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

Secondhand Treasures in Troy

By Matt Bayman

Consignment shops are the perfect fit for the current economy. On one hand, people need extra money, and consignment shops can help make this happen. On the other hand, consumers with money are looking to spend it more wisely and may choose to buy something used from a consignment shop rather than new from a Big Box store.

In Troy, consignment shops run the gamut: from the upscale home furnishings, accessories and antiques found at David Fair on the Square to everyday household items, video games and used furniture at The Nova Center. On the outskirts of town, used clothing is bought and sold at Anna’s Closet, and back in town, the local book store welcomes collections of comic books for consignment, and Canal Street Primitives accepts locally made consignment items that fit with the primitive, country furnishings in the downtown shop. Like Canal Street Primitives, a number of other stores in downtown Troy carry merchandise on consignment from local craftspeople, including Dancing Dolphin Pottery at Brower Stationers and several items of interest at Expressions of the Home, just to name a few.

At The Nova Center, located at 113 E. Main St., Supervisor Brandon Bierly speaks with excitement and passion about the day-to-day operations of the store, and its success in Troy since opening in September of 2010.

“We are a consignment shop and carry just about anything you might be looking for, and at the same time, we run a sale every single week, which takes 25 percent off of items that are already priced low,” said Bierly. “We know times are tough, so we keep our prices low and it’s also a place where people can earn some extra money.”

The Nova Center also gives back to the community by providing on-the-job training and recreation for adults with disabilities, as well as a place for them to develop and grow entrepreneurial projects, including a taxi service, a recording studio and a nightclub in the works.

Bierly said The Nova Center, owned by Jennifer Caldwell, splits its consignment profits 50-50, with money made at the shop benefiting future programs and projects for adults with disabilities, and is always interested in acquiring more consigners.

“That’s one thing, I think, that people often forget about us. They like to come here and shop, but maybe don’t realize we’re a consignment shop,” he said. “If you have something in your garage that you’re not using or something sitting around your house that you want to get rid of, you can bring it here and make 10, 15, 50 dollars.”

Bierly said The Nova Center can’t keep enough furniture in the store. “It’s a hot thing. Once we get it, it’s gone,” he said. The same goes with Playstation and X-Box games. “They’re out the door the same day they arrive. We could always use them,” he added.

Bierly wants the public to know that The Nova Center will give people more money for video games and DVDs than any consignment-based chain store, and that it’s an alternative to other music-consignment stores in the area.

The Nova Center currently has 305 consigners and is open 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday-Saturday. The store can be reached at (937) 552-7941.

At David Fair on the Square, up to 1,200 consigners are on display at any given time, and with Fair’s 25 years of experience as an interior designer, the consignment shop has even more to offer shoppers.
“It’s very much two-fold. I may be redecorating a space for a client and then replace the space with furnishings from the store. At the same time, the furnishings that are being removed can be put on consignment and sold,” Fair said.

David Fair on the Square is located at 301 Public Square SE and is made up of three storefronts and two levels. Much of the interior of the store is decorated like a home, or the corner of a room, or table setting and, like The Nova Center, Fair keeps an evolving array of new merchandise moving through the store, which includes new items as well as furniture sets, designer accessories and original artwork.

Fair said a number of his clients are people who are downsizing their homes and want to get rid of some of their furniture and accessories to make room for their new house.

David Fair on the Square is open 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Saturday, or by appointment. The store also remains open late on occasion, including during downtown events hosted by Troy Main Street and other organizations. Fair accepts upscale consignments and can be reached for additional information at (937) 440-8232.

Whether looking to buy something for yourself or selling a few things to make an extra dollar, Troy has a variety of options for customers, not to mention dozens of other shops located throughout the city.  Stop by, and see what treasures you find.

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

Local Welding Institute Instrumental in Building of New York City Complex

By Matt Bayman

Since 1930, the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy has trained more than 85,000 students in the art of welding. The school is considered the largest and best of its kind in the United States, and teachers have trained men and women from around the world.

In the late 1960s, many graduates of the school took part in the construction of the World Trade Center in New York City — a project that took up 13-square-blocks in Lower Manhattan and which required more than 10,000 workers to complete. The World Trade Center Complex (a series of seven buildings) opened to the public on April 4, 1973. Little did the welders and iron workers trained in Troy know at that time, but in less than 40 years, both of the main buildings in the complex, as well as a third building, would collapse to the ground during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Now, because of Troy’s contributions and connection to the World Trade Center, as well as through the efforts of various organizations in the community, the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, located at 107 W. Main St. in downtown Troy, has been selected to receive a piece of wreckage from the World Trade Center, which will be on permanent display at the museum.

To celebrate this occasion and new artifact at the museum, a 911 Remembrance Day Commemoration will be held on Armed Forces Day weekend on May 18-20 at the Hobart Arena in Troy. During this event, which will include music and other activities, the piece from the tower will be displayed in its new home, created by Dayton artist and sculptor Michael Bashaw.

