Heritage Festival is Sure to be Full of Fireworks

By Megan Garrison

Dayton has a few historical facts that make us truly unique – from the long history of the Marianist monks at the University of Dayton to the Wright brothers’ invention of the first flight. These stories become more than a simple tale to the people who live and work in this city; they help build the identity of Daytonians and a sense of pride in our home that comes with the heritage of the land itself, which is why we are all definitely looking forward to the Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 27th.

The Dayton Heritage Festival at Carillon Park is a chance to celebrate Dayton’s history from its founding in 1796 through present day in a one-day community festival. Carillon Park will be opened to guests to come and enjoy the patriotic flair and feeling of true celebration for the history of our grand city. The event will consist of 30 exhibit buildings that each tell a different story of Dayton’s progress and milestones. And don’t be afraid to bring your kids because they will no doubt enjoy the Kids Zone that will be filled with games and crafts.

“This our fourth year doing the Heritage Festival,” said Elise Hafenbrack, Director of Community Development with Dayton History, “It’s such an amazing day!”

Through the years the festival has added and perfected the historical atmosphere of Dayton. The festival’s exhibits are sure to be a hit for all types of audiences.  Perhaps the best part is that the docents and interpreters that help to authenticate the event are all Dayton History staff and volunteers simply sharing their love of Dayton and its history with the patrons.

“All our costumes are historically accurate,” said Hafenbrack, “Any items that the staff handle are reproductions, but the exhibit buildings themselves are filled with a wide variety of artifacts.”

While the Heritage Festival is grounded in its historical merits, history is not the only aspect of the event to be excited about. There are numerous opportunities for fun experiences from history to art to aviation.

“It is such an amazing day, with all of our 30 buildings and structures open with costumes interpreters and activities, small scale train rides, carousel rides, music in the air, Clodbuster Vintage baseball team demos with the kids, yummy food and beverages and the various concerts,” Hafenbrack lists excitedly.

And the list still goes on and on. But Hafenbrack has her favorite moments from the festival for the last four years.

“I love it when they do the salute to the Armed forces – that is always special,” said Hafenbrack, “Then there are the fabulous fireworks, which are pretty amazing. They go off of the top of Deeds Carillon, 151 feet tall!”

After spending the whole day immersed in the history of Dayton you won’t want to miss a special performance from the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Dayton Ballet.

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is a veteran performer at the Heritage Festival. However this year, guests of the Heritage Festival will get to witness a wonderful collaboration of the Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera and the Dayton Ballet, who recently decided to merge their organizations into a single entity: the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Daytonians should take delight in knowing that this is the first merger of its kind in the United States. Now, the organizations won’t officially merge until July 1 and the performances won’t be unveiled until the 2013-2014 season, but the performance at the Heritage Festival is one of the very first integrated performances before 2013.  The veterans, Dayton Philharmonic, and newcomers, the Dayton Ballet, will perform three pieces from George Gershwin’s ballet “WHO CARES?” together starting at 7 p.m.

With all the fun that is sure to be a part of the Dayton History Heritage Festival, it would be a shame to miss out! So make sure to plan you Memorial Day Weekend accordingly, adding the Heritage Festival right at the top!

The Dayton Heritage Festival takes place Sunday, May 27^th at Carillon Park (rain date: May 28th). Park opens 11am, to 10pm.  Free ($5 per car for parking). Parking available at Carillon Park and Welcome Stadium with RTA trolley shuttle service provided. For additional information, call 937-293-2841 or visit www.daytonhistory.org

Reach DCP intern and freelance writer Megan Garrison at MeganGarrison@daytoncitypaper.com

Festival Theme is Mardi Gras Berries

By Matt Bayman

For the first time ever, the Troy Strawberry Festival will be located in the downtown historic district, rather than along the levee next to the Great Miami River.

