons have high annual renewal rates with their season ticket holders. Every season ticket comes with a special commemorative collector’s item and renewal notices even come with a special gift. For the past 14 years, fans with season tickets have received customized tins and wooden boxes, bobbleheads, blankets and hats. “We pride ourselves on our customer
service,” says Eric Deutsch, Dragons executive vice president. “Our efforts are fanatical…Disney-esque.” After attending Disney training seminars in 1998 and 1999, the Dragons created “Dragons University” in their first season. Every year, the 36 full-time employees and more than 500 seasonal game-day employees attend training sessions that teach them how to entertain and service the almost 600,000 fans Fifth Third Field hosts each season. Deutsch, like Murphy, has helped oversee the Dragons operation since even before the first game was played on April 27, 2000. They’ve maintained a successful product as the seasons have gone by. “We emphasize new ideas, never becoming complacent,” says Deutsch. “But
our principles never change. Fun family entertainment, affordable products, unsurpassed customer service, providing our business partners with a unique marketing opportunity, and community involvement.” The Dragons’ sell-out streak is due to the community’s involvement and corporate support. Many of their sponsors and season ticket holders have been with the Dragons since the beginning. “No community has done what our community has done over the past 14 years,” says Deutsch. “That support is critical to our success and important in keeping the stadium sold out and vibrant for our region.” Q DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
65
KET TERING’S
NEW CLASS The medical college has refined its curriculum for graduates hitting a competitive job market. By Danny Restivo
T
he aftershock of the Affordable Care Act continues to cause tremors throughout the medical field. While the law’s reverberations may have caught some off guard, hospitals and networks had begun realigning their staff and streamlining care well before President Obama signed the bill into law. “Health care was already going in that direction,” says William Nelson, dean of academic affairs at Kettering College. Nelson and his faculty at Kettering have implemented courses to suit all students heading into the changing health-care industry. “We’ve always looked at the needs and we’ve always tried to stay in tandem with what employer’s needs and what patients need,” he says. Since 1967, Christian-based Kettering College has taught and
66
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
trained health-care professionals to meet patient’s evolving needs. Nearly 50 years later, Kettering continues the tradition of marrying curriculum with patient necessity. While Kettering has a wide variety of course offerings, roughly a third of their 900 students are enrolled in the nursing program. The effects of the ACA will have a huge impact on nurses, which means Kettering programs must fall in line with hospital needs. “Nurses now have to become thinkers and not just doers,” says Cherie Rebar, Kettering College’s nursing program director. “They have to synthesize information to make a multitude of complex judgments, instead of just doing or carrying out a task.” In the past, nurses often carried out the doctor’s directives. Now Rebar sees an environment where nurses will be asked to understand symptoms and treat patients accordingly.
In an effort that replaces a Kettering also plans to intro“trade school for nurses” image, duce an occupational therapy Kettering has expanded nursing doctorate degree. Announced program to three years. in February, the college submitStudents who graduate from ted a candidacy application to the program in 2014 will be the Accreditations Council of OcWilliam Nelson Cherie Rebar last group to receive an associate's cupation Therapy Education, degree. Kettering now requires dean of academic affairs director, nursing program the Ohio Board of Regents, the a three-year baccalaureate proHigher Learning Commission gram for all nursing students. once reserved for physicians. Along with and the Adventist Accrediting Nora Basanez, a 21-year-old nursing stu- hands-on lab sessions, health fairs, and Association. dent at Kettering, plans on graduating in shadowing physicians, the nursing proPending all approvals, Kettering College July. Her interest in helping people, along gram stresses a team environment where hopes to have the new program in place with her brother’s acceptance to medical nurses learn from each other. by fall 2014 semester. school at Vanderbilt University, inspired “Cutting down on employee numbers Currently, there are only five accredited her to enroll in Kettering. She hopes her effects high-quality care but I think collab- entry-level occupational therapy programs Kettering education will set her apart from orative care is great and I legitimately see in the United States and only one other other nursing graduates when she hits the it working for everybody,” says Basanez. in Ohio. Based on a feasibility study, as job market this summer. Nelson also envisions