Stephen Larck, president and founder of the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, said the Port Authority of New York City contacted him on Oct. 4, 2011 to let him know that the museum had been selected to receive a piece of the wreckage from the World Trade Center. To date, only a handful of museums and organizations in the United States have been chosen to receive pieces from the wreckage. Larck said it is not known which tower the piece came from.

Larck said the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology became involved in this project because the Miami Valley Veterans Museum was seeking assistance in fabricating a structure and preserving the artifact of the World Trade Center they had acquired, not to mention the school’s ties to the construction of the buildings.

“Hobart Institute’s knowledge of metalworking made Hobart Institute the obvious place to begin,” he said. Hobart Institute accepted the responsibility and enlisted the assistance of Bashaw to create a model of the twin towers complex to serve as a frame and home for the historic steel. When the stainless steel sculpture is completed, it will be mounted on a base, constructed by military veterans who are Hobart Institute instructors and secured in an exhibit case.

The artifact will be permanently displayed at the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, whose mission is to “honor, preserve and perpetuate the memory and dignity of the men and women who have served in the US Armed Forces, Coast Guard and wartime Merchant Marine.”

The three-day event in May will honor the victims of 911 and the first responders and their families who provided aid and who continue to be impacted from the health effects of the attack. “The event will also raise awareness of the contributions made by men and women who have served in the armed forces since the attack and all who continue to protect our country against the threat of terrorism,” said Larck.

“Local first responders in the Miami Valley will be honored for their vigilance in preserving public safety in our communities,” he added.

The weekend will begin on Friday, May 18 with a free special “Thank You to Heroes” program at Hobart Arena, scheduled at 9:30a.m. for school-age students, with veterans and senior citizens welcome.

The Troy High School Band, under the direction of Kathy McIntosh, will perform during this ceremony. On Saturday, May 19, the World Trade Center artifact will be at Hobart Arena for free public viewing from 10a.m. to 5p.m. The weekend will conclude on Sunday, May 20 with a free “Celebration of Freedom” concert, also held at Hobart Arena. The concert, which will take place at 7p.m., will feature Daniel Rodriguez — the singing policeman from New York City — performing with The United States Air Force Band of Flight.

Larck said the City of Troy and the Troy Recreation Department have agreed to donate the use of Hobart Arena for this memorable event. Doors will open at 6p.m. and seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis. The “Celebration of Freedom” concert is funded by a grant from The Troy Foundation and other support.

The artifact will be permanently displayed at the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, but Larck said Bashaw’s finished work of art will also be made mobile so it can be taken to schools and other events for educational purposes.

The museum is a 501c(3) organization founded in 2009 and is located on the second floor of the Masonic Lodge. Hours are 1-5p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays, or by special appointment.

For more information on the event or the museum, call (937) 451-1455, or visit www.theyshallnotbeforgotten.org.

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

Restaurant Owners Reflect Heritage in Business

By Matt Bayman

Without traveling much farther than Main Street in Troy, local residents and visitors to the city can enjoy flavors from around the world.

Troy is the dining hub of Miami County. It has more restaurants than any other community in the county and, by far, it has the most ethnic restaurants, including three Mexican restaurants, two Chinese restaurants, one Japanese restaurant, an Italian restaurant and a Cajun restaurant. Throw in the food of pubs such as Dunaway’s Beef N’ Ale, which specializes in Irish food and Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company, where French bread is baked every morning of the week, and downtown Troy is a pretty worldly place.

Some restaurants are new to Troy, including LeDoux’s, which recently moved from its location on County Road 25-A to the heart of downtown Troy at 118 W. Main St. Other restaurants, such as Dunaway’s and La Piazza, have been at their same locations in Troy for decades.

In fact, this year, La Piazza is celebrating its 20th anniversary at 2 N. Market St. The Italian restaurant has continually won “best-of” awards for its food and atmosphere.

Owner Michael Anticoli, a third-generation Italian restaurant owner, has been in the restaurant business since he was a boy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandparents. Anticoli said Italy, where his family originates, has always been an inspiration to him and his business.

“Everything food-related in Italy is done with passion and done with quality in mind,” he said. “I’ve always said that average cooking can be elevated to spectacular cooking by dedicating yourself to buying the best ingredients you can afford. In Italy, the Italians are masters at honoring the ingredients and components of their simple cooking … and we never lose sight of that here [at La Piazza].”

During trips to his family’s home in Italy, Anticoli said he learned the traditions that surround Italian cooking.

“Members of my family spent a good part of the day preparing for dinner. They visited the market and the bakery. They made pasta, cooked sauce was cooked, they brought up homemade wine and olive oil from the cantina under the house, and we picked figs outside of town. It all came together, not only to provide something incredibly delicious, but also to connect people together.”

Anticoli said this background and heritage allows him to understand that he is not just serving food at his restaurant. “We’re helping to create dining experiences for people with food as our centerpiece. The only way to do it right is to be quality-driven,” he said.

