Events, activities and other hometown items going on in and around Tipp City, Ohio by Greg Enslen

Tipp City Area Community Foundations    

The Distribution Committee of the Tipp Area Community Foundations held their quarterly meeting in December and awarded over $24,000 in grants to six different local and area organizations. Since 1943, the Foundation has been awarding grants to local and area organizations.

Groups that received grants last quarter included:

• the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, in support of their efforts to bring music into Tipp City schools, including classroom lessons and concerts;
• Tipp Monroe Community Services, in support of their Band Instruments Program, which provides instruments for students who  might otherwise not be able to afford to play’;
• Tipp City Area Arts Council, in support of their program to bring more music to the downtown with their Canal Music Festival; and
• We Care Arts, which funds two separate programs for students with disabilities “with the goal of alleviating the isolation and boredom that some of these students feel.”

Other groups that received smaller grants included Bethel Local Schools, the Indian Creek 4-H Club, Miami County Recovery Council, and Tipp City Exempted Village Schools.

Thanks to the foundation, its board members, and its donors for continuing to make such a positive and important contribution to our community.

Tipp City TV

Every wish you could watch TV shows dedicated to Tipp City, or enjoy old episodes of the Get Social Show?  At TippCityTV.com, I’ve created what is essentially a 24-hour TV station dedicated to Tipp City. I uploaded a smattering of Tipp City videos and other segments.  I’ve also included some old movies and TV shows, and added pages for up-to-date news and weather.

Speaking of TV

There is some really good TV coming back in mid-January, including a few shows that I’m very excited about:

• 30 Rock (January 12) – Back for season six, Liz Lemon has a secret.  She’s relaxed and happy, so naturally everyone on the set of the fictional “Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan” is worried about her.  Hey, it’s New York – happy is just unnatural, right? Oh, and Jenna signs up to judge an American-Idol style show.  Sign me up.
• Undercover Boss (January 15) – I love this show, if only to see CEOs of major corporations picking lettuce or trying to learn how to drive forklifts.  A classic fish-out-of-water exercise.
• Justified (January 17) – you do not want to be a criminal around U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.  He thinks he’s a cowboy, but he also thinks he’s personally in charge of making the world a better place, so criminals and deadbeats and anyone he doesn’t like would be best served by moving to another state.  Returning to his home town after serving for years in other parts of the country, Raylan has reconnected with family and friends but found an interesting foil in childhood friend .  And last year’s stunning cliffhanger, with a long moment where Raylan shared a drink with a criminal and we waited to find out which glass had been poisoned, highlighted the amazing writing on this show.  If you like good writing—I’m talking to you, Breaking Bad/Sopranos/Deadwood fans—you will love this show and end up going back and ordering all of the old episodes from NetFlix.
• Royal Pains (January 18) – this show about a concierge doctor and his practice in the sunny Hamptons is the perfect anti-dote for cold weather.  Hank Lawson and his brother Evan run the kind of doctor’s practice that used to be common—he makes housecalls! Of course, his clients can afford it, but Hank still manages to run into some crazy diagnoses.  Check out the show for the gorgeous locations shots and stay for the characters, especially Divia, Hank’s physician assistant.
• American Idol (January 18) – Last year was interesting, with Simon gone and two new faces in Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson in the “let’s find a star” juggernaut show.  This is the 11^th season, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep the audience that tuned in last year, expecting a train wreck, only to find a panel of judges that jelled surprisingly fast.  Now if they could only find an actual American Idol – it’s been a long time since they found an outstanding singer.  And isn’t that what the show is supposed to be about?
• Smash (February 6) – starring Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston and American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee, this tune-filled drama explores the harried launch of a Broadway show and the players involved, each fighting for a moment in the spotlight.  I don’t usually enjoy musicals but this looks good—I love behind-the-scenes shows.
• The River (February 7) – ABC is taking a crack at the horror/suspense crowd with this thriller about a famous explorer who goes missing in the Amazon.  His wife and son set out with a documentary crew to find the explorer, but everything is not as it seems along the dark river.  It’s supposed to be scary and suspenseful, which I like, as opposed to gory and bloody (I’m talking to you, Walking Dead – come on!), which I do not like.  Check out the trailer on ABC.com and get some sleep now…while you still can.

Ginghamsburg Church Hosts Family Flick

The folks out at Ginghamsburg Church are hosting a Family Flick Night on January 20, when they’ll be presenting the family animated movie “Rio.” Admission is free, but they ask that you help support their New Path Food Pantry by bringing along a canned food item as a donation for each person in your group.

If you have questions, please see the church website at www.ginghamsburg.org or call Kelly Flora at 667-1069, extension 260.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in and around Tipp City, Ohio by Greg Enslen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas was great at the Enslens—we had Sam’s aunt and uncle in from New York City and enjoyed several days of decadent meals, gift exchanges, and just hanging out. I was the happy recipient of both a copy of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and a sweet blue lava lamp for my office. Sam got books and one of those make-your-own charm bracelets they carry at Hapinstance. Xander got Hex Bugs, and Anna and Katie got Zoobles, so all was right with the world.

New Year’s was a blast as we partied at my friend Diana’s house to celebrate the New Year. I made chili, which seemed to be a big hit, and we all hung out and played with kids and swapped stories while we waited for the big ball to drop. Thanks to our gracious hosts for having us over—it was a privilege, counting down the New Year with you.