an uptick of stu- well as numbers from the U.S. Bureau of “Having a bachelor’s in nursing is vitally dents in Kettering’s master of physician Labor and Statistics, Kettering expects to important,” says Basanez, “The way they put assistant studies program. As doctor and see occupational therapy positions grow it is ‘we are giving you an advantage over nurse responsibilities expand, Nelson sees by more than 20 percent by 2020. the people who just have an associate's.’” physicians becoming an important part of “A lot of the need stems from people Kettering’s baccalaureate curriculum the treatment process. retiring and lifestyle needs,” says Wilson. draws from a variety of academic disciplines “Physician assistants will have a lot The new program will run eight semesters including statistics, psychiatry, public more latitude than what they did before,” over 32 months, while all applicants will health research and faith-based electives. says Nelson. “A lot of [physician assistants] be required to have a bachelor’s degree in “There was a time when associate de- will be involved in the initial analysis of a a related field. grees would be more than enough, but patient, dealing with families, while under The introduction of the doctoral program the complexion of nursing has changed,” the supervision of a physician. Nurses and is the latest effort to stay at the forefront of says Rebar. “Nurses are now being asked physicians' assistants are experiencing a medical education and treatment. to do more than ever.” lot of the health care law's new changes, “Everyone needs to be prepared for a The new curriculum requires students and we’re trying to make sure our pro- diverse set of patient needs,” says Rebar. Q to read and understand journal articles grams are in align with those trends.” DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
67
DAYTON ›› GARDENS & NATURE
Natural Resources Abound Greater Dayton offers a natural environment that is priceless and rare from parks and picnic areas to miles and miles of trails to explore. Photo by Carol Siyahi HIcks
PHOTO: CAROL SIYAHI HICKS
BY CAROL SIYAHI HICKS
G
reater Day ton’s env ironmenta l resources are abundant. Traveling around Dayton and its suburbs, you’ll find an area that offers remarkable natural beauty. Five Rivers MetroParks provides an array of park experiences: Deeds Point’s stunning downtown views, the horticultural artwork of Wegerzyn Gardens’ formal plantings and Aullwood Garden MetroPark’s nationally recognized historic estate garden with its thousands of Virginia bluebells that cover the hillsides in late April. If you’ve been to these parks or to Cox Arboretum’s spring floral displays, RiverScape’s fountains, gardens and river attractions, or Sugarcreek MetroPark’s mature forests, you’ve sampled some of the variety that Five Rivers offers. And that’s just for starters. It’s so easy to go to Glen Helen, Clifton Gorge—which is one of the most spec-
68
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
tacular dolomite and limestone gorges in Ohio—and Beaver Creek Wetlands’ numerous marsh and prairie trails without worrying about traffic or the driving distances that such destinations elsewhere often require. Consider the availability of rivers and lakes, their attractiveness for relaxation and for boating, fishing and other water sports. Take a drive through the lush farmlands and countryside. We have bike trails that run through urban and rural areas. The bikeways' extensiveness, attractiveness and accessibilty rival anything I've seen anywhere in this country. Montgomery County offers more than 70 miles of paved trails. To the east, Greene County lies at the heart of the Midwest’s rail trail biking, with more than 60 miles over five, major paved trails. With neighborhood parks and picnic areas dotting the region, there’s plenty to see and do. And on street after street, residents have planted their own gardens, which many created lovingly and with considerable skill. The gardens add to a neighborhood walk or drive with their appealing artistry. Environmental resources such as these not only enhance communities and their
quality of life, but also serve to define them. Imagine if citizens over the decades had not labored to see these offerings created and protected. I’ve lived in and traveled to many places over the years, and I’ve always looked for what the local areas offered in the great outdoors, whether it’s hiking, biking, skiing, running, backpacking, boating or gardening. My experience tells me that Greater Dayton offers a natural environment that is priceless and rare. Until the next issue, enjoy spring unfolding around Greater Dayton and know that we are blessed to be in such a welcoming natural environment, just waiting to be discovered and explored. Q
Since 1970, Carol Siyahi Hicks has lived and worked in Greater Dayton as a journalist, national literary magazine editor, communications and marketing professional, author, and most recently at The Dayton Foundation as the vice president of public relations and marketing. Her book, Gifts from the Garden, has a local setting and is a philosophical and joyful look at gardening, nature and life.
