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Dayton Police Department Recruiting

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The Dayton Police Department is looking for a dynamic group of men and women to make up the 111th Police Recruit Class, which will begin in early 2022.
TheyDayton Police Department is recruiting are seeking a diverse, talented, and motivated pool of candidates to join our team to help make our department stronger and personify our values of professionalism, integrity, respect, and fairness. The Dayton Police Department believes the strength of our organization hinges on officers bringing different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to the table, which leads to new and innovative ideas that benefit the community we serve.
The application period for potential police recruits opens March 1, 2021, and continues until April 26, 2021.
Applicants are often amazed at the wide range of opportunities that exist within the Dayton Police Department. We have specialized positions from detective to bike patrol, from mobile crisis response team to S.W.A.T. member, from evidence technician to crime prevention. The department also offers many opportunities to advance to leadership roles. The thread that ties together every Dayton Police Department officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, major or assistant chief is the willingness to answer the call to embrace this tough but rewarding profession while serving the community.
The Dayton Police Department and the City of Dayton offer very competitive salary and benefits, our own training academy, great geographic location, extremely reasonable cost of living, a booming arts and entertainment scene, and extraordinary outdoor recreation opportunities. For information on the application process, salary, and benefits, check out joindaytonpd.com. To apply, go to jobs.daytonohio.gov

Fatbacks 2.0

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No one is more excited about the return Fatbacks Barbeque than me. For more than five years this little spot of Linden Avenue my favorite go to barbecue spot. Today would’ve been the eighth anniversary of the restaurant formally owned and operated By Larry “Bub” Britton.

There is a passing of the keys to the store to the new proprietor Curtis Fackler. Curtis is a friend of Larry’s and former student of Larry’s as well. Curtis is a New Carlisle native who has Big plans for fat backs while keeping most of the menu in the restaurant the same as it was under Larry’s ownership.

Curtis took the keys it recently and I had a chance to sit down with them and talk about the future Fatbacks.

Curtis is already began to make it some tech upgrades including new point of sale system that without online ordering and has aside a partner in Uber Eats to increase local awareness of this no frills bbq spot.

Curtis said there are no changes planned for the menu and mentioned that he is looking into a more local source for the beef and pork. Curtis is working to bring as many of the staff back as possible.


Curtis lives just blocks away from the Linden Ave shop where the restaurant reside and is home base for the popular catering business.

During our chat I learned that the he and his partners are waiting on final health department inspections and certifications.  Under Larry’s coaching they have started ordering food and supplies for the upcoming grand re opening.

Curtis Fackler

I asked Curtis if folks will be seeing Bub around the shop in the coming weeks. He said that Bub is committed to a successful hand off and will be around for an undetermined amount of time but will always have a seat at FatBacks.

I did learn a few more facts about the owner and what we can expect in 2021.

1) He’s a big Red’s fan and we may seem some sports memorabilia among the Pig Hall of Fame collection

2) He’s working to finishing the Fatbacks food truck that Bub started (he estimated its 90% ready)

3) Pending approval from the health department we can expect to be eating brisket, ribs and those famous pig pops in Mid-March.

Happy 8th Anniversary to FatBacks and best wishes for a great year ahead.

Falafel Meal Sale For Charity

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St. Ignatius of Antioch is hosting a Falafel Meal sale this Sat, Feb 27th from 10am – 2pm.

The meal combo includes: One Falafel Sandwich (Fried Vegetarian Chickpeas patties topped w/ tahini sauce, mixed veggies, & wrapped in pita bread), one piece of Nammoura (baked dessert made w/ semolina flour, yogurt, & topped w/ simple syrup), and one 1.5oz bag of Lays Potato Chips for $10

100% of the proceeds will  be supporting a needy family in their parish.  Pre-order online.

Pick up is at St. Ignatius of Antioch Maronite Catholic Church, located at 50 Nutt Road in Centerville.

 

Wright Dunbar Village Park Rejuvenation

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This city of Dayton park was established in 1998 as part of the development of the Wright Dunbar Village.  Located at 700 Anderson-Goodrich Court, neighborhood association president Jeff Jackson explained that “in the last year the neighborhood lead a $10,000 renovation that included refreshed landscaping and this new sign.”
Funded in part by a Make Montgomery County grant, donations from the area businesses and residents made up the rest.  The new cooper signage was installed just yesterday.

The park is named after Paul Laurence Dunbar’s first published book of poetry and the neighborhood residents have hosted several outdoor concerts featuring jazz, classic rock and R & B music, as well as spoken word poetry and even a neighborhood garage sale.

Dayton Made: Famous People From Our City: Charles Michael Davis

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If you’ve been watching mainly network television over the years, you’ve probably noticed this guy. Or, your wife or girlfriend has noticed him. This handsome actor/entertainer is Charles Michael Davis. And Davis was born right here in the Dayton area. 