We also made a conscious decision this year to put the Christmas decorations up early and leave them up late, so the tree and all of our Santas and pine trees are still out and about. I’m not in any hurry to pack away all our decorations just yet—it seems that the Christmas season comes and goes so fast already. Why hurry it along?

Sam decided this year that her business, Dragonfly Editorial, would give a donation to a worthwhile charity in lieu of gifts to staff and clients. They donated to Mira’s Movement, a nonprofit that supports families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Two years ago, our good friends Chris and Christine Brouwer lost their four-year-old daughter Mira to pediatric ependymoma, a form of cancer that arises in the central nervous system. They created Mira’s Movement to help other families facing the same crisis. If you’d like to learn more about this organization or make a donation yourself, visit www.mirasmovement.org.

Resolutions

Anyone have any good resolutions so far this year? I know most people are going to go with the standard ones, like “lose some weight” or “promote world peace.” I’m shooting a little lower this year: I want to go for more walks and finish reading all the books on my bedside table. And I’d like to write and publish at least two books.

Display Gardens Filled with Roses?

Last year, Garden’s Alive/Springhill Nurseries bought a California company named Weeks Roses. Weeks is a wholesale grower of roses and has been doing so in their Wasco, California, location since 1938. “In addition to their rose lines, Weeks also offers a premium selection of edible fruit and ornamental trees,” their catalog says.

Why do I mention an acquisition that took place last May? Well, I don’t know if anyone will remember me mentioning last fall that Springhill had removed their massive test gardens that stretched along South Hyatt. I was seriously bummed to see them ripping out all those plants, shrubs, and trees.

Well, I have it on good authority that the space was cleared to make room for a Weeks Roses test garden. That’s right, soon there could be a massive rose garden planted along Hyatt Street featuring tens of thousands of roses. Wow.

Tipp City TV

Every wish you could watch TV shows dedicated to Tipp City, or enjoy old episodes of the Get Social Show, which starred me and my friend and City Councilman Mike McDermott? Well, over the Christmas break, I was trying to figure out how to upload our Get Social videos to the Internet where everyone could enjoy them. Unfortunately, YouTube limits their uploads to 15-minute segments, so I was going to have to chop up all of the shows into smaller pieces, making for a lot more work.

I finally found a solution that lets me upload entire episodes and, even better, puts the shows and other videos in rotation on a website that anyone can access. At TippCityTV.com, I’ve created what is essentially a 24-hour TV station dedicated to Tipp City.

In addition to old Get Social episodes, I also uploaded a smattering of Tipp City videos, including Matt Spangler’s narrated Opera House tour, the Tipp City Resume video created by the city in 2004 to encourage businesses to relocate here, Bucher’s Beat appearances at Winter’s Gatherings past, and a story that Fox 45 ran on the opening of the Big Robot Game Café.

I’m looking for more videos and for suggestion—what would you like to see on the channel? I’m also hoping people will send me videos or upload them and let me know about it.

In addition to the 24-hour channel, all of the clips and shows are available in a Video Library on the same page. If you’re hankering to hear Mike and I talk about the time Touchdown Jesus caught fire and burned down, just go to “Get Social Episodes,” find the right show, and hit “Play.” It will replace the live station with your selection—and go back to the live channel when it’s finished.

Ginghamsburg Church Hosts Family Flick

The folks out at Ginghamsburg Church are hosting a Family Flick Night on January 20, when they’ll be presenting the family animated movie “Rio.” Admission is free, but they ask that you help support their New Path Food Pantry by bringing along a canned food item as a donation for each person in your group.

And they’re inviting everyone to show up in the PJs! “Bring a blanket, pillow and your camera, as this promises to be a night you’ll never forget!” They will also be selling pizza at a nominal cost. If you have questions, please see the church website at www.ginghamsburg.org or call Kelly Flora at 667-1069, extension 260.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

“The 9/11 Machine” is Done!

It’s been a lot of work over the past six months, but I’m happy to say that my fourth book is finished.  And, as with my other two fiction books, the title changed right at the very end!  This book has been called “Rewind” for as long as I can remember, but near the end I changed it to something more “science fictiony.” Thus, “The  9/11 Machine” was born. A big box of books is on its way to my house and I’m taking pre-orders now, so if you want one, let me know by the “Contact Me” page on my website at www.gregenslen.com.

Here’s the back cover blurb:  “Dr. Donald Ellis lost everything on 9/11. He lost his wife and daughter in the south tower of the World Trade Center. But while others grieved, or plotted revenge, Dr. Ellis threw himself into a long-dormant research project. He traded his lab at the University of New York for an ugly riverfront warehouse in Brooklyn. What is he working on? And why does he spend every free moment at the warehouse standing by the river, staring across the water at Ground Zero? Because Dr. Ellis has a plan: he’s going to make 9/11 “unhappen.”

I wrote much of this book last year during November’s NaNoWriMo 2010 event—if anyone followed along with that in the column last year, you’ll know what I’m talking about.  And I’ve been working like a maniac, trying to get this one done before November and NaNoWriMo 2011 kicked in.

NaNoWriMo Starting!

Speaking of NaNoWriMo, I’m doing it again and need a group of Tipp City folks to help. If you’re interested in the challenge, visit NaNoWriMo.org and sign up, then get me your information ASAP. Starting next week, I’ll update everyone on the participants’ progress, and mine!  This year I’m tackling a long-simmering mystery I’ve wanted to pen, hopefully the first of a series of books based in Tipp City and Dayton.  Wish me luck, and follow my progress on my website, www.gregenslen.com and click on NaNoWriMo 2011.