Taking place June 1-3, the festival is moving downtown for this year only due to the closing of the Adams Street Bridge. In years past, Adams Street has acted as a main thoroughfare for the annual festival, which celebrates Troy’s place as the center of Ohio’s strawberry production. The theme for this year’s festival is Mardi Gras Berries and there will be a number of activities and entertainment reminiscent of the Big Easy.

“This isn’t your typical Troy Strawberry Festival with the bridge being closed, but it’s going to be an opportunity to showcase the downtown, and with the theme being ‘Mardi Gras,’ it should be an opportunity to highlight some of our restaurants, including LeDoux’s (Cajun restaurant),” said Troy Mayor, Mike Beamish.

Along with downtown businesses taking a more active role in the festival, the location and theme should create an interesting vibe.

The midway for this year’s festival, which contains dozens of arts and craft booths, food vendors that serve everything from strawberry shortcake and donuts to strawberry pie and pork tenderloins, as well as numerous entertainment areas, will be located along West Main Street and several side streets. The entire festival midway will span more than five blocks and will also spread into nearby parks and recreational facilities, including Hobart Arena and the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center. On the east end of the midway is Prouty Plaza – an open grass area where musical entertainment will take place on the Main Stage, as well as other entertainment for all ages. Some of the highlights for this year’s entertainment schedule include the Strawberry Idol competition, the Strawberry Pie Eating Contest and performances by numerous local and regional bands.

Although there will not be a parade on Saturday morning this year (due to traffic issues), Troy Strawberry Festival Manager Heather Dorsten said “visitors can enjoy a Mardi Gras processional at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The processional will travel along West Main Street and the Troy High School Jazz Band will lead the way with the sounds of Bourbon Street in true Mardi Gras form.”

“We are also hosting a Mardi Gras raffle with great prizes and a wonderful souvenir booth where you can get your beads and other strawberry festival-themed gear,” she added.

Dorsten said another Mardi Gras-themed event will be music by Robin Lacy and DeZydeco from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at LeDoux’s Restaurant, located at 118 W. Main St. directly inside of the festival midway.

Although a bulk of the Strawberry Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, it officially begins at 6 p.m. Friday evening with food and entertainment in the downtown and the popular Bed Races at 7 p.m. in the parking lot of Hobart Arena. For many people, the Friday night events are among the most popular, providing a chance for visitors to experience the small town charm and annual rituals of Troy residents. Also on Friday night is a children’s parade and the equally famous Big Wheel Races that take place at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Shops remain open late and there are almost a dozen restaurants to dine at in the downtown area.

Some other attractions to take note of during the festival weekend are airplane rides at WACO Field, live music at the Leaf & Vine and Dunaway’s Beef N’ Ale on Saturday (also both located inside of the midway) and pick-your-own-strawberries at Fulton Farms, located on State Route 202 just east of Troy. Visitors can also buy strawberries inside of the Fulton Farms market, also located on State Route 202.

Due to a lack of parking in the downtown, festival organizers are encouraging visitors to use four different free shuttle services, which operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The shuttles are located at WACO Field on County Road 25-A between Tipp City and Troy, Club 55 on State Route 55, Meijer on State Route 41 and the Miami County Fairgrounds, located on County Road 25-A between Troy and Piqua.

“The shuttle drops you off right at the festival location,” Dorsten said.

To plan your visit to Troy during the Strawberry Festival, visit www.gostrawberries.com.

Reach DCP freelance writer Matt Bayman at MattBayman@DaytonCityPaper.com

Go Organic Without Breaking Bank

By Megan Garrison

I admit that most people, when they hear the term “organic,” immediately think healthy, tasteless and expensive. And to be honest, who wouldn’t?

The whole point of organic food is that is it not processed, not supplemented and, overall, not altered genetically. Over the course of the 20th century, researchers and farmers came up with novel methods of providing efficient food production and growth. However, not all of the additives and additions to mother nature were beneficial to our bodies or to the environment.