Born and raised in French Louisiana in the Acadiana region, Don LeDoux, owner of LeDoux’s Cajun Restaurant at 118 W. Main St. in downtown Troy, said his upbringing has had a major influence on his restaurant ownership, but at the same time, years spent in Ohio have allowed him to know what kind of Cajun food the locals in Miami Valley are interested in.

“All of our dishes are seasoned to please the taste buds, not burn ‘em,” said LeDoux.  “We use lots of fresh garlic, vegetables and olive oil to complement our savory dishes. You taste the food. We don’t cover up the natural flavor with spice.”

LeDoux, who retains much of his original Louisiana accent, even though he has lived in Troy for almost 15 years, said the restaurant’s menu features authentic Cajun dishes that are cooked for flavor rather than effect. This includes Cajun staples like jambalaya, gumbo and crab cakes and extends into po-boys, vegetarian pasta dishes, pork chops, steaks and seafood, just to name a few.

A little off the beaten path, but still within Troy’s city limits at 1700 County Road 25-A, is El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant.

Just as with Anticoli and LeDoux, El Sombrero owner Ruben Peleyo has developed a loyal following by staying true to his roots.

As a child and young man living in Ayutla in the state of Jalisco in Mexico, Pelayo’s mother, Teresa, instilled the importance of giving back to the community. One day a year, she would open up her home and feed anyone who came to the door. When Pelayo came to the United States and eventually opened his restaurants in Troy and Piqua, he made it an annual tradition to provide free Thanksgiving dinners to anyone who walks in his doors. Pelayo’s mother also taught him to cook in the style of Jalisco, which is in southwest Mexico. Just as with American food, the styles of cooking vary from region to region in Mexico. Ruben’s cooking style uses mild spices and mouth-watering sauces, not to mention monstrous portions, to please customers far and wide.

Residents of Troy and the surrounding area are very lucky to have three very popular, authentic Mexican restaurants that serve very different Mexican foods.

At La Fiesta, 836 W. Main St., the kitchen’s unique oils and fast service, not to mention an owner who can do a shot of the hottest hot sauce in the world and not shed a single tear, make it a very popular restaurant for lunch and dinner. Los Pitayos, 2317 W. Main St., caters to families and is known for its combination plates.

To round things out, Troy has three unique Asian restaurants. Tokyo Peking is located downtown and Sakai Japanese Bistro is on the west end of town at 2303 W. Main St. One of the most unique Asian restaurants in Troy, however, is Lee’s Garden Restaurant, a little place located next to the railroad tracks at 121 E. Staunton Road (State Route 55). The restaurant is small and a menu really isn’t necessary. Guests simply ask for what they want and the owner/chef cooks it up about 20 feet from the dining area. It’s served fast and with flavor, and it’s the oldest Chinese restaurant in town.

With so many flavors to experience and so many restaurants to visit, there’s always a reason to dine in Troy.

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

Local Artisans and Craftspeople Add to Unique Downtown Shopping Experience

By Matt Bayman

In a woodworking shop located in the quiet countryside near Troy, Canal Street Primitives owners, Bruce and Debbie Lutz, put the finishing touches on a brand new piece of colonial-style furniture. Although the furniture is new in every sense of the word, through a unique distressing method perfected by Bruce, the furniture piece looks like an antique. This original piece is one of hundreds of Bruce’s handcrafted creations, which include free standing cabinets, cupboards, tables, stands and shelving, among many others. Bruce showcases his work at his store at 9 E. Canal St. in downtown Troy — located three blocks south of the Square from Market Street.

Canal Street Primitives has an ever-changing storefront where Bruce and Debbie, as well as other members of their family, showcase their original, handmade work, from one-of-a-kind hooked rugs and table decorations to sewn pieces and pottery made less than five blocks away by Bruce and Debbie’s daughter-in-law, Rebecca, of Rebecca’s Pottery.

In addition to hand-crafted home decor from his family, as well as merchandise purchased for the store from some of the best artists and designers in the United States, Bruce does custom furniture work, which actually accounts for a great deal of his business.

Bruce says that “customers inquiring about custom work are typically looking for a particular style, size or finish in a piece of furniture, but have not been able to find what they are looking for at other local furniture “showrooms.” Our custom work also allows the customer to select wood species, paint color, type of finish, dimensions to fit and special function features to suit.”

Canal Street Primitives can help design a custom piece and/or work from customer sketches, pictures or magazine photos. To discuss a furniture project, call (937) 216-9606 or stop in the store, between 11a.m. and 4p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Across the street from Canal Street Primitives is Muddy Hands Art Studio, owned by Jana Glass, a talented potter and teacher who also happens to be Treasurer of the Troy Arts Alliance.  The Troy Arts Alliance is “a community arts organization whose goal is to promote the arts in Troy, Ohio.” It is one of at least two organizations in Troy that encourage individual artists to join together for the good of the group and the art-loving community. The other organization is the Country Workshop Artists.