Dark Underbelly of Tipp City

Even though Officer Mauro reminds us every week of the mischievous goings-on in Tipp City, sometimes it’s easy to forget that we don’t live in a mini Candy Land here in Tipp.

Sam had a few experiences recently that reminded her that even our quaint ‘lil Tipp City has a dark—or at least taupe—underbelly.

First, she was sitting in the drive-through at Fifth Third Bank, minding her own business, when she saw a car grind to a bumping halt on 25A in front of her. The car was being towed by a tow truck and had fallen off the hitch. Sam watched the car slowing to a stop and couldn’t help but notice that it had been “decorated” with what can only be described as a distinctive part of the male anatomy. The image had been drawn on the car in glorious black spray paint.

The gentleman towing the car, presumably abashed, parked his truck and raced back to push the car to the side of the road. Sam could only shake her head as she observed the unique scene.

The next week, she walked the kids up to Broadway after school to enjoy the playground. Nine-year-old Xander raced ahead on his bike, only to come racing back with a report that “there were teenagers on the playground and they asked me if I wanted to ‘join them for a smoke.’”

Sam investigated, only to find a gaggle of grungy teens hanging out on the playground, alternatively swearing, smoking, leaping about on the playsets, and urinating. Classy, huh? Luckily, our kids did not notice this “alternate” use of the play equipment.

Sam was too nervous to say anything to the teens, so she simply glared at them disapprovingly from across the concrete. What’s next, Tipp City? Citizens refusing to smile at one another as they walk down the street?

Out of curiosity I drove by the school again a week later, on Thursday, Oct. 27, around 4 p.m. and saw a gaggle of kids again—they looked much too old to be playing on the elementary school play equipment. I ran some errands and drove back by at 5:30 and the kids were still there.  Hey, isn’t Menards hiring? Stop smoking and get a job!

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

If you’re interested in buying a copy of “Tipp Talk, 2010,” a collection of the Tipp Talk columns from 2010, along with a number of photos and short vingettes about life in Tipp, please visit the author’s webpage at www.gregenslen.com/tipptalk/

Tipp Talk—July 6

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

Outdated Words and Phrases

This week, I’m highlighting outdated words that one just doesn’t hear anymore. Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions or caught me at the Antique show last week. I got so many that I’ll do two columns—this one on words, and another on phrases. All definitions came from dictionary.com. Here are the most interesting “words from yesteryear” that I could find:

• Anon: in a short time. One reader said that her father used to say “anon” to mean “soon.” I’d never heard that! It also appears in “ever and anon,” which means “now and then” or “occasionally.” Whatever happens, don’t confuse it with “Al-Anon,” the shortened version of Alcoholics Anonymous.
• Curmudgeon: a bad-tempered or surly person. Liz wrote in with this word, which I still use on occasion.
• Druthers: one’s own way, choice, or preference—as in, “if I had my druthers, I’d choose Hickory River instead of Smokey Bones.” I still use this word, but two people suggested it to me as being out of style. I’m not exactly sure what that means for me—maybe I need to update my language!
• Fetch: to go and bring back or return with. A reader said that this word, usually used as a dog command, might be one of the most versatile words in the English language. It means to go out, search for an object, find it, and bring it back. The reader, Susan, suggested that few words can convey so much meaning is so few letters. It can also mean the amount of money an item brings in at auction—as in, “that ugly ol’ dresser fetched $400!”
• Jeepers: a mild exclamation of surprise or emotion. This is a Tara Dixon Engel favorite, along with “gloriosky” and “gee-wilikers.” It sounds like Tara has a lot to exclaim about! If you see her at Bob Evans, tell her to try the decaf! I actually found “gloriosky” onwww.urbandictionary.com (an online dictionary that includes slang, puns, and some really dirty words), which defined it as “to think something extra ordinary or glorious.” “Golly gee wilikers” was a favorite saying of Batman’s sidekick Robin on the 1960s TV show. Maybe it’s gotten shortened to “geez,” which I hear a lot nowadays. Robin was also a fan of saying “Holy ___, Batman,” filling in the blank with something related to the plot.
• Mayhap: perhaps. This is a Shakespeare favorite, and I found it on www.phrontistery.info/archaic.html, a great listing of once-everyday words that have fallen out of favor. Oldies but goodies include “afore,” “aught,” “betwixt,” “fain,” “forsooth,” “gramercy,” “hark,” “hither,” “methinks,” “ruth,” “sweven,” “swoopstake,” “wellaway,” and “yonside.”
• Picayune: something trivial or unimportant. This word comes from the Spanish “picaioun,” meaning a small coin, which in turn comes from “picaio,” meaning money. Sam says her grandma used to pronounce it “pick-ee-ooney.”
• Ragamuffin: this term comes from the Middle English “ragamuffin,” a name for a ragged, oafish person. Most of us have heard it used to mean a dirty, disheveled child.
• Rosinear: an ear of corn. This one was difficult—Anita suggested it when she saw me at the Antiques and Artisans show, saying it was pretty common in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. I’d never heard of it, but I Googled it and found that it might be short for “roasting ear”—a cob of corn that’s good for roasting.
• Smitten: struck with a hard blow; stricken or afflicted; very much in love. The “very much in love” definition was the only one I had ever used, so I was surprised to find that meaning listed third. It seems “smitten” doesn’t always have positive connotations!
• Toots: a slang term for “babe,” “sweetie,” or “honey”—or, more negatively, “tart” or “prostitute.” My editor Tara calls everyone “Toots,” including the occasional police officer. Everyone gives her strange looks, and now she knows why, assuming she reads this column before she prints it. Tara, just tell them you’ve mistaken them for Toots Meretsky, the Canadian basketball Olympic medalist.
• Yonder: in that place or over there, or being the most distant. My folks still use this word all the time!