75 on BY THE EDITORS
L
inked by 50 miles of concrete known as Interstate 75, the cities of Cincinnati and Dayton are continuing to grow into one of the nation’s largest metroplexes. The 19-county region of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana comprise about 3 million people, making it the 13th largest U.S. population center and one of only four regions with two top-100 commercial airports. The region’s diverse economy is home to a growing number of hightech firms and leading Fortune 500 companies such as Kroger Co., Procter & Gamble Co. and AK Steel. Key industries include advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, consumer marketing and aerospace technology. Dayton’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is one of Ohio’s largest employers and the focal point for Air Force logistics and procurement. The process of knitting Dayton and Cincinnati together continued over the last year with several notable developments. Among them: • Evendale-based GE Aviation’s new $53 million electrical power research and development center on the University of Dayton campus, which is expected to employ up to 200. • Liberty Town Center, a $400 million residential, commercial and retail center in Liberty Township, is slated to break ground this year. • And the growth of the I-75 health-care highway continues with expansion plans by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Liberty campus, West Chester Hospital and Butler Tech’s health technology campus at Cincinnati–Dayton Road.
These companies, organizations and individuals who are having a positive impact on their communities and have a vision for the region’s growth will be recognized at a networking event, April 8 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Miami Valley Gaming and Racing, along I-75 outside Monroe. Presented by Cincy and Day ton Magazines, this event is sponsored by Humana, Flagel Huber Flagel, Day ton Commercial Realty, Stock Yards Bank, Butler Tech, Thompson Hine and MillerCoors LLC. Go to cincymagazine.com for more information and ticket purchase.
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
69
75 on All honorees are listed first by category, then by alphabetical order according to name. Arts & Entertainment
3 Jack Dominic, retired Executive Vice
President and station manager of WCETTV, the new executive director of The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester.
in North American sports: 983 games and counting going into the 2014 season.
4 Mark Hecquet, Executive Director,
Butler County Visitors Bureau, named president of the Ohio Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus in November.
5 Brady Kress, President & CEO, Dayton History, the nonprofit charged with preserving Montgomery County’s past including Carillon Historical Park, the Archive Center, Hawthorn Hill, Patterson Homestead, Old Court House and Memorial Hall.
6 La Comedia Dinner Theater in 1 Katie Brown Blackburn, Executive
Vice President, Cincinnati Bengals, recognized by the Fritz Pollard Alliance to promote diversity and equality of job opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of National Football League.
Springboro, the region’s only dinner theater marking its 40th anniversary in 2015.
9 Don Oeters, businessman and model train fan, who developed a unique family-friendly entertainment center at EnterTRAINment Junction, which holds the world’s biggest model train layout in West Chester.
7 Douglass McDonald, President &
2 Martine Collier, President & CEO, Culture Works, the nonprofit that’s a unifying voice for Dayton culture organizations and is marking its 40th anniversary.
70
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
CEO, Cincinnati Museum Center, advocate for the museum complex housed in Cincinnati’s Union Terminal, an architectural jewel with the largest free-standing half-dome in the Western Hemisphere.
8 Robert Murphy, President, Dayton
Dragons, has led the Midwest League affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds’ to the longest consecutive home sell-out streak
10 Phil Smith, President & CEO,
Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau, spent more than 20 years in senior management of the Western & Southern Tennis Open and is a member of the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame.
11 Tom West, General Manager,
Heatherwoode Golf Course, a championship public golf course in Springboro.
We present the options. The choice is yours.
Every day, Humana guides millions of members toward better health and wellness. Keep the cost of healthcare down with networks of providers, a wide range of wellness programs, and online comparison tools. Only an experienced leader can help you find your way through the confusing landscape of healthcare. Humana can show you the way. For more information, contact your Humana representative at 1-800-777-6940 or visit Humana.com. Medical
GCA04L0HH 1111
Dental
Vision
Disability
Life
Workplace Voluntary Benefits
Insured or offered by HumanaInsurance Company, HumanaDental Insurance Company, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Kanawha Insurance Company or DentiCare, Inc. (d/b/a CompBenefits).
Humana.com
75 on 12 Harry Wilks, creator of Pyramid
Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, a 335-acre sculpture park and outdoor museum, overlooking the Great Miami River in Hamilton.
Business Advocacy Organizations
14 Clay Mathile, Founder & Chairman, Aileron Foundation, Tipp Citybased nonprofit created to develop professional management skills for privately held businesses.
15 Phil Parker, President & CEO,
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, representing nearly 3,000 businesses in the Miami Valley.
Business
16 Michael Carrel, President & CEO, AtriCure Inc., leading atrial fibrillation device maker based in West Chester.
17 Carl Coburn, President, Clark
Schaefer Hackett, Dayton’s largest accounting firm.