Muddy Hands Art Studio has taught beginning potters the art of making pottery and also sells locally, hand-crafted pottery to the general public, including some of Glass’s own pieces and the pieces of her students.

At the Troy Arts Alliance, experienced and beginner artists become members and also come together to learn from one another and often sell their work to the general public, including during events such as Taste of Troy or the Strawberry Festival.

Troy Arts Alliance President Terrilynn Meece said the arts are an essential part of any thriving community. “We believe that creative expression lifts the spirit and raises the collective consciousness of those who use their imagination. The Troy Arts Alliance strives to unleash the artistic potential of every community member,” she said. “We work to encourage a thriving community of artists and appreciation of art within Troy and its surrounding communities. To this end, the Troy Arts Alliance wishes to collaborate with artists and artistic organizations in an effort to facilitate mutual support, recognition and the exchange of ideas and information.”

Founded by a group of women in 1961, the Country Workshop Artists is a collection of women (men are very welcome) who use their talents as artists to create works of art that they sell at two annual shows, which are hosted to raise money for an annual scholarship the group gives out to a local art student.

President Bonnie Rashilla said the Country Workshop Artists, which is open to anyone, starts making items for its annual sales in January. The members all meet at the same location, Stouder Building, Suite 1212, where they have everything needed to create their various works of arts, from kilns and paint brushes to glass, chalk and paper, and members work on individual projects as well as group assignments, all of which are geared toward the bi-yearly show.

“If we decide to do some wooden dolls, one person might paint them while another will do the sewing,” she said. “We also have our own specialties and things we enjoy doing most, and often work on several projects at once.”
The work of the Troy Arts Alliance and the Country Workshop Artists can be found while shopping in downtown Troy. For instance, Dancing Dolphin Pottery by Diane Brower is sold at Brower Stationers at 16 S. Market St.

Guests at Waterstone Arts & Crafts can paint their own ceramic pieces (many designed and molded in the back of the business), take classes, meet in groups and even sell their work.

Other hand-made items found in downtown Troy include The Olive Oasis, which offers a large variety of olive oil and other healthy products. The bread eaten at lunch from Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company was hand-made that morning. In fact, the bakery’s lights are the first, or among the first, turned on each morning in downtown Troy. The list goes on. The Leaf & Vine has locally made, hand-crafted cigar box guitars and local paintings, not to mention its own cigar label. Next door, Hittle’s Jewelers, the oldest jeweler in Troy, creates and engraves custom pieces of jewelry.
Throughout Troy, hand-crafted works of art, whether it’s the furniture and hooked rugs at Canal Street Primitives or the hand-crafted pottery at Muddy Hands Art Studio, can be found when shopping downtown for the afternoon or while exploring the region on vacation.

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

Bringing Local History to Life

By Natasha Habib

Troy’s museums are piquing interest in the past by examining the Miami Valley’s role in national and world history. “The standard assumption is, well, nobody likes museums because they’re old, dry, musty places where you’re looking at a bunch of dead people’s stuff in cases,” said Purke, a self-described “museum junkie” and local history buff. Troy’s museums, however, have signs that read “Please Touch.”

Overfield Tavern Museum

The Overfield Tavern Museum, built by Benjamin Overfield in 1808, currently has an exhibit on what life was like when Troy was first settled. “The Overfield Museum is unique because it is a squared log building that’s still on its original foundation,” said Purke, who has been curator of many of Troy’s museums over the years. “Religious services were held in the Overfield Tavern and the court met there. And of course, like all taverns in those days, that was the place where you went to get the local news. If you wanted to know where a person lived, or who had moved in, who had moved out, who had gotten married, who was quarreling with whom, you went to the tavern to find that stuff out.” As the result of an archeological dig and donations, collections of pewter, glassware, early textiles and furniture are now on display.

201 E. Water St.
(937) 335-4019
Open: April 1 through October 31, Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 p.m.
Cost: $2 donation
www.overfieldtavernmuseum.com

Museum of Troy History

When you leave 1850 at the Overfield Tavern, take a short walk to the Museum of Troy History, which covers various aspects of history up until about 1950. Each room in the museum has permanent and rotating exhibits that highlight different periods of time. The parlor, for example, focuses on the Victorian era. Each exhibit focuses history locally. “If we do a civil war program, it has nothing to do with what happened at Gettysburg,” said Purke. “It’s how our community dealt with that cataclysmic event and the kinds of things that were going on here.” They also host hands-on activities such as making feather trees, popular in Victorian times, and other ornaments.

124 E. Water St.
(937) 216-6925
Open: April though mid-December, Saturdays and Sundays 1-5 p.m.
Cost: Free, donations greatly appreciated

Miami Valley Veterans Museum

This newest museum addition to Troy is dedicated to those who have served, and their families. “The focus of our veterans museum is slightly different because what we are interested in is showing the role of the veteran in the community,” said Purke, also a veteran. The museum itself covers all wars and showcases uniforms, letters from home and other memorabilia all connected to the stories of local vets and the community. Though the museum is just starting out, they will be hosting special events and service-related discussions over coffee.