And I got a lot more words that I didn’t have time to research. Maybe I’ll write a book about them: “forby,” “peachy,” “piffle,” “prithee,” “sodi” instead of “soda,” “toodles,” “velocipede,” and “verily.”

Thanks to Anita, Danny, Deann, Liz, Molly, Sam, Susan, Tara, and Tonya for writing in or catching me out in public and suggesting words and phrases. You made this column so much easier!

Oh, and I learned something: “Etymology” is the study of words and phraseology, whereas “Entomology” is the study of insects. What a difference those two letters make! Oh, and I just used the word “whereas,” which made me feel very smart for about five minutes.

New Words for 2011

We’ve talked about old words … what about new ones? Every year, the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary choose a few new words to add to their tome.

This year, they added a few words that are more likely to be seen in text messages than written in a book or spoken: LOL (“laugh out loud”), OMG (“oh my gosh”) and a “heart” symbol were all added. Seriously?  Other new words include “auto-complete,” “babe,” “cryonaut,” “gender reassignment,” and “green fuel.” Try using those in a sentence together!

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

A Great Antiques and Artisans Show!

This past Saturday, more than 80 local and regional vendors lined Main Street for Tipp City’s Eighth Annual Antiques and Artisans Show. Hundreds of visitors and locals strolled downtown and enjoyed the food, entertainment, and arts and crafts dealers.

Setup began at 7:00 am, and by the time the show opened at 9:00 a.m., customers were already out in force. I was getting my booth ready and saw Terri Bessler, the event planner and organizer, strolling down Main, getting everything set up. We chatted for a second, and then she saw a lone truck driving down the middle of the street between the vendors. “That’s my ice cream guy – he’s late!” she said, before scurrying off to help him get settled.

The entertainment for the day, presented by the Tipp City Area Arts Council, included rockabilly singers, musicians, tap-dancing seniors, and a troupe of belly dancers. It’s just my opinion, but I’d argue that the belly dancers were the highlight of the day.

Well, that, and the great selection of vendors. Here are just a few of our favorites. I’m sorry to leave so many out, but if I tried to describe them all, this column would fill up the entire paper!

• Gail Stickelman’s mixed-media art. If you haven’t seen Gail’s unique framed art, you’re missing out. He combines found objects such as old tie pins with carved copper, foamcore, and drywall into shapes such as flowers or abstract forms, and mounts them in shadowboxes. In addition to the A&A Fair, Gail shows his work at Benkin’s Studio.
• Richard Garland’s craft-welded structures. I know you never thought you needed a welded sculpture for your garden made of scrap metal, but you do! We picked up a hummingbird made of old bicycle brakes for $8, and Sam’s aunt bought her a dragonfly made from metal tubing with 5/8 hex nuts for eyes. If you missed him at the A&A Fair, you can find Richard’s one-of-a-kind creatures at Hidden Treasures in West Liberty, Ohio.
• “The Stone Must Be Shown!” The creative gentleman who designs these stone pendants travels around the country with his wife, collecting raw stone from small mines in places as far afield as California, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. He has the raw stone (everything from calcite crystal to serpentine and quartz) cut and polished in Troy, then he wraps each piece in 10-, 16-, or 18-gauge silver wire, creating absolutely individual pieces. Anyone need a present for Sam? She’s dying for one!
• It was also great to see some of our local Main Street vendors participating in the fair. I spotted booths from Midwest Memories, Benkin’s, Patriot Antiques, the Earth’s Center, and Past Perfect, and there were probably others that I missed. And Tony’s, Sam & Ethel’s, and Harrison’s all were offering street food. Yum!

And a Packed Farmers’ Market!

This past Saturday was week three of the 2011 season. Antiques and Artisans day is always the most challenging in terms of planning as we work to integrate our 20ish vendors with the logistical craziness that is the Antique show. We have enough trouble keeping track of 20 vendors—I don’t know how Terri handles 80!

Even better, two of our core vendors, Muddy Truck Patch and Nashville Farms, mentioned that they saw a big increase in customers from last year’s Antiques and Artisan’s day. Nashville Farms said that they had “really loaded up their truck” this Saturday, and had sold out of almost everything by the end of the day. What a great thing for our local farmers.

Big Changes at My Booth

I had a nice time hanging out all day at the show—I had my own booth where I was selling signed copies of my three books. Tons of folks stopped by to say “hi,” give me feedback (and strange words) for this column, and bought books—in fact, I sold out of two of the three titles! Thanks to everyone for dropping by. And Kathy, you were right—I should have sat in the shade. Curse this sunburn! Where’s my aloe?

It was a big change from last year for me, and a positive one, I think. At last year’s Antiques and Artisans Show, I had a small booth set up outside the Big Robot Game Café, selling cold drinks and snacks. I was actively working to get the store ready to close, and seeing all those folks outside was bittersweet—I knew, at that point, that nothing could save the store.

