Miami Valley Life Chain

   Mark your calendar now for the Miami Valley Life Chain that will take place on October 2nd from 2:00 to 3:30pm. For further information email at home.woh.rr.com/prayforlife or call Sharon Hart at (937) 886-9350.

   Beauty and the Beast:

   Beauty and the Beast will be performed at the LaComedia Dinner Theatre through August 28th. LaComedia is located off Rt. 73 in Springboro, Ohio. Tickets on sale range from $41 to $51. Children 11 and under are only $25. For further information or to reserve tickets call (937) 746-4554 or 1(800)677-9505 or visit www.lacomedia.com.

   Charity Walk in Middletown:

   On Saturday, October 1st, a charity walk will take place to raise money for families of fallen firefighters. It will go on from noon to 4pm at Smith Park in Middletown. Interested walkers and sponsors should register at www.firefighterwives.com.

   Art Exhibit:

   John Hibbitts’ collage art work will be exhibited through October at the Color Purple Art Gallery. It’s located at 144 East Third Street in Dayton Ohio. For more information call 937-277-5531.

   Shedding Light on the Mysteries of Investing & Planning Your Estate:

   The Gables at Singing Woods will host a panel discussion in conjunction with KeyBank’s McDonald Financial Group on Tuesday August 16, 2005 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Everyone attending will receive a free gift. For reservations call the Gables at 937-274-1400.

   Laser, Light & Music Shows and Five Rivers Fountain of Lights:

   This is the final month of free Laser, Light & Music Shows at Riverscape MetroPark. The show runs on Thursdays following Big Band Nights, on most Friday and Saturday evenings and on Dayton Dragon home game nights through Labor Day weekend. Shows will be presented in August on the 5,6,11,12,13,18,19,20,25,26,27,29,30,31 and in September on the 1,2 & 3 at 9:30 p.m. RiverScape MetroPark is located at 111 E. Monument Ave. between Jefferson St. and Patterson Blvd. Call (937) 274-0126 or go to www.riverscape.org with any questions.

   Horseback Riding Centers at MetroPark:

   Visit the horseback riding centers at MetroParks this August on weekends, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Riding center activities are weather permitting; reservations are recommended. Carriage Hill Riding Center, 8111 E. Shull Road, is located at Carriage Hill MetroPark past the historical farm. Call (937) 878-8940. Old National Trail Riding Center at Englewood MetroPark is at 980 Patty’s Rd. off Frederick Rd., north of S.R. 40. Call (937) 890-7766. Sugarcreek Riding Center, 7636 Wilmington-Dayton Road, is at Sugarcreek MetroPark, south of SR 725. Call (937) 438-5569.

   Friday Night Cruise-Ins:

   Friday Night Cruise-Ins will be held at Eastwood MetroPark Lake on Fridays through September 16, 4-8:30 p.m. Use entrance at 1401 Harshman Rd., north of the Mad River. For details, contact Robin McCaffrey at (937) 256-1038.

   Wegerzyn Courthouse Square Market:

   Browse the offerings at the Wegerzyn Farmer’s Market at Courthouse Square. Located at Courthouse Square, Main Street between 2nd & 3rd streets. Market continues on Mondays through October 31. Rain or shine. Call (937) 277-6545 with any questions.

   Forest Park Baptist Church Family Festival:

   On Saturday, September 10 Forest Park Baptist Church invites you to join them for their 7th Annual “Praises in the Park” from 3-9pm. This outdoor festival is free and will be held at 1255 West Kemper Road in Forest Park. There will be free music, food, door prizes and games for the children. For more information contact the church office at (937) 825-2727.

   Joshua Jazz Band Concert:

   Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark will be hosting a concert by the Joshua Jazz Band on Saturday, August 6 from 3-5pm. Free swing dance lessons will be given prior to the concert at 2 p.m. No partner is required. It will be located at the Wegerzyn Center Auditorium, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Call (937) 277-6545 with any questions.

   RiverScape MetroPark Summer Music Series:

   Local entertainers will play at RiverScape MetroPark the following Saturdays, from 7:30-9:30 pm: August 6, Nicky Kay, August 20 and September 3, Laurens & Zydeco Fire. The following Sundays will feature Family Sundays from 2-4pm: August 7, Cincinnati’s Caribbean ensemble, Bacchanal Steel band, and September 4 will feature musical fun for the little ones with Dorie and the Daddios. Call (937) 274-0126 or visit www.riverscape.org for more information.

   Health Care for All Ohioans:

   Miami Valley supporters of a proposed nonpartisan plan for assuring healthcare for all Ohioans will hold a town hall meeting on Wednesday, August 10th at 7PM. It will be held at the ALF-CIO Regional Union Hall at 4127 East Second Street. For further information contact Sheila Conard at (937) 299-7536 or email at gmvspan@aol.com.

   National City 2nd Street Public Market:

   Located in the historic Outbound Freight House at 600 East 2nd Street in Dayton, the Market is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 am – 3pm and Saturdays from 8 am – 3 pm. On Thursday, August 11th take a Basket Weaving class or on Saturday, August 13th, listen to jazz musician Tim Jennens. The 2nd Street Public Market features 40 local farm, floral, food and gift vendors. For more information call (937) 228-2088 or go to www.2ndstreetpublicmarket.com.