107 W. Main St., 2nd Floor
(937) 451-1455
Open: Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday 1-5 p.m.
Cost: Free, donations greatly appreciated
www.theyshallnotbeforgotten.org

Troy-Hayner Cultural Center

This Tudor mansion near the Miami County Courthouse was built in 1914 by Mary Jane Hayner, the wife a local whiskey distiller whose business thrived locally and nationally until prohibition. Not only can you learn about the Hayner Distilling Co. and the combination locks they put in the caps of their mail-ordered whiskey bottles to keep the order from being sampled on its way to its purchaser, but you can also admire the marble fireplaces and the ballroom when you’re there for a concert, speaker or other special event. Madeline MacNeil, a hammered dulcimer artist, will perform Jan. 20, 2012. Call or visit the website for more information.

301 W. Main St.
(937) 339-0457
Open: Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday 7-9 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Cost: Free, donations greatly appreciated

Historic WACO Field & Aircraft Museum

If you’re interest in aviation, drive a bit beyond the National Museum of the US Air Force to WACO, pronounced so that it rhymes with taco. “Waco is a place in Texas, WACO is our aircraft company,” said Purke. WACO started out making biplanes. “In the year 1927, in all of the United States, there were approximately a thousand airplanes made,” said Purke. “Of those, WACO made 462.” In World War II the government needed inexpensive gliders made from non-strategic materials to carry troops into combat, which WACO provided. After the war, however, the company didn’t keep up with aviation technology and folded. Now, two hangers display WACO memorabilia and aircraft, including ones used in the early days of airmail. WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation in Michigan now manufactures WACO replica biplanes, upgraded to meet FAA standards, of course.

1865 S. County Road 25A
(937) 335-9226
Open: Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m., Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon. Closed December 19 for the winter and reopening March 3, 2012.
Cost: $6 adults, $5 veterans, $3 ages 7-17, kids under 7 free
www.wacoairmuseum.org

For more information on Troy’s museums, or to donate your time, money or memorabilia, contact the Troy Historical Society at (937) 339-5900 or visit their website http://discovertroyoh.org. If you have an interest in a particular museum, you may contact them directly. The museums are also very accommodating outside their normal operating hours, so just call to make arrangements if your group would like a tour.

Reach DCP editorial intern and freelance writer Natasha Habib at NatashaHabib@DaytonCityPaper.com.

Entire Inventory Marked Down by 50 Percent

By Matt Bayman

For more than two decades, Down a Country Lane has been one of the most popular shopping destinations in Tipp City and Miami County. During the annual A Winter’s Gathering festival, which kicks off the holiday shopping season in Tipp City each November, people would come from miles around to see the newly decorated store and peruse their wide selection of merchandise. In fact, three to four hours before A Winters Gathering started, people would line up outside of Down a Country Lane waiting for the opportunity to be some the first patrons in the door.

Last year, Down a Country Lane, which also consisted of the store Cognac Home Furnishings, closed its doors in Tipp City and owner Janette Plummer never had a chance to host a last sale for her loyal customers. This is where Hospice of Miami County and Troy Main Street came into play late last year, and why that final sale that Plummer had hoped for is finally coming to fruition.

Through the end of this month, Down a Country Lane is hosting a liquidation sale at its new (and not-so-permanent) location in downtown Troy at 1 E. Main St. The store is located on the northeast corner of the Troy Square, just one block from two of the most popular restaurants in Troy – La Piazza and The Caroline – and close to many other shopping and dining opportunities in the historic district.

Shoppers at Down a Country Lane, which encompasses about 8,000 square-feet, can take advantage of the 50 percent discount on everything in the store, from furniture and pictures, to candles and decorations, among many other items. There is also a chance for designers and wholesale florists to purchase bulk items.

At the same time, a portion of the money raised from the sale will directly benefit Hospice of Miami County.

Susan Hemm, marketing and development coordinator for Hospice of Miami County, said Plummer is giving back to the community in a “big way,” as well as in a personal way. “Over the past year, Janette has had firsthand experience with hospice care,” she added.

“I feel very strongly about the benefits of hospice,” said Plummer. “They were wonderful with my loved ones and I wanted to be able to give back.”

Hemm said Hospice of Miami County has been serving the community for 29 years and relies on financial support from the community and benefits, such as the one taking place at Down a Country Lane, because patients in hospice care are not charged for any services.

The current sale in Troy, as well as the limited return of such a prominent and historic store to Miami County, also helps Troy and the many other businesses that surround Down a Country Lane.