I liked this year’s show better—in the past 12 months, I’ve closed the store, spent a lot more time with my family and friends, and written and published two books, and revised and published a third. My stress level is way down, too—the only thing I’m worried about now is a self-imposed August deadline to publish my fourth book, “Rewind.”

If you’re interested in reading more about Big Robot closing, grab a copy of Tipp Talk 2010. Besides all of my Tipp Talk columns from 2010 I wrote several short vignettes about life in Tipp. One’s about my closing down the Big Robot and the reaction from the community. It’s guaranteed to make you cry.

A Quick Price Comparison

Samantha got stuck watching my booth for me on a couple of occasions, so she didn’t get a chance to do any price comparisons at the Market, but they’ll be back next week!

Outdated Words and Phrases

Next week, barring any other big news, I’ll have that column highlighting outdated words and phrases that one just doesn’t hear that often any more, like “yonder” or “dithering.” If you have any, send them to me!

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page. And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

Kicking off the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market!

The fifth season of the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market kicked off this past Saturday with sunny skies and a street full of vendors and customers enjoying this summer institution.  I have to say that I’m a little partial to the Farmers’ Market, because I was one of the founders!  My friend Reed Spencer and I were brainstorming back in 2006 about ways to bring more shoppers and visitors downtown, and the subject of a farmers’ market kept coming up.

I used to live in Burke, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., and I enjoyed the farmers’ market there.  It was nothing like the Tipp market—they had 40 or 50 vendors, spread across a huge parking lot—it was nice to get fresh-from-the-farm foods, crafts, and flowers.  There was even a beekeeper who sold freshly harvested honey with pieces of comb in big mason jars.

The farmers’ market in Burke was a reminder that there was a life outside the beltway, without all the hustle and bustle and traffic and stress. And when Samantha talked me into moving back to Ohio, I realized that the small-town feel here was one of the things I missed most about living in the Midwest.

With the support of the Downtown Tipp City Partnership and many co-conspirators, Reed and I kicked off the first Tippecanoe Famers’ Market in 2006.

Planning Underway for Months

And, here we are, five years later. Throughout the spring, the Farmers’ Market Committee has been meeting regularly, recruiting sponsors, vendors and volunteers, preparing for this year’s Market.  Frank Scenna and Rebecca Woodward are leading the charge this year, and our committee recruited a great group of sponsors: PeCo, Re/Max, Tipp of the Town, Posh Apparel, DJ’s Pizza, Kanoe Café, One Call Now, and the Tippecanoe Gazette.

We put together a schedule for the Hip-in-Tipp Booth, which highlights one local nonprofit each week, and our KIDZ Booth, a free space where young people can sell their own handmade or homegrown products.

We also welcomed several awesome new volunteers, but we’re still looking for a few more helpers. Interested in joining us?  Email volunteer coordinator Sonya Lyons at slyons97@yahoo.com to get on our schedule. And if you have one of our green yard signs, please put it out!

Welcome Back Vendors!

Many favorite vendors from Markets past have returned for the 2011 Tipp Farmers’ Market season. Here are a few:

• Muddy Truck Patch—Muddy Truck Patch owner Richard Macy is from a long line of farmers. His great-grandfather started an 80-acre produce farm and farmers’ market long ago. He passed that farm down to his son, and he, along with Richard’s father and other relatives, worked it until the land was acquired by the airport. “My father then started his own small truck patch and went into the wholesale business,” said Macy. “When my father retired and I took over, I decided to expand and try my hand at farmers’ markets, while still doing the wholesale supply. Now I do 10 to 12 acres of produce and specialty crops, and usually bring everything from A to Z to the market.”
• Scarff’s—Scarff’s Nursery is a family-owned wholesale nursery located in New Carlisle, known locally and nationally for their gorgeous, healthy plants. Presently growing on approximately 600 acres, they truck everything from evergreen shrubs to shade trees, ornamental trees, and perennials to the market every week. If you stop by, take a minute to thank them for sponsoring the landscaping work at our Veteran’s Memorial over on Hyatt.  Their contribution there often goes unrecognized.
• Snyder’s Spring Run Farm—Providing a large selection of perennials, annuals, baskets, flowers and cut flowers, Spring Run Farm and CSA is a welcome respite for its members and friends. Located just eight miles from the center of Dayton, Ohio and with 58 acres of rolling fields, woods and streams, the farm offers opportunities for building community, celebrations and plenty of fresh air.
• Nashville Farms—Owned and Operated by Jeff and Kim Wheeler, this Troy-based farm boasts fresh-grown vegetables, from peppers and tomatoes to unique varieties of corn.  Sam particularly enjoys their Harvest decorations, including corn shocks, heirloom pumpkins, and hay bales.
• Other returning favorites include BF Berry Farm, Coonskin Sugarbush Ohio Syrup, Ear-Resistables by Anita, Hidden Pond Farms, and Nosnitka’s Fruit Farm.