Surprisingly, the move towards — or rather back to — organic farming takes place in the 1940s with the Green Revolution. The “organic kick” we all imagine to be just a part of our hipster generation actually started decades ago due to the push of industrialization on local family-owned farms. Now there are health issues that are pushing the organic movement of our generation, specifically issues with pesticides, additives and chemicals used to grow produce quicker and on a massive scale, in order to turn over higher profits.

What exactly separates organic products from non-organic products? Foods claiming to be organic must be free of artificial food additives and are often processed with fewer artificial methods, materials and conditions such as chemical ripening, food irradiation and genetically modified ingredients. Pesticides are allowed so long as they are not synthetic. The USDA monitors large agricultural corporations to see if they follow guidelines and rules set for organic food production. Large chain grocery stores often opt out of the organic food production because it’s more expensive for them to supply and they receive lower profit margins due to low sales.

This means that if you go to Wal-Mart and search for the organic food section, I can almost guarantee that you will be disappointed, and most likely searching your pockets for more money. Big name grocery stores won’t carry large amounts of organic food, and if they do, it is not going to be part of the produce or meat aisle but most likely tucked away somewhere among the nuts, the grains or the seeds aisle.

So organic food is healthier, better for the environment and probably also better for household pets, but it’s next to impossible to find it in the most frequented grocery stores, and even if you do find the organic section at Kroger, it’s too expensive. It seems there is no solution in this organic food catch 22. What if I told you there is?

In my humble experience eating organically, I have found a number of not-so-secret-but-barely-publicized locations to purchase organic food that is affordable, healthy and best of all, tasty.

We’ll start with a small, local establishment called Healthy Alternative. Healthy Alternative is a natural food market that stocks all organic food such as teas, spices, non-dairy items, bread, fresh produce and even non-vegetarian items. The market is located at 8258 N. Main St. right here in Dayton. The market is inexpensive and has a large variety of choices for its customers.

Another great destination is Natural Foods Plus. This store specializes in the packaging side of organic food. For long-lasting products that are healthy and inexpensive, this store is the place to go, and it’s located at 2901 Philadelphia (at Siebenthaler) in Dayton.

The best places, however, are going to be open markets that local farmers and shop owners attend, bringing their products for you to purchase. These types of markets are my favorite. They have tons of variety, a fun atmosphere and the best prices for a low budget student like myself. One of my favorites is the Yellow Springs Farmers’ Market. The only downside is the limited hours: it’s only open on Saturdays between May 1st and October 31st, so if you’re looking for organic food in the winter, you should cross this market off the list. However, for a large chunk of the year they reign supreme as far as farmer’s markets go. The variety is astounding. You can pretty much buy all your groceries in one place, and the people are very helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend you clearing a Saturday just to make a trip to Yellow Springs to visit the market.

The last place — but the best one in my opinion — is located in downtown Dayton, on 2nd Street, which is precisely why it is called the 2nd Street Market. Now at first, it may not look like a large establishment with a lot of variety, but once you step inside, the store seems to open up and expand with numerous stands and vendors. The people are great, the food is delicious and the products are by far the cheapest of any place I’ve ever found. It’s a great place to go, even on a rainy day, because it’s inside and they are open Thursday through Sunday year round.

I may not be an expert when it comes to the science of organic food but I am an expert when it comes to delicious, inexpensive products that are beneficial to my environment and me. So make the change to organic today — there’s nothing holding you back.

Reach DCP freelance writer Megan Garrison at MeganGarrison@daytoncitypaper.com

Generation Dayton Collaborates, Celebrates GenD Day

By Maha Kashani

You may have heard of Generation Dayton (GenD) and wondered what exactly it is. The answer: it’s our community’s premier association for young professionals who live, work and play in the Dayton region. Let’s take a step back to better understand what this organization is all about.

Almost a decade ago, a handful of innovative young Daytonians noticed that most networking organizations were made up of tenured professionals twice their age. They identified a void for young professionals in the business community who wanted to network with their peers in a social or community service-oriented environment. Their efforts came to fruition with their concept for the Dayton Young Professionals Association, known as “DYPA.” Word spread that there was a new organization in town providing young professionals the opportunity to engage with each other outside of the traditional bar scene, and the group exploded.