“This is an important event for downtown Troy, in that it will draw visitors from all over the Miami Valley for this unique shopping experience,” said Karin Manovich, executive director of Troy Main Street, one organization which has helped coordinate the event. “The upscale ‘one-of-a-kind’ merchandise offered at steep discounts will make downtown Troy a destination for many. There is no greater marketing tool for downtown than bringing people here to experience the charm and beauty firsthand. It is our hope that shoppers will visit other downtown retailers and restaurants, and will return in the future.”

And if you happen to stop for this special sale, there are many other stores to shop at as well, including a number of retail shops that have similar merchandise, including Amish Furniture, Canal Street Primitives, Expressions of the Home, For All Seasons, David Fair On the Square and many others.

Since Down a Country Lane is keeping later hours than other retail businesses in Troy generally keep, shoppers will have a chance to experience the downtown’s nightlife opportunities, including enjoying a glass of wine and a cigar from the Leaf & Vine, a sub and beer from the Submarine House, a cup of coffee and bite of chocolate at Winans Fine Chocolates & Coffees, or even by stopping in at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center for a free tour of the mansion and a look at its revolving list of exhibits and musical and theatrical performances.

Down a Country Lane is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The store will close for good on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Down a Country Lane can be reached at (937) 335-2647, and Hospice of Miami County at (937) 335-5191.

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

Bar and cigar room a classy throwback in time

By Matt Bayman

The humidor at the Leaf & Vine.

To truly enjoy a cigar, it takes patrons at the Leaf & Vine in Troy about an hour.

“Smoking a cigar is all about taking time to sit back and relax for a while,” said Patty Rose, co-owner of the pub, adding that her cigar clients consist of men and women.

Located at 108 W. Main St. in the heart of the historic district, the Leaf & Vine is known as a “bar and cigar room,” but it’s also a hotspot for live music and other entertainment.

The romantic pub contains decorative tin ceilings that are more than a century old. On one side of the narrow room is a collection of nude artwork on the wall, including amazing oil paintings that glisten in the natural light that shines through the two bay windows that surround the bar’s entrance.

In one bay window, a grand piano awaits the fingers of an entertainer. In the other, a microphone and acoustic guitar wait for open mic night, which takes place every Wednesday and live music every Saturday night. A full bar sits perfectly in the center of the room, and other than two flat screen TVs tuned into an exclusive music station, the bar looks like it could be from any era of the past century in Troy.

In the back corner of the pub, just below an indoor balcony that contains its own seating area, is the largest walk-in humidor in the area. More than 200 cigar faces line the humidor’s walls, including some of the top premium lines, as well as a handcrafted Leaf & Vine house cigar.

“We have clients who have their favorite cigar brands and others who like to try something new. We also have a lot of new patrons and enjoy introducing them to the art of cigar smoking,” Rose said.

One way the pub introduces patrons to new experiences is during its monthly Cigar Night, which takes place on the third Thursday of each month. During this event, representatives from cigar companies showcase featured cigars and answer questions about the art of cigar smoking. There are cigar specials, door prizes for cigar customers and, best of all, there’s always a fun theme for the evening.

Last week’s Cigar Night was very festive as the theme was “sexy elves.” During the event, barmaids dressed as elves served customers at the bar, as well as atop the open air balcony and on the enclosed patio at the back of the bar.

During Cigar Nights of the past, Rose has hosted a bikini night, a lingerie auction and other well-received events. Some events were held to raise money for charity (a common mission for Rose and the pub), while others were just about having fun.

“We don’t always have fund raisers, we also raise a lot of fun,” she said.

Along with fine cigars, Rose said she also enjoys sharing her coveted collection of scotch and bourbons with clients, not to mention nearly 70 different beer selections, “or simply a great glass of wine!” she said.

“We always showcase our scotch and bourbon with our cigars because the two often go hand-in-hand. You can have a cigar in one hand and be swirling a nice glass of scotch in the other,” Rose said.

During Cigar Night, the Leaf & Vine offers flights of bourbon and scotch, which often allows patrons to try brands they might have never had before.

“People have actually changed what their favorite bourbon is,” Rose said.

Rose said Cigar Night is a great way for new patrons to introduce themselves to the classy, part saloon, part midtown bar, and its vibrant, friendly atmosphere.

“It’s a big night that people can treat  themselves to the finer things in life and just kick back and have fun,” she said. However, Cigar Night is but one of the many fun events scheduled at the pub each month.

On Mondays, patrons enjoy $1 hot dogs and $1 domestic beers. Tuesday is $4 martini night. Every Wednesday, open mic night invites musicians and music fans to perform and listen. Free food is served to everyone in attendance and performers get discounted drinks all night long. Sound equipment and a few instruments are provided, but musicians are welcome to bring their own. Thursday is $3 well drink night, followed by Jukebox Fridays, when the bar puts in all the quarters and patrons get to pick all of the music. At 9 p.m. on Saturdays (unless otherwise noted) the Leaf & Vine hosts a variety of musical talent, some of which are discovered during Wednesday’s open mic nights. Expect to hear great classic rock, blues, jazz and funk and many talented solo artists. There is never a cover charge for live music or any other event at the Leaf & Vine.