And a Few New Faces…

And we’ve signed up a whole host of new vendors this year. Some of the newest include:

• Brain Rock – Finally, breakfast at the Market! Matt Wrhel brings a whole booth filled with wholesome fruit salads and fresh-made oatmeal with your choice of toppings, along with fresh-brewed coffee. Yeah!
• All My Heart Photography is run by Sarah Trick.  She offers original photos, matted and ready for framing.
• Harmony Farms brings a variety of western and Asian lettuces to the market, some for salads and some for cooking.
• Consider the Lilies and Creative Designs by Liv offer wreaths, garden décor, stationary and birdhouses.
• Cookie Crazed Mama offers fresh, homemade cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, mini pies and bars, and Sisters’ Cookies and Cakes will offer cupcakes, cakes, cookies, and scones.
• Galbi Girls offers handmade girls’ accessories and doll clothes, including jewelry, purses, hair bows, and barrettes designed to fit the “American Girl” dolls. Check out the “cheetah” fur coats!
• Jewelry by Forest sells handmade jewelry created using semi-precious stones twisted with delicate threads of silver.
• And KB Pottery.  Katherine’s been hard at work all winter, throwing a wide selection of clay pots, bowls, coffee mugs, and birdhouses, all beautifully glazed.

More to Come

With the weather outside getting drier and summer quickly approaching, the Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market will only get better as more of our vendors harvest their crops and bring them to the Market.  We’re sure to add a few more vendors, here and there, so keep checking back.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and drop me a line using the “Contact Me” page.  And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

I was up late all last week and over the weekend, wrapping up “Tipp Talk,” and now it’s off at the printers!  I decided to go in and add a bunch of pictures (over 40!) to spice the book up even more.  ANYWAY, the books are ordered and on their way to me, so NOW is your last chance to preorder the book at $2.00 off the cover price.  Shoot me an email and let me know if you want me to save you one!

About the Book

“Tipp Talk,” a weekly newspaper column, explores life in small-town America. Covering the 2010 calendar year, this collection recounts the changes and challenges, events and activities that took place in Tipp City, Ohio. These recollections are interspersed with vignettes about day-to-day life, including thoughts on the writer’s decision to shutter his downtown business and why small-town life is something to be coveted, not avoided.

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

Tipp City Community Gardens

Looking for a place to garden this year but don’t have a lot of room?  Well, Gardens Alive and Spring Hill Nurseries are opening up their famous Display Gardens and offering free plots for Tipp City residents.

The new Tipp City Community Garden will provide free 9×12Ꞌ gardening plots, along with seeds, fertilizer, mulch, and access to water. In addition, Gardens Alive will make experts available to offer advice on gardening-related issues. There will also be a storage shed where gardeners can access supplies provided by Gardens Alive or store their own tools.

If you’d like to join the Garden, contact the Display Garden manager, Craig Harmer, at 667-2491 x3085 or at craig@gardensalive.com. You can also “like” the Garden’s Facebook page to receive news and updates.

Plots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is very limited. So sign up soon if you’re interested!

Temporary Lane Closures Coming to Main Street Bridge Over I-75

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced this week that they will be repairing the West Main Street bridge over I-75 March 21 through June 15. Since the number of lanes will temporarily drop from five to two, traffic on Main Street will likely be a problem. Get ready to plan alternate routes or try to use the bridge at non-peak times—remember, they’ll be working 24 hours a day.

Last round of sickness? Maybe?

Katie and I have both come down with what I can only hope is our final cold of the season. Both of us have asthma, and over the last couple days, we’ve needed our inhalers around the clock. For me, getting a cold always triggers my asthma, which is very mild the rest of the time.

Poor Katie has a special face mask designed just for babies that helps her breathe in the solution from the inhaler. She fought it at first, but now she’s gotten used to it, and maybe even realizes that it’s helping her to breathe.

It was the H1N1 that got her last year, we think. She had it when she was just a couple months old, and the doctor told us that it can be pretty hard on little lungs. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed that she’ll grow out it over time as she gets bigger and stronger.

Bus Tour to Buckeye Stadium

Katie Sonnanstine over at TMCS let me know that there are only seven seats left on the tour bus heading to OSU on April 7.  You’ll get to go behind the scenes at the Ohio Stadium on a guided tour that takes you inside the storied history of Buckeye Football, including lunch at the Varsity Club, a tour of the Anthony Thomas candy factory, and time to explore the North Market, famous for its baked goods and produce.

The deadline to register is March 30. To sign up, call 667-8631 or go to www.tmcomservices.org.  Also, Katie also wanted me to mention that they have a Turbo Kick demonstration and class soon.  Turbo Kick is a mix of kickboxing and simple dance moves set to heart pounding music. The free demonstration will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 8:30 am at the TMCS building, and then the ten-week class begins March 26.

Spring Forward

Why does springing forward — that is, moving your clocks an hour ahead — always feel like falling backward to me? I’m losing either an hour of sleep or an hour of my day on Sunday. So I’m behind on everything, not ahead. Right?  On the other hand, I love when you turn your clocks back in the fall. It’s like a mini-vacation.

Community Calendar

Tipp Citian Olive Wright, who I met at the Art for the Heart event two weeks ago, called me this week to discuss an idea she’d been mulling over. She’s been wondering why there isn’t some type of community calendar in town that would allow different groups to view upcoming events before making scheduling decisions.

Olive said she noticed that some of the organizations in town don’t seem to be aware of what else is going on when they make their plans. She mentioned that the Catholic Church and the Zion Lutheran Church had scheduled themed dinners on the same evening, making it difficult for folks to support both causes. I agree with her—there’s no reason spaghetti and sauerkraut should have to compete for attention!