13 Brian Carley, took over March 1 as 18 Nathan Estruth, President & CEO, President & CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the nation’s fifth largest chamber.
72
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
iMFLUX Inc., new Hamilton-based subsidiary of Procter & Gamble Co., developing new plastic processing technology
that’s expected to save P&G millions of dollars annually while creating 200 jobs in Hamilton.
19 Fabian Schmahl, President & CEO of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America Inc., in Hamilton, the automotive shock manufacturer.
20 Scott Fisher, President & CEO,
SentriLock in West Chester, owned by the National Association of Realtors and the largest supplier of electronic lockboxes to the real estate industry.
21 Tim Fogarty, CEO, West Chester
Holdings, Monroe, gloves and protective wear since 1978.
22 Filip Geeraert, CEO, Deceuninck
North America, the Belgium-based producer of vinyl window and door systems and composite applications for the building industry recently expanded capacity at its Monroe plant.
23 Marty Grunder, President & CEO, 25 Kevin Kidd and Terry Kidd, Grunder Lanscaping Co. in Miamisburg, started by Marty and his brother in 1984 to earn money for college.
Managing Partners and Account Executives, FastAPPZ LLC, brothers who run a custom mobile app developer located in West Chester Township.
27 John Larson, President & CEO, ESCORT Inc., West Chester, leading radar and laser detector maker.
28 Liberty Center, Steiner & Associ-
ates’ $400 million retail, residential and commercial development overlooking I-75 in Liberty Township. The first phase is to open in 2015.
29 Sukanya R. Madlinger, President, Kroger Co.’s Cincinnati/Dayton Division, consisting of 110 stores and more than 20,000 employees.
30 Ryan McCurley, President, Peoples First Savings Bank, Mason and Morrow, marking its 105th anniversary believed to be Mason’s oldest company.
24 Steve Hightower, President,
Hightowers Petroleum Co., in Middletown, recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as leading black-owned industrial services company..
26 Randall Kuvin, Managing Partner, Flagel Huber Flagel, Dayton-Cincinnati accounting firm which marked its 80th anniversary in 2013.
31 Joe Morgan, Owner, Joe Morgan
Honda, Monroe. The Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Reds player opened the dealership in 2010.
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
73
75 on 34 Bill O’Gara, President & CEO,
O’Gara Group Inc., a pioneer and leader in designing, engineering and manufacturing armored vehicles, acquired BAE Systems operations in West Chester.
35 Steven Petitjean, Fifth Third
Bank senior vice president and market manager.
36 John Planes, CEO, Planes Compa-
32 Pamela Morris, President & CEO,
Dayton’s CareSource, pioneered Ohio’s first mandatory Medicaid managed care program when she launched CareSource in 1989.
33 Larry Mulligan Jr., Butler-Warren Market President, First Financial Bank.
harness track that opened in December in Monroe.
39 John N. Simons Jr., President &
CEO, AdvancePierre Foods Inc., the West Chester-based sandwich maker is the region’s largest privately owned company with sales of $1.6 billion.
40 John Spoltman, manager of Honda
nies in West Chester, now doing business in Hong Kong and recipient of United Van Lines Lifetime Achievement Award.
of America Manufacturing’s Anna engine plant, who on April 1 became president of Honda Engineering North America Inc.
37 Carl Satterwhite and Scott
41 Randy Terry and Todd Terry,
Robertson, Founders and Owners of RCF Group, West Chester, 10-year-old office furniture and facilities firm. The firm also assists in creating architectural interiors.
38 Jim Simms, President & General
Manager, Miami Valley Gaming & Racing LLC, the $175 million gaming and
developers, Carriage Hill, Liberty Township’s most prestigious new home development and host of Homearama in 2013 and again this year.
42 Julia Wallace, Market Vice Presi-
dent, Cox Media Group Ohio, Dayton’s largest news organization. Includes the Dayton Daily News.
The Names You Depend On Depend On Thompson Hine
AkzoNobel Chiquita Brands International, Inc. DDR Corp. Duke Energy Eaton Corporation Energizer/Eveready Fifth Third Bank Ford Motor Company Formica Corporation Goodrich Corporation (UTC Aerospace) Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Key MeadWestvaco Corporation Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company NetJets Inc. Parker Hannifin Corporation PolyOne Corporation PPG Industries Pro Mach, Inc. R+L Carriers, Inc. Verizon Wireless
Thompson Hine
LLP
www.ThompsonHine.com ATLANTA | CINCINNATI | CLEVELAND | COLUMBUS | DAYTON | NEW YORK | WASHINGTON, D.C.