The Leaf & Vine is open 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call (937) 332-0773. To keep up to date on current happenings at the pub, including what bands are performing, visit its Facebook page.

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

Troy complex hosting top country, Christian and classic rock bands

By Matt Bayman

The Casting Crows at Hobart in 2009. Photo courtesy of Anthony Weber.

Since 2010, Hobart Arena in Troy has hosted three of the five artists that were nominated for the 2011 Country Music Award’s “New Artist of the Year,” including its winner, The Band Perry.

Along with other country artists, such as Luke Bryan, Kellie Pickler and Thompson Square, the multi-purpose arena has played host to a variety of other entertainers, including Foreigner, REO Speedwagon and ventriloquist Terry Fator, just to name a few. Fans also flock to the arena to see the biggest names in Christian music and some of the best tribute bands on the market.

The recent increase in live entertainment, which began with Fator’s performance in 2008, is a throwback to the arena’s star-studded beginnings in the 1950s. It’s also a trend that seems to have no end in sight and that attracts fans from not only Troy and the Miami Valley, but all over the country and Canada.

Retired Hobart Arena employee Ed Brumbaugh said the arena has had the honor of hosting many legendary entertainers, from Nat King Cole, Gene Autry and Liberace to Victor Borge, Patti Page and Elvis Presley. Roy Rogers was scheduled to perform at the arena in 1950, but 10 inches of snow left the entertainer stranded in Ludlow Falls, a small town about 9 miles west of Troy and the show never took place.

“People would come from miles around to see these performers. When Elvis Presley came here in 1956, it was the biggest show we ever had, and it was really wild.” he said.
Along with entertainers, during the 1950s and beyond, Hobart Arena was a mecca for ice skating and hockey. When the arena opened for business in September of 1950, it hosted 10 sold out performances in a row of “Holiday on Ice.” By 1951, the arena had its own International Hockey League team named the Troy Bruins. This team called Hobart Arena home until 1959 when it relocated to North Carolina. The franchise was followed years later by another hockey team, the Troy Sabres, which played home games at Hobart Arena from 1982 until 1989 before folding. In 2010, a new generation of the Troy Bruins attempted to bring professional hockey back to Troy, but the team ceased operation in January of this year.

“Hockey has just never stuck with the people around here,” Brumbaugh said.

Even professional ice skating is not as prevalent as it was in the arena’s heyday.

“We had very famous and talented skaters that came here year after year. We had Olympic skaters at one point. But it got so that later on, (promoters) would not perform in a building that seated less than 10,000 people,” he said. Because the seating capacity of Hobart Arena is 3,782, Brumbaugh said it became harder to get any big names in skating to perform in Troy.

Today, most of the ice skating at Hobart Arena is public skating. There’s also the Troy Skating Club, which has been in existence since 1951 and is very active in providing lessons and private instruction for skaters. Troy High School’s hockey team also uses the ice.

Although there were many events that took place at Hobart Arena during the 1970s, 80s and 90s, as well as the early part of this decade, Arena Manager Ken Siler said larger venues that were built in Dayton during this time, including Hara Arena and eventually the Nutter Center, made it tough to compete.

“Between 1950 and 1963, Hobart Arena was the only venue in the local market. The nearest places that people went were the Toledo Sports Arena, which has since been torn down and replaced with a newer venue, and the Cincinnati Gardens. Then came Hara Arena and several others,” he said.

Another problem that Hobart Arena faced when attempting to book bigger names in show business was its lack of a liquor license, but thanks to voters in Troy, in 2009 beer sales were allowed and introduced with success.

“This has allowed us to actively pursue and secure events that otherwise wouldn’t work here,” Siler said.

Siler said beer sales are only offered at “appropriate” events. “You’re not going to see beer being served during the circus and other family events, or when Christian bands perform here, but it certainly adds another element to the rock and country shows that people enjoy.”

Before Hobart Arena began actively booking entertainers for other future shows, in 2010 staff members sent out surveys to more than 5,000 people, asking them what they wanted to see at Hobart Arena.

“What we found was that people in the Miami Valley and Troy wanted to see country, Christian and classic rock bands,” Siler said.

Siler said the shows being hosted at the arena in recent years have attracted fans and visitors from far and wide, which was an important goal of the newly invigorated arena.

“We’re bringing this to the Miami Valley, not just Troy, and people are driving here from all over the state, neighboring states and Canada,” he said. “I feel comfortable in saying (the shows and the audiences they bring) have been rewarding to businesses and the local economy. Before and after the shows, people go out to our restaurants and bars, and those who come in from out of town stay at our hotels.”

Or, as Brumbaugh puts it: “I think for years people thought that Hobart Arena was a white elephant, but it’s not so.”

Siler said the arena currently is working to book four to six additional shows for the 2012 lineup. The next big performance will be by Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute, which performs on January 13. This will be followed on February 17 by Casting Crowns, featuring special guest Matthew West. When Casting Crowns was at the arena in 2009, they performed to a sold-out crowd.