Anyone have an idea on a simple way to collect this kind of information and publish it? Likely candidates for organizing this might be Community Services, the library, the Chamber, DTCP, or maybe our own Tippecanoe Gazette.  I love the idea of a community calendar in town and I know that Community Services runs a pretty comprehensive one, but I don’t know if folks in town are used to checking it before scheduling new events. Anyone know?

Antique and Artisans Show — Sign up now

Planning is underway for the 8th Annual Antique & Artisans show. It’s coming up Saturday, June 25, from 9:00 to 4:00, and registration is open now. This show has been great for years—Ruth Safreed, and now Terri Besssler of Midwest Memories, have taken this small event and turned it into something that draws a lot of folks to town. For the past two years, the show has stretched the length of Main Street from First to Fourth, with a carefully curated set of artists and antique dealers

I’ve got my application all filled out—I just need to get the check written and walk it up to Midwest Memories. I’m getting a table to sell copies of my books and take advantage of the huge crowds that show up.  I’ll see you there!

If you’d like to participate, download a registration form at http://dtcp.org/events/antiqueshow. Early registration ends April 1.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and use the “Contact Me” page to let me know what you’re thinking.  And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

What’s Open on Sunday?

A few months back, I wrote an item about shops with Sunday hours in Tipp City. I had a lot of good luck with the Big Robot Game Café being open on Sundays—of course, my target audience was schoolkids, so weekend hours made sense. I wish more of the regular shops were open on Sunday.  Anyone have a good list of what shops and restaurants are regularly open? If so, send them in and I’ll print a list in a future column.

Spring is Coming … Slowly but Surely

This week saw some bitterly cold weather, but also some definite signs of spring. Tulips are starting to push up in our side yard. The cats want to be outside all day, and half the time they want to be outside at night, too. Most notably, we stopped by Menard’s on Sunday, and the place was packed! It looked like everyone in town was gearing up to start doing yard work. And in fact, Tipp Pride Day is coming up in just six weeks, on April 16. So start planning what you’re going to put in the yard this year … or whether it’s time to repaint the garage or the shed out back.

My own personal sign of the season is seeing Sam get spring fever. As soon as it starts getting even slightly warm, she starts madly planning all the home improvement projects she wants to do over the next few months. And that means a “honey-do” list is just around the corner …

Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market

Planning for this year’s Tipp Farmers’ Market is well under way—we’ve mailed out Vendor Applications to past vendors and folks that have contacted us since last year.  If you know anyone interested in vending, or are interested yourself, please contact me and we’ll get you an application.

We’re still looking for volunteers, especially to help us set up and break down the Market each week.  Interested in helping out?  Want to meet some new people and get involved in the community? We could use you!

Remember, this year we’ve significantly reduced the cost of selling at the Market. There’s now a flat fee of just $50 to “join the Market.” Once you join, you can sell as often as you want – hopefully every week!  The 2011 Market will begin in June and run through September on Saturday mornings in downtown Tipp City. We’ll feature fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and other items from a great group of vendors.  See you at the Market!

Register ASAP for Flag Football … and Turbo Kick!

Reminder — for anyone who wants to try out Community Services’ new Flag Football league, registration ends this Friday, March 11. You can stop by the TMCS office, or download an application at www.tmcomservices.org under “Programs.”

The NFL-affiliated program is for both boys and girls, grades 3 through 8, and offers a more relaxed alternative to the youth football program offered through Tipp City Schools. Can’t wait for Anna and Xander to give it a try—it should be a lot of fun.

For adults who are starting to think about getting “bikini ready” (or “swim-trunk ready,” for us guys), Community Services has Turbo Kick programs starting at the beginning of April. This is another new TMCS offering, a combination of “kickboxing and simple dance moves set to heart-pounding music.” They even have a low-impact version for people who want to get moving but aren’t quite ready to start jumping up and down. You can register for these classes online, also at www.tmcomservices.org.

Gallery Opening at Studio 14

Last Friday’s opening at Studio 14 Gallery of Fine Art was great. Even though it was a rainy night, there were a lot of people who braved the weather to see the outstanding collection, which featured Sandra Picciano-Brand’s jewelry and sculptures, David Brand’s bronze vessels, fine art enamels by Evelyn Staub, and oil paintings by Rusty Harden.  If you missed the opening, no worries—the show will run from March 4 to April 24 at the Gallery, located at 14 East Main, in the loft of the Benkin Building.

I was invited to sign copies of my books and had a blast—it was great to hang out with the artists and supporters of the arts in Tipp City, including most of the Tipp City Area Arts Council.  I also collected a few preorders for my third book, Tipp Talk 2010—Dispatches from an Ohio Town, which should be coming out at the end of this month. If you’d like to place an order and save $2 on the cover price, contact me at www.gregenslen.com. I’ll reserve a copy for you, and even sign it!

Dogs in Trouble—How to Help

By now, most of you have probably heard about the two “no-kill shelters” that were recently shut down—one in Piqua, and one Clark County. Both were found to be hoarder cases, in which the dogs were not being properly cared for and were living in highly unsanitary conditions. At the Piqua location, some 100 dogs were found. At the Bethel location, it was much worse—350 live dogs were found, along with 76 dead ones. So much for the “no-kill” philosophy.

Thanks to a huge effort by the Clark County Humane Society, the ASPCA, the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) of Clark and Franklin County, D.R.E.A.M. for Pets, and countless other volunteer citizens and vets, the dogs were rescued and moved to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio.

