Downtown Lights - Photo by Andrea Nay

The below correspondence was sent to the attention of all members of City Council by email on 9/2/2010

Members of Council… and Friends.

As council members you are tasked with the responsibility (unenviable at times) of making smart and sometimes difficult decisions.

I have heard the comments regarding the difficulty some have in spending electric funds on Christmas Lights this year and agree that it is a difficult decision with the general fund deficits. However, when looked at through the lens of rationality the electric fund is fully funded and “rich” enough to support their installation this year and for years to come. There is a reason why the electric fund has money for Christmas Lights, and it is not because we have been overcharging residents for electricity. (On the contrary, we enjoy the lowest electric rates in the State of Ohio)

It is because we have been fiscally responsible with those electric fund monies. The same is true with the other utility fund (water).

Now.. This leaves the General Fund an accounting category which is the bane of executive managers the world over. The fund where all discretionary and emergency funds are pulled from. The fund takes the wealth from all undirected and unpredictable fund sources (income taxes, fees, use taxes, permits, etc.) and this cache is pulled from to pay for all variable expenses such as salaries, capital expenditures, etc. Therefore, there is a direct impact on the City’s ability to pay for unplanned and increasingly expensive costs with a shrinking income base (less jobs + less business profits = less income tax).

I would consider the reduction or elimination of the Christmas Lights this year to be just as punitive (and petty) as threatening residents with reducing necessary public services such as police and fire. The City of Tipp City most definitely needs to “get a haircut” in many categories of expense, but reducing expenses in a liquid and well managed fund category is not the smart way to go. With the 5-year and 10-year Capital Improvements Plan and pending budget reviews, you all have the ability to figure out how to best fund the General Fund needs without pillaging or impacting the best things you have going for the City. Demand that your City Manager provide you with clear and immediate budgetary accounting that shows who is paid for what, where do the lines of income intersect with expense and an analysis of how our employee salaries compare to the public sector?  “Look under the rock whence ye are hewn”. – The Prophet Isaiah

Outside all of the sentimental comments you have received regarding the Christmas Lights, the downtown businesses have grown to depend on the lights creating a ripe shopping atmosphere that builds interest and sales in our downtown. Less sales downtown directly equates to less income going into the General Fund. Please don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. Keep the lights on Downtown.

Regards,

Mike McDermott
Downtown Resident and Business Owner

I discovered today that in addition to email correspondence like this, there is a petition signing campaign that has started to keep the Christmas lights on Downtown. The City Council meeting on September 20th when Council votes on the Christmas lights should prove to be very interesting… I highly recommend your attendance.

A who’s who in Christian music will fill the Nutter Center with the sounds of paradise on October 29 for the ‘Make A Difference Tour 2010’ featuring Michael W. Smith, TobyMac, and Third Day. The collection of artists are uniting in support of the goal of best selling author and minister, Max Lucado to positively change the lives of needy children all across the world.

The tour is inspired by Lucado’s forthcoming book, ‘Outlive Your Life: You Were Made To Make A Difference.’ The hope is for audiences to make a difference by becoming sponsors of 25,000 children through World Vision. The goal was set by Lucado in honor of his 25th year in publishing.

“It feels great to be a part of the Make A Difference Tour. It’s definitely something you don’t want to try and compete against. For fans of Christian music, it doesn’t get any better,” said Tai Anderson of Third Day.

The bass player for Third Day, Anderson is not only excited for the glorious music that the tour will create in 20 different cities but also for its purpose. Often the focus of performances is leading others to Christ, rather than putting those with an established faith into action. “I really like the spirit of this tour. It’s assumed that 95% or most of the audience who would come to the show already know Christ, so we can encourage them to take that next step and make a difference in the kingdom of God,” he said.

Based in Atlanta, Third Day has sold over six million albums, accumulated 24 GMA Dove Awards, four Grammy’s, an American Music Award and achieved a number of other accolades. Their latest project, ‘Move,’ will be released on October 18, featuring the already hit single; Lift Up Your Face.

While on the Make A Difference Tour, due to sharing the stage time as opposed to a full solo concert, Third Day will mainly focus on playing their well known songs from the past, such as ’Cry Out to Jesus.’ The trio of artists expect to collaborate on some songs together, which is something that can’t be seen anywhere else. “Those are going to be some You Tube moments,” Anderson laughed.