   Former US Senator & Governor Zell Miller to Speak:

   Former US Sen. Zell Miller will be speaking at World Harvest Church’s 7 pm service Sunday, August 28th. He’ll also be speaking at this year’s third Ohio Pastors’ and Christian Leaders’ Breakfast, Monday, August 29th at 9:30am. In addition to Miller’s speech, Parsley will present an update on Reformation Ohio at the breakfast. Both free events are at World Harvest Church, 4595 Gender Road, Columbus. There is no cost for the breakfast, but registration is required. To register call (800) 637-2288 or complete the online registration form at www.centerformoralclarity.net.

   Investing and Planning Your Estate:

   On Tuesday, August 16, the Gables at Singing Woods will host a panel discussion in conjunction with Key Bank and McDonald Financial Group from 2:00-3:00pm. It is located at 140 E. Woodbury Dr. in Dayton. Everyone who attends will receive a free gift and door prize drawings will include 2 savings bonds and 2 tickets to the Dayton Opera Production of Carmen. For reservations call the Gables at 937-274-1400.

   FitFest 2005 at RiverScape:

   RiverScape MetroPark is hosting a festival celebrating fitness, health, safety and the environment. It will be on Saturday, August 13th from 10 AM to 6 PM and on Sunday, August 14th from noon to 4 PM. FitFest 2005 is a free event with the exception of the powerlifting competition, 5K run, Row for the Cure, and bicycle rides, which have a registration fee. For more information call the Rotary Club of Dayton at (937) 228-0126 or to pre-register for the free Outrageous River Derby, call (937) 274-0126.

   Learning from the Landscape: Variations of Shade

   On Sunday, August 14th at 2 p.m. Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark will offer a “walk and talk” program about the different aspects of shade for your plants and the array of plants that thrive in shady areas. Program runs two hours. Reservations are requested: call (937) 434-9005. Walk-ins welcome. Meet at the Education Center at 6733 Springboro Pike.

   Bats at Night:

   Huffman MetroPark will be hosting a program on bats on Thursday, August 11th at 7:30 p.m. Meet at 4439 Lower Valley Pike at the Red-Tail Hawk Shelter parking lot. Call (937) 278-2623, Monday – Friday for more information.

   Dayton Jazz Orchestra:

   The Dayton Jazz Orchestra will be playing on Thursday, August 11th at RiverScape MetroPark from 7:30-9:30 p.m. A Laser, Light & Music Show will wrap up the night. Call (937) 274-0126 for more information or visit www.riverscape.org.

   Rose Arrangements:

   Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark will have the Miami Valley Rose Society come to discuss traditional, modern, and oriental designs for roses on Tuesday, August 9th at 7 p.m. Program runs 1 ½ hours. Call Sue Witwer at (937) 256-5088 for more information.

   Wegerzyn Market at Moose Lodge:

   Visit the south Wegerzyn Farmers’ Market at the Moose Lodge on Wednesday, August 10, 1-6 p.m. Selections include farm-grown seasonal produce, flowers, baked goods, meat, and preserves. It’s located at the Moose Lodge #1645, 2110 E. Central Ave., Miamisburg. The market is open on Wednesdays through October 26th. For more information call (937) 277-6545.

   Tool Time at Cox Arboretum & Gardens MetroPark:

   On Thursday, August 11th at 6:30 p.m. learn about the appropriate tools needed for gardening, and bring your pruners to learn how to sharpen them. Program runs 1 ½ hours. Reservations required and limited: call (937) 434-9005. Meet at the Education Center, 6733 Springboro Pike.

   Money Management Seminar:

   Hope Church will be offering a money management seminar on Sunday, August 7th at noon. You can register by calling call (937) 434-7095, faxing at (937) 434-7085 or sending an email to HopeChurch-Dayton@bizoh.rr.com.

   Joseph Coalition

   The Joseph Coalition is a group of churches and ministries who work with men and women, in or out of incarceration, juvenile, or adult. They want to restore people through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Joseph Coalition wants to form a coalition for better networking, empowerment, education, and witnessing. They take place on Saturdays, 9-1:30 PM (September 10th, October 1st, etc) at Otterbein United Methodist Church, 111 Xenia Avenue, Dayton, OH (I-75 to East Rt.-35 to Keowee Exit and Xenia Ave). RSVP Required: dalenieberding@sbcglobal.net; Dale @ (937) 256-8344

   Free Cancer Screenings Offered in Eaton:

   On Wednesday, August 31st, the Cancer Prevention Institute will provide free PSA blood tests (to screen for prostate cancer), mammogram screenings, and colorectal screening kits. All screenings are free to eligible women and men and will be provided at the Grace Lutheran Church, located at 111 Lutheran Drive, Eaton, OH from 9am to 3pm. Appointments are necessary for mammogram and prostate screenings. To schedule an appointment, call the cancer Prevention Institute at 1-866-838-8973.