The dogs now being cleaned and cared for, assessed by veterinarians, and given any medical attention required. However, the need for ongoing help is tremendous. The rescue effort is costing more than $3,500 per day, and some 700 blankets and towels are being used each day. Unbelievable. If you’d like to help, either by volunteering or making a donation, here’s what to do:

• To help at the Fairgrounds—with feeding or just socializing with the animals—contact Lisa D’Allessandris at the Clark County EMA, at 937-605-0576.
• To donate needed funds, make checks payable to the Clark County Humane Society Rescue Fund and mail them to CCHS, 5201 Urbana Road, Springfield OH 45502.
• To donate towels or blankets, you can stop by a special collection point this Saturday, March 12, 9–11 a.m., at 3931 S. Dixie Dr. Or you can take them directly to the Franklin County Fairgrounds at 4100 Columbia St. in Hilliard, approximately 4.5 miles off of Exit 91 on I-70.
• To volunteer with Miami County’s newest rescue agency, which is closely involved in this effort, contact Cindy Hartnagel at D.R.E.A.M. for Pets at Petsrrpassion@gmail.com.
• To consider adopting one of the rescued pets, contact CCHUS at 937-339-2917 or visit www.clarkhumane.org.

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk?” Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and use the “Contact Me” page to let me know what you’re thinking.  And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!

Events, activities and other hometown items going on in Tipp City, Ohio, by Greg Enslen

Gallery Opening at Studio 14

Studio 14 Benkin Gallery of Fine Art will be holding an opening gala for their new show, “Out of the Depths,” running from March 4 to April 24.  The Opening Reception will be held this Friday, March 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gallery, located at 14 East Main, in the Loft of the Benkin Building.

Sandra Picciano-Brand’s jewelry and sculptures will be featured, along with David Brand’s bronze vessels, fine art enamels by Evelyn Staub, and oil paintings by Rusty Harden.  For more information, see their website at www.studio14gallery.com or visit their Facebook page.

Along with all of these accomplished artists will be a writer—me! Evelyn has graciously invited me to sign books at the reception, so I’ll have to shave and get pretty, for once.  I’ll have copies of both of my books for sale, and I’ll also be taking preorders for my third book, coming out this month.  I hope to see you all there, and remember, if you like having art galleries in Tipp City, swing by and buy something. The jewelry they are showing looks amazing. (That’s true, and it’s also a big hint, guys—Mother’s Day is just around the corner.)

Tippecanoe Farmers’ Market

Planning for this year’s Tipp Farmers’ Market is well under way—we’ve had two meetings and volunteers on the committee have signed up for tasks, but we’re still looking for more folks, especially to help us set up and break down the Market each week.  Interested in helping out?  Want to meet some new people and get involved in the community? We could use you—just visit the “Contact Me” page on my website at www.gregenslen.com and I’ll get back to you.

The big news is that we’re reducing the cost of selling at the Market. This year, there’s a flat fee of just $50 to “join the Market.” Once you join, you can sell as often as you want – hopefully every week!  This system should make selling at the Market a lot more affordable, and make running the Market a lot easier for the volunteers, who will no longer have to collect weekly fees from the vendors.

We’re preparing vendor applications, which should go out this week to all of our current and ex-vendors.  If you know anyone interested in vending, or are interested yourself, please contact me and we’ll get you an application.

The 2011 Market will begin in June and run through September on Saturday mornings in downtown Tipp City. We’ll feature fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and other items from a great group of vendors.  See you at the Market!

Basketball Redux

I don’t know if I would be an official proud papa if I didn’t take the opportunity to note that Xander, my son, made a three-pointer in his basketball game last Sunday. Go Xander! And Annabelle scored four baskets the same week in her Upward league. It’s so exciting to see her “driving” down the court, dribbling like mad, with the other first graders falling like leaves in her wake. Well, that last part was an exaggeration . . . but what can I say? When you’re proud of your kids, you have a tendency to exaggerate.

Preorder My “Tipp Talk 2010” Book

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been working on putting all of my 2010 “Tipp Talk” columns together into a book, and I’m happy to say it’s coming out this month!  I’m taking preorders on the book now.  Preorders are $13.99 for folks who get on the list before the release date—after that, the price will be $15.99.  Use the “Contact Me” link on my website, located at www.gregenslen.com, to reserve a copy.

I got the idea for the book last fall when I was browsing through some of 2010’s Gazettes, rereading the news and revisiting what I wrote about in my column. It struck me that it would be neat to see all the columns together in one place, creating a snapshot of what it was like to be in Tipp City last year. Of course, I didn’t cover everything going on in Tipp, but looking at the columns together, they do give a sense of what small-town life is like here in Tipp—the good and the bad.

While I was pulling everything together, I wrote a few vignettes about some other things that have happened over the past few years in Tipp, such as the start of the Farmers’ Market, the founding of the Canal Jumpers baseball team, and my decision to close the Big Robot. I also created an index at the back of the book, to make it easier for folks to find things they’re interested in, from the Historical Society to Community Services.  If you’re interested in preordering a copy, just let me know!

Check In With Me

Hear something interesting for “Tipp Talk”? Visit my website at www.gregenslen.com and use the “Contact Me” page to let me know what you’re thinking.  And don’t worry—I won’t quote you unless you want me to!