To purchase tickets for either of these concerts, or to learn more about Hobart Arena and other events taking place there, visit www.hobartarena.com or call (937) 339-2911.

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

By Emma Jarman

The interior of The Olive Oasis on East Main Street in downtown Troy.

Olive oil is an ancient ingredient, more than 6,000 years old, that has long been held to contain mystical properties. Homer called it “liquid gold.” The ancient Greeks rubbed it all over their bodies (and some people still do!)  The olive tree sustained ancient economies through rise and fall. Now, olive oil at The Olive Oasis is doing its part to fulfill its towering legacy.

Most 21-year-olds are more concerned about how to tap a keg and pairing the right shoes with the right Friday night, not tapping a fusti and pairing flavors of the freshest olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. Lucas Schlumpf, 21, owner of The Olive Oasis, 7 E. Main St. in Troy, is the opposite.

Schlumpf, a transplant from Pinehurst, N.C., came to Troy with a plan. Inspired by the Green Gate Olive Company in Pinehurst and the consequent success of his aunt’s business in Pennsylvania, he decided that it was time for him to start making his own dreams come true.

“I’ve always wanted to start a small business and be a small business owner,” said Schlumpf, “I just never thought I’d get into selling olive oil.”

It makes sense since he has never washed upon the shores of Italy or sunbathed in the Mediterranean. But in recent years, as a student at Sinclair Community College studying health and fitness, Schlumpf was impressed with the modern relevance of the superfood and took on the business venture.

Here’s how it works: You walk in and are greeted by rows and rows of tables weighted down by massive, stainless steel canisters called fusti. You are then invited to meander the rows dribbling tastes out of the small taps onto bits of bread from the Bake House, the local bread store Olive Oasis gets all their breads from, and pick your favorite and decide what you would like to take home. The Olive Oasis has 54 fustis tapped and ready to go, half with regular, fused, flavored and infused olive oils and the other 27 with aged balsamic vinegars.

Ten of the olive oils are plain, unflavored with notes ranging from smooth and grassy to bold and peppery (dependent on the amount of polyphenols found in the olive). Flavors of olive oil include wild mushroom and sage, cilantro and roasted onion, and a butter flavored olive oil that could completely replace the solid stuff and is even drizzled over popcorn for that (vegan) movie theater taste! Vinegar varieties range from fruity like raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, pomegranate and fig to exotic like dark chocolate, espresso and champagne.

“This is the best of the best olive oil you can find in Ohio right now,” said Schlumpf.

Not only for its unique flavors and business concept, but the olives are actually good. Shipped over from Oakland, Calif. by Veronica’s Foods, the olives are never more than six months out of the press by the time they get to The Olive Oasis and, as Schlumpf said, with olive oil, “freshness is key.” While a good balsamic vinegar should be aged in an oak barrel for at least 12 years to be worth its salt (or stainless steel barrel for white balsamics), olive oil needs to be fresh. The olive is a fruit, and with any fruit the longer it sits, the more the healthy and antioxidizing properties leach out of it. Olives are found to reduce the risk of heart attacks and coronary diseases and are also a natural pain reliever and antioxidant, said Schlumpf, but, again, freshness is key. Looks like the ancients had a few things right when it came to their valuation of the liquid.

Thankfully, while the South Beach and Atkins diet all phased themselves out quite nicely, olive oil and its properties are here to stay.

“We have a ribbon cutting coming up the 22nd of November,” said Schlumpf. On that day, the city of Troy, members of the chamber of commerce and the mayor will come to memorialize the opening of his business. The Olive Oasis is also available to host private tasting parties where a customer can reserve a block of time, usually after hours, and invite his or her friends over to have a wine tasting and discover some of the unique flavors The Olive Oasis has to offer. In the future, Schlumpf aims to set up some cooking classes in his shop to further educate and entertain both foodies and newbies.

While Schlumpf hasn’t been in the business forever, and his knowledge is still a growing database, it is obvious his business is his passion. Singlehandedly started by Schlumpf, The Olive Oasis is a treasure trove for those looking to be a little more healthy and to find alternatives to grocery store oils, and also for anyone looking just to make their food taste better.

“My favorite [olive oil] right now is the Tuscan Herb,” recommended Schlumpf. “It’s sundried tomatoes and rosemary. I use it on any kind of grilled chicken and pasta, it’s very versatile.”

And remember: one part vinegar to three parts oil to make a perfect salad dressing. Especially when it’s The Olive Oasis’ strawberry aged balsamic with their fresh basil olive oil.

The Olive Oasis is located at 7 E. Main St. in Troy. The store is open Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday. Look for The Olive Oasis on Facebook or call (937) 552-7322 for more information or to talk to Lucas Schlumpf himself.

Reach DCP freelance writer Emma Jarman at EmmaJarman@DaytonCityPaper.com.