74
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
45 Keith Wren, Owner, The Cone,
West Chester ice cream stand. The family’s been supplying soft-serve ice cream for more than 40 years.
50 Mark Smith, President & CEO, Ft.
Hamilton Hospital, part of the Kettering Health Network.
Health Care
46 Deborah A. Feldman, President & CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital.
47 Dr. Kevin Joseph, President & CEO,
West Chester Hospital, embarking on a $135 million expansion, increasing to 300 beds.
43 Alex Watson, Executive Vice
President for Operations, LexisNexis in Dayton, a digital pioneer in legal and business information and one of Dayton’s largest employers.
44 Mark Welch, Owner/Director of
Operations, Bajon Salon & Spa in West Chester, voted best in Cincinnati and a Best of the North winner.
48 Char Mason, Vice President,
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Liberty Township campus, which is undergoing a $162 million expansion.
51 Carol J. Turner, President & CEO,
49 David Polunas, President & CEO,
Government, Nonprofit
Beckett Springs, privately-owned inpatient mental health treatment facility opened in 2013 at Union Centre Boulevard and Shepherd Farm Drive.
Atrium Medical Center Middletown, unit of Premier Health.
52 Patti Alderson, Chairperson, the West Chester/Liberty Community Foundation.
The road to success is easy to find... It runs right through our classrooms.
Adult Education www.butlertech.org 513•645•8200
Workforce Training DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
75
75 on 56
Jim Downton, Executive Director, Sharonville Convention Center.
57
Jonathan Granville, Executive Director, MetroParks of Butler County.
58
61
Stan Kappers, Executive Director, Mt. Pleasant Retirement Village, Monroe.
62
George Lang, President of West Chester Township trustees.
Barbara Hayde, President, The Entrepreneurs Center, Dayton.
53
Col. Cassie Barlow, Wright-Patterson Air Force base commander.
54
Judy Budi, Vice President of Residential Care, Graceworks Lutheran Services, one of Dayton’s oldest retirement care providers.
55
Mark Donaghy, Executive Director, Dayton Regional Transit Authority.
59 Rick Jones, Butler County Sheriff. 60 Mike Juengling, West Chester
Township Community Development Director.
63 Candace McGraw, CEO, Cincinnati
/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
PREMIERE ISSUE
A magazine dedicated exclusively to Dayton: Its businesses, communities, arts, entertainment and most of all its people.
AFTER THE FLOOD 100 YEARS
TODAY’S GREAT MIAMI: KEY TO ECONOMIC REVIVAL 5 RESTAURANTS CHANGING THE WAY WE FEEL ABOUT FOOD HOLLYWOOD SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON DAYTON TRAVEL GUIDE TO KENTUCKY
Visit us at WWW.THEDAYTONMAGAZINE.COM
for a complimentary subscription 76
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
67 John Schaller, CEO, Lakota Family YMCA in Liberty Township, which is planning a new $12 million branch near Union Centre Boulevard and Beckett Road in downtown West Chester.
68 Terrence Slaybaugh, Director of
Aviation, Dayton International Airport.
69 Lindsay Wiseman, President, West Chester Liberty Community Foundation, organizer of annual Shamrock Shuffle, a fund-raising race.
64 Karen Mueller, Chairperson of the Butler County United Way and Executive Vice President at Horan Associates.
65 Michael M. Parks, President,
The Dayton Foundation, a community foundation helping people in the Dayton area since 1921.
66 Jonathan Sams, Attorney and Turtlecreek Township Trustee.
Education
70 Andy Barczak, Principal, Bishop Fenwick High School in Franklin.
71 Maggie Hess, Superintendent,
73 Dr. O’dell Owens, President,
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, which opened a downtown Middletown campus.
74 Jay Scheurle, Headmaster, Miami
Warren County Career Center, Lebanon.
Valley School, an independent college preparatory school in Dayton.
72 Bill Miller, Butler Tech Superin-
75 Darren Wilkins, Principal, Spring
tendent, Hamilton, which is developing a major health technology campus at Cincinnati-Dayton Road and I-75.