DYPA quickly grew to a capacity that the founding officers, Matt Schmitz, Patrick Koons, Matt Byrd, Jeff Stickel and Nick Ruszkowski, could no longer manage on their own. Around the same time, Dayton identified the difficult challenge of brain drain, and its effect on the area. The region was producing top-notch talent, yet these bright and promising young professionals were leaving for what they thought were greener pastures. The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce realized the need for an organization to assist with attracting and retaining future leaders of the region, which was exactly what DYPA was beginning to accomplish. The organizations were a perfect match for each other.

On May 4, 2006, Generation Dayton officially launched itself at Therapy Cafe. I remember that day so clearly … wow … how time flies.

This new and improved organization was formed, under the leadership of a volunteer Steering Committee and the Chamber, to create programs for professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 to meet new friends, network, learn about the region, grow personally and establish themselves amongst others who wanted to become an integral component in the future success of the Dayton region.

Keeping to the founding principles of giving young talent an opportunity to interact in a social and community service-oriented fashion, GenD Day was created to celebrate the organization’s anniversary. The official title of GenD Day: Get Out, Give Back Dayton!

Each year, on the afternoon of the first Friday in May, Dayton’s young professionals “get out” and “give back” to our community. 2011 marked GenD’s five-year anniversary, with over 130 young professional volunteers around the city sporting t-shirts that read “Dayton Rocks.” Collectively, 500 hours of time and talent benefited more than twenty non-profit agencies. The hours donated translated to a $10,000 impact on the community. Talk about a feel-good Friday afternoon!

In 2012, GenD Day is anticipated to be even bigger and better. Kicking off with a free lunch provided by Chick-fil-a, City of Dayton Mayor Leitzell will join the crowd and present a proclamation officially declaring May 4th as Generation Dayton Day in the city, and then volunteers will head out to their respective assignments. Scores of non-profit organizations around town are eagerly anticipating an afternoon spent with young, enthusiastic volunteers. There are a slew of projects available to work on, including but not limited to:

— Catholic Social Services: Planting flowers and bushes
— Crayons to Classrooms: Sorting/organizing school supplies
— Dayton Visual Arts Center (led by yours truly!): Painting, reorganizing, hanging art
— Downtown Dayton Partnership: Promoting Urban Nights
— Habitat for Humanity: Indoor and outdoor building projects
— Hannah’s Treasure Chest: Assisting with garage sale
— Humane Society: Walking dogs, socializing with cats, Furry Scurry assistance
— Garden Station: Building and filling garden beds, planting flowers
— Ronald McDonald House: Cooking hot meals and baking cookies
— United Rehabilitation Services: Working with adult and youth clients
— We Care Arts: Potting plants and yard work.

GenD Day is all about getting young professionals out into our community, but we also know it is important to reward our volunteers by giving them an opportunity to get down after an afternoon of giving back. What better reward than an after-party to enjoy some free food and drinks while sharing experiences and accomplishments from the day?

The official after-hours celebration will be held at The Vault from 5:30p.m. – 8p.m. Not everyone will be able to participate in the service portion of GenD Day, but all young professionals are still invited to attend the after-party for an opportunity to meet new friends and celebrate the 6th anniversary Generation Dayton!

(The 6th Annual “Get out, Give Back Dayton” Generation Dayton Day is on Friday May 4th.  From noon – 1p.m., check-in and have lunch at the Excelsior Building at 207 E. 6th St. From 1 – 5p.m. there will be volunteer opportunities, and the after-hours celebration is at The Vault, 20 North Jefferson Street, from 5:30 – 8p.m. To sign up for “Get Out, Give Back Dayton!” on Generation Dayton Day or for more information contact LaDonna Wulfeck at lwulfeck@dacc.org or call (937) 226-8264.)

Reach DCP freelance writer Maha Kashani at MissMaha@daytoncitypaper.com