Also appearing will be Lucado, sharing his spirited message. His presence, referred to as the ‘Max Factor,’ is a nice compliment to the music.

Fans of Christian music and those who are willing to serve God by helping those in need, can make a difference by attending on October 29. Tickets are on sale now at the Nutter Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or can charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.

For us veteran residents of the South side of Tipp City’s Downtown district the odor is very familiar. As a part of the canning process each evening the employees of Tipp Top Canning empty out the sludge from the boiler vats and drain them behind the driving range at Kyle Park. The watery tomato sludge is not toxic, however the aroma does smell something like… wait for it… raw sewage.

The foul smelling aroma was particularly strong today and was reported to the City by residents and businesses several miles away. When the wind is just right, the smell comes right across town. During the late summer months there are many aromas that come from Tipp Top Canning based on what they are working on. Sometimes there is a strong odor of tomatoes and garlic, or onion, or even basil (my personal favorite downtown aroma).

Tipp Top Canning, in business since 1924 on South First Street, Downtown has not changed anything that they have been doing for decades, it just so happens that this morning the winds were coming from the south-east, driving the foul smells across the residential and business district instead of the cornfields to the east.

Thanks to the numerous reports to local TV stations, Tipp City will make the nightly news on WHIO Channel 7. Check it out!

Pictured are Kevin Day (right) and Chairperson Anthony Day.

The speaker at the August 25, 2010 Tipp City Rotary Club meeting was Kevin Day.  Kevin is the Vice President of Market Research for Big Lots, Inc.  Kevin graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors degree in Geography and an MBA from The Ohio State University.  Kevin began his career with the Kroger Co. and then for Big Lots in the real estate division.  Kevin has been with Big Lots for 22 years all within the Real Estate division.  Kevin’s presentation gave a brief history of Big Lots, and described the changes Big Lots has seen through the 80s to now.  Kevin finished by describing the current business model that Big Lots follows and how the vision for the future is both bright and expanding.

Marianne Bettag (Died August 30, 2010)

BETTAG, Marianne age 58 of Tipp City passed away Monday, August 30, 2010 at Miami Valley Hospital after a hard fought battle against leukemia. She was born November 20, 1951 in Piqua, Ohio. A graduate of University of Evansville, Marianne joined the US Navy, serving as a Navy nurse. Marianne completed her Navy service as a reservist and was a Commander at the time of her death. Returning to the Miami Valley after her active duty, Marianne worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree and moved to the Prenatal and Women’s Health Clinic at the Montgomery County Combined Health District, where she worked for twenty-nine years. Marianne was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Eugene Bettag. She is survived by her daughter, Megan Bettag, son David Bettag and daughter-in-law Lindsey (Poffenberger) Bettag. She is survived by her parents, Harold and Myrna Lou (Bader) Warner of Bradford, OH and Willcox, AZ. Also surviving are her 4 siblings: Julia and Glen Vickery, David and Marge Warner, Emily Warner and Mike Moutoux, and Dan and DeeDee Warner. Other survivors include mother-in-law Irene Bettag, brothers and sisters-in-law Dan and MaryAnn Bettag, Ron and Dianne Bettag, Tony and Annie Bettag, Bill Bettag, Joan and Chuck Caldemeyer, and Gerald and Beth Bettag. A host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews survive. The family wished to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Miami Valley Hospital, especially the staff of the Bone and Marrow Transplant Unit and Dr. Tarek Sabagh and Associates for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Donor Services, P.O Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, or the National Marrow Donor Program at BeTheMatch.org or to a charity of your choice. Visitation will be at the FRINGS AND BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME, 327 W. Main St., Tipp City, Ohio at noon, Friday September 3, 2010. Funeral Services will follow at 2:00PM.

Alfred Psczulkoski
(Died August 29, 2010)

Age 92 of Tipp City went to be with the Lord on Sunday August 29, 2010 after a brief illness. Alfred was born to Ferdinand and Agnes on February 6, 1918 in Dayton, Ohio. He was a member of the Saint John’s Catholic Church as well as a life member of the American Legion Post 586 and VFW Post 4615. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Genevieve of Tipp City, daughters Nancy Ferguson of Dayton and Carol (Eric) English of Tipp City, grandchildren Norman and Michael, Jenny, Andrew, Evan and great grandchildren Aiden and Grace and daughter in law Terri, of Tipp City. He was preceded in death by his son Alfred J Psczulkoski JR. Alfred was discharged from the Army in 1946 after serving in the Pacific theater in WWII and later reenlisted in the Air Force Reserves. He retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base where he worked as a civil servant until 1978. He and his family are proud of his lifetime of service to his country. After retiring he moved to Florida with his childhood sweetheart where he was an active member in his neighborhood watch program as well as the Air Force Sergeants Association. Alfred will be missed by those whose lives he touched. A celebration of Alfred’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to FRINGS AND BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME 327 W. Main St. Tipp City, Ohio 45371 www.fringsandbayliff.com

