Commentary: Clark County communities squeezing in bounty of activities before school starts

Bethel High School student volunteers assemble dontated bicycles for the Family and Youth Initiatives project called Dominic’s Bikes for Kids at the FYI office in New Carlisle in May. The project gives about 300 bikes to area kids in foster care. The bikes were scheduled to be distributed during the Family and Youth Initiatives’ Safety Day on June 12 at Tecumseh High School. The event was rescheduled to due to bad weather forecasts and will he held on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Bill Lackey/Staff

Bethel High School student volunteers assemble dontated bicycles for the Family and Youth Initiatives project called Dominic’s Bikes for Kids at the FYI office in New Carlisle in May. The project gives about 300 bikes to area kids in foster care. The bikes were scheduled to be distributed during the Family and Youth Initiatives’ Safety Day on June 12 at Tecumseh High School. The event was rescheduled to due to bad weather forecasts and will he held on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. Bill Lackey/Staff

August, already? How can that be? It seems to me that spring break was over just a few days ago.

So here we are trying to cram the rest of our summer “to do” list into the last two weeks before schools start.

Thursday, Aug. 2,is the time chosen for another attempt at Family and Youth Initiative’s Safety Day. This huge community event had been planned by FYI earlier this year in June, but some seriously bad weather forecasts forced a rescheduling of the event.

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Rescheduling an event that had so many agencies involved was not an easy task, according to FYI Director Pat Banaszak. The earliest alternative date turned out to be Aug. 2. That’s this Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tecumseh School campus on National Road.

“The location and time are the same and we have almost all of the original booths still, all the food trucks, and most of the events we had in June,” said Banaszak “The weather looks good and we are ready to give good advice on various health and safety topics, to give away clothing, to give a presentation of book bags to some of our residents who signed up for them, and to even include Dominic’s’ Bikes and give away a number more of the bikes we have.”

Superhero Rumble is on the schedule for tomorrow and Restoration Church will have the big clothing give away as scheduled in June.

Raffle baskets include Dayton Dragons tickets, a special bike, and a drone.

On Aug. 5, it will be time once again to remember one of the most significant events in Clark County history. At 1 p.m. at George Rogers Clark Historic Park costumed participants will remember the Battle of Peckuwe in a ceremony on the hill overlooking the battlefield between Hertzler House and the battle memorial. The largest Revolutionary War battle fought west of the Alleghenies was fought 238 years ago on August 8, 1780 between the Americans led by Col. George Rogers Clark, and the Shawnee led by Chief Blackhoof. This area was forever changed by the outcome. Combatants on both sides of the 1780 battle will be remembered and the park’s full size cannon will be fired in salute. It is not a long ceremony, but it is worth the effort and the view over the battlefield is perfect.

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Meanwhile over the river in Enon and Mad River Township, Greenon will check off another event that has to take place before school starts. Meet the Knights will take place on Friday Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Greenon Junior/Senior High School.

The beginning of August also means National Night Out on Aug. 7 at the Indian Valley School parking lot. Enon goes all out for this.

One of the best things about this event is that nearly everything, including the food is free. Speedway donates the hot dogs and the VFW cooks and serves the sandwiches. A DJ will keep everyone entertained. There is even free cotton candy, kids’ games, and a bounce house.

Only thing being sold, according to Lt. Mike Holler with the Enon Police, will be the tickets for the door prizes, which are donated by local businesses and organizations. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the “Shop with a Cop” program before Christmas.

Emergency vehicles and responders will be there and perhaps the Careflight helicopter if they are not responding at the time. This event is organized by the Enon Police Department.

“I’ve been told this is the biggest in the county,” said Holler. “There will be a tug of war between the police and fire department which we do every year.”

New this year will be an opportunity for IV students to meet the new principals. Sarah Easterling will be the principal at Indian Valley. Superintendent Brad Silvus will be principal at Enon Primary for 2018 - 2019 school year.

Later that week on Aug. 10 an outdoor movie night is being planned by the Village of Enon and National Trails Park and Recreation. The “Black Panther” movie (PG-13) will begin at Enon Park at 9 p.m.

The New Carlisle Pool will have a “Dive In” Movie on Aug. 11. They are taking a poll to select the film and right now “Sandlot” is winning with “The Little Mermaid” and “Moana” close behind. They cannot go wrong with any of them.

It is hard to say goodbye to summer, but our communities are doing it in style. Take time to smell the flowers, grill out often, and relish every moment of August.

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