Davis grew up in Riverside, and he comes from a mixed marriage. His African American father is from Kentucky, and his Filipino mother is from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.  He graduated from Stebbins High School, and Miami (Ohio) University.  He got his start in the entertainment industry by modeling with Wings Model Management, which was based in Cincinnati. He later worked with the talent agency Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Soon after, Davis did television commercials and print ads for Nike and FootLocker.

Here’s an interview from 2014:

Davis transitioned from modeling, to acting. Throughout the 2000’s and the 2010’s, he appeared on a number of television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Switched At Birth, The Game, and That’s So Raven. In 2013, Davis got the first of three lead roles in TV shows that he would come to have. He was made a lead character in the CW vampire show The Originals. In 2018, he was named a lead in the series Younger, in its fifth season. And, in 2020, he was cast in the role of Special Agent Quentin Carter in NCIS: New Orleans.

At the rate Davis is going, we shouldn’t be surprised if he were to end up a leading man on the big screen, movies, any day now. Davis shows us all that nothing is impossible with a little bit of Midwestern magic, and a lot of Ohio grit. 

New ADA-Compliant Entrance to be Constructed at City Hall

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The City of Dayton will improve access to City Hall (101 W. Third St.) with construction of a new ADA-compliant entrance on the building’s Ludlow Street side.
The two-phase project will get underway in early March, with completion expected by Oct. 1. It will create an exterior ramp and reconstructed steps at the Ludlow entrance and modifications to the entrance’s interior area, including a lift. The existing sidewalk/slab along Ludlow, which also serves as a roof for a portion of City Hall’s lower level offices, will be fully replaced.
During construction, the main public entrance to City Hall will be on West Third Street. Until the new Ludlow entrance is in use, ADA access will continue to be available on City Hall’s third floor, via the Municipal Parking Garage at 123 W. Third St.
Parking spaces and parking meters along the east (Ludlow) side of City Hall will not be in use during construction. Metered spaces will be available on West Third Street (north side, between Main and Ludlow, and south side, across from City Hall).
During construction, the 24-hour utility payment drop-box currently located at the northeast corner of City Hall will be relocated to the west side of the building, between City Hall and the Municipal Garage.
The total cost of the improvements is approximately $950,000, an expense approved by the City Commission in January.

Virtual Grand Opening Set For The Hub at Dayton Arcade

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The University of Dayton and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host a public grand opening for The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade. At 95,000 square feet, it is among the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country, including shared and private office spaces, meeting rooms, conference areas, pop-up retail opportunities, learning labs and classrooms. The virtual event will be at 5:30 pm on Thursday, March 4th.

 

“We could not be more excited for the Hub to become a reality,” said Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton. “This is a ‘triple play’ for the University of Dayton in that it provides excellent learning opportunities for our students; facilitates greater collaboration and connection between our faculty, research staff and students and the greater Dayton entrepreneurial ecosystem; and will help reinvigorate a key part of our city’s downtown and the historic Arcade that was vacant for decades. This truly is a great day for UD and for Dayton.”

“The Hub is visible proof that Dayton’s long heritage of innovation remains vibrant, healthy and growing,” said Scott Koorndyk, president of the Entrepreneurs’ Center. “In one space, we’ve brought together the support, talent and energy that small businesses and entrepreneurs need to be successful. We are thrilled to join our partners at the University of Dayton and PNC Bank in making the Hub a catalyst for the future of our region’s innovation economy.”

“Our goal in supporting the Hub was to foster collaboration, which is the key to success,” said David Melin, PNC regional president for Dayton. “The Hub Powered by PNC Bank will serve as a catalyst that will merge creative ideas from students, entrepreneurs, businesses and the community to create a stronger future for the region.”

The virtual grand opening will include videos with entrepreneurs and UD faculty introducing Hub spaces, such as:

  • Innovation Hall, where the Entrepreneurs’ Center offers comprehensive business and commercialization support services, along with its Small Business Development Center; and the University has offices for the L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, a satellite office of the Greater West Dayton Incubator to drive equitable access and inclusion, as well as others;
  • UD’s studios for painting, printmaking, photo and graphic design for students and faculty;
  • UD’s The GEM, a non-traditional learning space that connects the University and city with a focus on community-centered approaches to social innovation;
  • A representative workspace that showcases the environment that entrepreneurs and small businesses can find at the Hub; and
  • A café with a menu that will be intentionally curated by the Greater West Dayton Incubator to feature underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The event also will feature a panel discussion with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, City Manager Shelley Dickstein, PNC’s Melin, developer Cross Street Partners CEO Bill Struever, University of Dayton’s Spina and the Entrepreneurs’ Center’s Koorndyk. The grand opening will conclude with a blessing and a ribbon-tying ceremony to symbolize the coming together of all the partners and stakeholders that have made the project possible and will be involved in the Hub going forward.

Vince Lewis, president of The Hub

Local entrepreneurs and startups are currently working in the Hub or making plans to move in during the coming weeks. Additionally, university classes will begin in the space as public health conditions allow beginning in fall 2021.

“The Hub Powered by PNC Bank could fundamentally shift how universities and community partners collaborate in support of startup ecosystems,” said Vince Lewis, president of The Hub Powered by PNC Bank and director of UD’s Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. “I think the thing that I am most excited about is the opportunity for University of Dayton students to be down here, connected into the startup ecosystem in a space where they’re working with students from all over campus, working with local entrepreneurs and other local businesses. All that connection and opportunity is really what we envisioned years ago when we first started down this down this path. You can’t understate the impact that this project has on the city, especially right now. Since UD signed our letter of intent with The Entrepreneurs Center back in 2017, the Arcade has been a project that people say is never going to happen. And that’s been driven into the psyche of the community. The Hub opening and getting off the ground really resonates the feeling that Look, things are happening, things are moving forward! This will have a huge impact on the psyche of the city and how we feel about downtown.”

Additionally, UD and the Entrepreneurs’ Center will host community programming. This will include the University’s Flyer Pitch competition, one of the largest business plan competitions at the collegiate level; small business acceleration programs; the Dayton Arcade Entrepreneur Academy; summer internships; and opportunities to participate in other competitions and programs.

To join the grand opening, visit Youtube.

Free McDonalds Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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McDonald’s is set to rollout a trio of new chicken sandwiches this February: the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Deluxe Chicken Sandwich.  Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA added that the new sandwich would “jump-start our chicken journey,” suggesting more chicken products to come. McDonald’s launched Spicy Chicken McNuggets this past fall, its first new McNugget flavor in the United States since the item was introduced to the US menu in 1983.  Popeyes, which saw its new sandwich offering sell out just two weeks after it launched nationally in August 2019, has pointed to the sandwich as one reason that it continued to grow during the pandemic. Chick-fil-A, known for its line of chicken sandwiches, has been growing steadily for years.

All three McDonald’s sandwiches will offer a new fillet of all-white meat chicken and a novel crispy breading. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich serves as a simpler option with the fillet and pickles while the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich arrives with the additional lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Meanwhile, those with a more adventurous palate can opt for the Spicy Chicken Sandwich with crinkle cut pickles and spicy pepper sauce.

“We’ve heard our customers loud and clear, and we know they’re craving more chicken options,” McDonald’s VP, Innovation Linda VanGosen said in a statement. “We’re confident all chicken fans – from traditionalists to spice enthusiasts – will discover a new menu favorite they’ll come back for time and time again.”

McDonald’s Crispy Chicken, Spicy Chicken and Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches will be available starting February 24.

On Thursday, Feb. 25 starting at 5pm, McDonald’s is offering the first 100 cars in the Drive-Thru a FREE new Crispy Chicken Sandwich, no purchase necessary! One sandwich per car, available while supplies last.

We Care Arts Virtual Auction Now Open

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Since 1983 We Care Arts has served the Dayton region, though the healing power of creating and producing art, which transforms physical, developmental and emotional challenges.  They are currently serving more than 1300 individuals with their programming. Creating art compliments medical therapies, increases self-confidence, and ultimately improves existing quality of life.
To help support their programs they are hosting the We Care Arts Virtual Auction, which is now OPEN for bidding through noon on Friday, Feb. 26th ! Browse the artwork for sale and bid on themed baskets that include wine, dining out golfing and car care.
You can even purchase your $10 raffle ticket for a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card.  Winner will be drawn on Facebook Live, (We Care Arts Facebook page @wecarearts) on Friday Feb 26th at noon. Winner will be notified by phone and email and may pick up the Amazon.com gift card at We Care Arts.
3035 Wilmington Pike
Kettering, OH 45429
937-252-3937
We Care Arts has grown to serve 1700 clients at more than forty off-site locations within the greater Dayton area. Alongside our executive director, our volunteer staff and board contribute more than 28,000 hours annually to our mission.

Giovanni’s Wine Dinner Carry Out

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Comfort Food warms the soul… when someone else cooks that comfort food, it’s even better!
This Tuesday, February 23 Giovanni’s is offering  their Italian Pot Roast with salad & dessert for carry out.

There are several options to enjoy this dinner!
$40.00 dinner for 2 without wine | $55.99 with Wine.
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Call 937.8787.1611 to reserve yours for pick-up 2/23 from 4-6pm at 215 W Main Street in Fairborn.