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Columbus, Ohio September 1, 2010. The Ohio Academy of Science today selected 115 Ohio schools and 418 teachers to receive Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities for their accomplishments during the 2009-2010 school year. The Ohio Department of Education will issue special Governor’s Award certificates.

“These schools are engaged in project-based curricula, the central element of any *STEM education program. Receiving a Governor’s Award for Excellence sends a clear signal that these schools and teachers value student-originated, inquiry-based science education as outlined in the Ohio Science Education Standards and in the National Science Education Standards. Whole new worlds of opportunities open up to students when they complete research or technological design projects”
- Lynn Elfner, the Academy’s CEO.

To qualify for the Governor’s Award, each school conducted a local science fair with 20 or more students, sent one or more of these students to one of the Academy’s 16 district science days, and involved students in one or more youth science opportunities beyond the classroom such as State Science Day, visits to museums, mentorship programs and extended field trips.

The Ohio Academy of Science initiated this educational partnership program in cooperation with The Office of The Governor and the Ohio Department of Education to recognize schools and teachers who stimulate student scientific research and extend science education opportunities beyond traditional classroom activities. The Technology Division of The Ohio Department of Development has supported this program since 1985 by grants to The Ohio Academy of Science.

About The Ohio Academy of Science

The Ohio Academy of Science strives to be the leading organization in Ohio to foster curiosity, discovery, and innovation and to unite all who value education, science, engineering, technology, and their applications to benefit society. See the Academy’s website at http://www.ohiosci.org

Editor’s note: *STEM is science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Tippecanoe Middle School Honored

Tippecanoe Middle School students who participated in and received this prestigious award:
Mark Mays
Meredith Conner
Len Kenyon
Curt Earl
Dale Bonifas
Greg Kinnison
Jennifer Wysocki

Link to the full Press Release from the Ohio Academy of Science

TIPP CITY, Ohio – The Downtown Tipp City Partnership’s current Board members, committee Chairs, and past Board members all gathered on Friday, August 27 for a strategic planning session with Ohio Heritage. Jeff Siegler, Director of Revitalization at Heritage Ohio, traveled to Tipp City to learn about the mission of the Downtown Tipp City Partnership (DTCP) and help guide the organization toward more successful opportunities.

After a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and downtown Tipp City, the group was able to determine specific goals to focus on for the coming year. Each committee of the DTCP, Organization, Promotions, Design, and Economic Restructuring, will be centered on specific projects that will continue to fund and strengthen the group.

“Our team of volunteers are focused on enhancing and preserving the downtown area, but it is always important to take a step back and reevaluate the direction and projects of the group,” said Matt Owen. “We want our retailers, restaurants and other businesses in downtown Tipp to know there is a strong focused group of individuals promoting the area to bring people inside the stores and enhance the image.

One area of focus as an overall Board will be fundraising, so we can expand our reach and communications within the region. The Organization committee will continue to focus on the internal functionality of the group including recruitment of board members and volunteers, as well as the financial status. Additionally, Promotions will work toward a better web presence during the coming year and an evaluation of our overall events. The Design committee will continue to focus on building enhancements with the Façade Improvement Program and work closely with the City of Tipp City to be sure we are enhancing the visitor experience via signage and historical preservation. Finally, Economic Restructuring will turn their focus toward building relationships with the local merchants and understanding how the DTCP can retain these businesses for the long-term of the community.

The Downtown Tipp City Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Heritage Ohio with the mission to enhance, preserve, and promote downtown Tipp City. The DTCP meets on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. at Tipp Monroe Community Services. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact Matt Owen, Executive Director, at 937.667.0883 or visit www.dtcp.org.

Ohio Heritage is the Statewide Main Street Coordinating Program in Ohio, as designated by the National Main Street Center. More information available at www.heritageohio.org.