Valley Academy, pre-K through 12 Seventh Day Adventist college preparatory school in Centerville. ■
LOCATION
LOCATION
LOCATION
We can nd your ideal space in the greater Dayton area
Ofce • Retail • Industrial • Warehouse • Commercial Dayton Commercial Realty Your Place for Space
937-293-1149 x112 Ric Moody
Broker/Auctioneer
ric@daytoncommericalrealty.com www.daytoncommercialrealty.com
Please scan to see available properties
Leasing • Selling • Buying • Auction Service DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
77
DAYTON ›› SCENE
2014 AAF HERMES AWARDS The Hermes/ADDY® Awards, sponsored by the Dayton Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, is the first of a three-tier national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie for recognition as the very best in their markets. The awards were given out to more than 50 winners at the Dayton Marriott in mid-February. Photos by Julia Walling
2 Accepting an award for their project Print It Forward are: Matt Flick, vice president of the School of Advertising Art; Reka Juhasz, owner of Paperreka; and Brian and Kelly Mercer, owners of Boomcrate Studios.
3 Congratulations to AAF Dayton Silver Medal winner Jayne Plazzo McDougall. McDougall joined AAF Dayton in the early 1980s and has had an active involvement on the Club Board and undertaken numerous committee engagements. Silver Medal recipients are selected by a panel of judges based on their contributions to their company, creative ability, contributions to the general advancement of advertising and contributions to the community.
1 The chapter recognized Walter Ohlmann for his 50 years at the helm of the Ohlmann Group, a fullservice marketing agency just north of downtown.
THE MIAMI VALLEY SCHOOL The Miami Valley School’s nationally recognized Immersion program is a fourweek experiential learning program in which high school students focus on a single, elected subject and study it first-hand and in-depth. The program takes students across the state, country and world giving them an opportunity to enrich their subject knowledge and connect them to different cultures and people. Immersion Open House is the closing ceremony of the annual high school program and is an opportunity for the outside community to experience what makes MVS unique from any other high school in Ohio and in the entire country.
1 (Left) Students Nathaniel Choo, Jonathan Idle, Ashley Mickens and Thomas Katai show off their drumming skills.
2 (Right) Student Lolly Buenaventura and Staff Community Service Cooridnator Paige Zorniger
78
DAYTON MAGAZINE . April/May 2014
tŚŽ ǁĂŶƚƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů͍ ŚŽŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŽĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŚŽ ĐĂŶ ŬĞĞƉ LJŽƵ ŽƵƚ͘
/ŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞ KŶĐŽůŽŐLJ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ^ŽůƵƟŽŶƐ͕ /ŶĐ͘
ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ŚŽŵĞ ŝƐ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ĚŽĐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ LJŽƵ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ŶŽƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂů͘ DĂŬĞ ŽƵƌ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ŚŽŵĞ LJŽƵƌƐ͘
dŚĞ ĐĂŶĐĞƌ ĐĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞƌƚƐ Ăƚ ĂLJƚŽŶ WŚLJƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ EĞƚǁŽƌŬ ; WEͿ ďƌŝŶŐ LJŽƵ ƚŚĞ ŶĞǁ KD ,KD ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĂŶ ŚĞůƉ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ĐĂŶĐĞƌ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ŐŝǀĞƐ ŽƵƌ ƉĂͲ ƟĞŶƚƐ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ Ϯϰͬϳ ĐĂƌĞ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ŽŶ DĞĚŝĐĂƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ ĐĂŶĐĞƌ͕ ĐĂůů ƵƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ŽƵƚ ŚŽǁ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ ďĞŶĞĮƚ ďLJ ŵŽǀŝŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ĐĂƌĞ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ŶĂƟŽŶĂůůLJ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝnjĞĚ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ĂĐĐĞƉƚ ŵŽƐƚ ŵĂũŽƌ ŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ƉůĂŶƐ͘
Ăůů ƚŽĚĂLJ͊ ϵϯϳͲϮϵϯͲϭϲϮϮ tĞ͛ƌĞ ŚĞƌĞ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵ͘
ǁǁǁ͘ĚĂLJƚŽŶƉŚLJƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ͘ĐŽŵ The project described was supported by Grant Number 1C1CMS330969-01-00 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and have not been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Leading with compassion By treating each patient like a member of our family. By collaborating and cooperating, sharing and listening. By delivering the best care available with wisdom, integrity and honor. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how the thousands of experts who make up Premier Health are leading with care.
premierhealth.com
MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL + GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL + ATRIUM MEDICAL CENTER + UPPER VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER