The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is developing a multi-modal, long-range transportation plan that will shape the state’s transportation policies and investments over the next 25 years. Access Ohio 2050 outlines 10 objectives designed to achieve four key goals: safety, preservation, efficiency, and mobility.
ODOT oversees projects on major roadways, including highways and interstates across the state and here locally of 675, 68, 235, 35 , 444, 4, 70, 73, 42, 380, and 725.
Now is your opportunity to share your input with ODOT at locations we hear concerns about from you on ODOT owned/maintained roads, like I 675 at Wilmington Pike, I 675 at Grange Hall, I 675 at WPAFB Gate, US 35 Superstreet in Beavercreek, US 68 at Hyde Road, SR 235 at Trebein Road, SR 235 at Bryon Road, SR 235 at Hilltop Road, US 68 at Brush Road, Spring Valley Paintersville Rd at SR 380, etc This is your opportunity to share input on future projects in the Greater Miami Valley and across the state!
These concerns can be intersection safety related, corridor safety related, traffic congestion related, pedestrian safety related, bike crossing safety related, road condition related, etc.
Note : Comments posted on this post are NOT collected as part of the survey so please go to their page and complete the survey and submit your feedback there, attend the open house and/or email them directly.
Join us this Friday & Saturday, September 19th & 20th for the 2025 Annual Jamestown Lions Club Fall Festival!
👉 Opening Ceremony kicks off Friday at 5pm! Here’s a quick weekend rundown (full schedule available below):
FRIDAY: 🕔 5pm – Opening Ceremony & Crowning of the Fall Festival Queen & Court 🕕 6pm – The Great Lion’s Auction (Stage 2) 🕖 7pm – Big Lion BINGO @ St. Augustine 🎶 7–10pm – Killin’ Time (Main Stage) 🍔 Food & retail vendors open at 5pm!
SATURDAY: 🥞 7–11am – Silvercreek Pancake Breakfast (Fire House) 🚶 9am – Jamestown Cancer Families Annual Walk & Raffle 🚗 10am–2pm – Lions Club Car Show 🌽 1pm – Cornhole Tournament 🎵 3:30/4pm – Greeneview High School Band (Main Stage) 🎉 6pm – Great Lions Parade 🧩 6:30pm – Big Lion BINGO @ St. Augustine 🚜 6:30pm – Kiddie Tractor Pulls (In honor of Mark Campbell) 🎁 7pm – Ham & Blanket Wheel 🎶 7–10pm – LedFoot (Main Stage) 🎟️ 10pm – Lions Club Big Raffle Drawing (Main Stage)
✨ Bring your family, enjoy the fun, and help us celebrate our amazing community!
In a unique blend of community engagement and historical appreciation, the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Business After Hours event on Wednesday, September 10, at one of the city’s most storied landmarks—Woodland Cemetery.
From 4:30 to 6:00 PM, around 30 local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community members gathered at the caretaker’s cottage — now serving as the cemetery’s administrative office — to connect, collaborate, and commemorate. Executive Director Donna Saraga welcomed attendees with warmth and enthusiasm, setting the tone for an evening that was as reflective as it was productive.
Neil Fogarty (left) of Dodds Memorials and Donna Saraga, Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce executive director, welcome guests to the September Business After Hours at Woodland Cemetery. (Photo by Gery Deer)
The event was presented by the cemetery and Dodds Memorials, a cornerstone of the region’s heritage, now celebrating an impressive 180 years in business. Neil Fogarty, president of Dodds, and representing the Woodland Cemetery Board of Directors, offered a heartfelt introduction, highlighting their longstanding commitment to honoring lives and preserving memory.
Shortly after, guests were treated to a guided walking tour led by Catherine Wilson, Executive Director of the Greene County Historical Society. Beginning at the caretaker’s cottage, the tour wound its way to the mausoleum and back, revealing stories etched not just in stone, but in the fabric of Xenia and Greene County’s past.
Wilson captivated the crowd with tales of Woodland Cemetery’s notable residents, architectural features, and the evolution of burial practices over the decades. Her narration brought to life the cemetery’s role as both a resting place and a dynamic archive of the county’s history.
First chartered in 1845, Woodland Cemetery is more than a final resting place—it’s a testament to Xenia’s resilience, artistry, and civic pride. With its serene landscape and historic monuments, it offers a contemplative space for remembrance and education. The cemetery is managed by a dedicated board and supported by a variety of community partners.
The Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in fostering economic growth and community connection. Its Business After Hours series, held on the second Wednesday of each month, provides a relaxed setting for professionals to network, share ideas, and support local enterprises. Events are open to members and non-members alike, reflecting the Chamber’s inclusive mission.
Greene County Historical Society Executive Director, Catherine Wilsom, led a walking tour of the cemetery, which included the museum.
As the sun dipped behind the trees and conversations lingered in the old caretaker’s cottage, attendees left with more than just business cards—they carried a deeper appreciation for the legacy of Xenia, and the people and organizations working to preserve it. For details on upcoming events and membership opportunities, visit www.xacc.com.
Here’s video from the introduction for the event provided by Donna Saraga and Neil Fogarty.
Jamestown, OH — On Thursday, September 4th, acclaimed feature writer and columnist Gery L. Deer was honored with the 2025 Appalachian Writers Conference Journalism Award, recognizing his exceptional three-part feature series, “Just My Type.” The articles, which spotlighted a family-run typewriter repair shop, were published in October 2024 across the Xenia Daily Gazette, Fairborn Daily Herald, Beavercreek News-Current, and online at TheJamestownComet.com. The series resonated widely, drawing thousands of views, and even generating new business for the shop.
Writer, Creative Director, Gery Deer – winner of the Journalism Award at the 2025 Appalachian Writers Conference in Berea, Kentucky.
The Appalachian Writers Conference (AWC) was established in 2023 by Dr. Melissa Newman, President and CEO of Martin Sisters Publishing. The conference supports writers through immersive and genre-inclusive programming, offering workshops on craft, contracts, publishing, and marketing, along with opportunities to pitch to agents. The AWC has quickly become a nationally respected event. The Journalism Award was one of several included in the annual “Appy Inkwell Awards” series as well as the “Dr. Pam Parry Lifetime Learning Award” which honors a valued friend and faculty member of the conference.
“This year, we introduced the journalism award category that we hope to continue,” said Newman, who is also a journalist and former professor of communication. “It recognizes recipients for their steadfast commitment to journalism that celebrates our shared humanity.”
Deer’s award-winning series captivated readers with its heartfelt portrayal of a young entrepreneurial family reviving a business many considered obsolete. “The piece was originally supposed to be a single feature article about an unusual local business,” Deer explained. “I wanted to highlight this young entrepreneurial family who chose an enterprise likely seen as arcane by others, and with a limited future—but I saw so much more. I wanted to share that. I’m incredibly honored that even more people will read it now and learn their story.”
(Photo by Kasey Ogle) Appalachian Writers Conference founder Dr. Melissa Newman (left) and Mary Ryan Wineberg (right), Appy Inkwell Awards coordinator, present the 2025 Journalism Award to Gery Deer, September 4th in Berea, KY.
With a most unusual and diverse career background which includes stage performance and voiceover, Deer’s journey to this recognition is rooted in decades of storytelling. Growing up on his family’s small cattle farm, he learned the fundamentals of business early on. In college, he studied engineering and computer science but was drawn to writing and funded his education by working as a staff writer and editor for the campus newspaper. (Watch Gery Deer’s video interview about the award below.)
Deer spent several years in the engineering and technology sectors before he founded GLD Communications in 1998—an IT firm turned advertising and public relations media agency that has served clients nationwide and in the United Kingdom for more than 25 years.
Despite his technical career, Deer never stopped writing and has been published in hundreds of newspapers, magazines, and digital outlets. His long-running op-ed column, Deer In Headlines, has earned national editorial award nominations, and his copywriting and creative direction have garnered multiple advertising awards. In 2010, another feature series Deer wrote was even nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
DAYTON, OH — On Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, from 10 AM to 4 PM, the Davis-Linden Building will host the C2 Market. This vibrant weekend event blends Dayton’s legacy of innovation with its modern creative spirit, and it is open to the public.
Located at the corner of Davis and Linden Avenues, just north of U.S. 35, the Davis-Linden Building is more than just a venue—it’s a landmark of Dayton’s industrial past. Originally home to the Davis Sewing Machine Factory, the site later became the birthplace of the iconic Huffy Bicycle, a brand that pedaled its way into American homes for generations. Today, the building has been reimagined as a hub for creativity and commerce through the “C2 Initiative.”
This will be the first of what the C2 organizers hope is many regularly scheduled events. (AI-generated rendering pictured here.)
The C2 Market will feature a variety of member tenants showcasing their work, from wood crafting and glass creations to specialty photography. Visitors will have the chance to meet the creators, explore a portion of the historic building, and learn how its legacy continues to inspire new ventures.
“The C2 Initiative is an effort to create a community of creativity and commerce,” said Becca Brumfield, Operations Manager. “Our goal is to help enlighten Dayton and encourage the innovative spirit that thrives in our city.”
What sets the Davis-Linden Building and the C2 program apart from other creative spaces like the Hub at the Dayton Arcade or the Front Street art district is versatility and room for growth. “We are an exclusive facility that provides not only office and artistic space, but also light manufacturing, storage, and studio space as well,” Brumfield explained. “And there’s room to expand. We want our member tenants to grow with us. Their success is tied to ours.”
Looking ahead, the C2 Initiative plans to launch community-focused projects that give back to Dayton through mentorship, education, and collaborative outreach—ensuring that the building’s future is as impactful as its past.
Parking is available at 15 Davis Ave and 115 Davis Ave, with entry through Door 1 (corner of Davis and Linden, up the long, cement staircase) or Door 4 (across from 115 Davis Ave). For more information, visit www.davislindenbuilding.com.
A child’s bedroom represents much more than four walls, a bed, and a closet door that never quite closes right. Strip away the posters, the overflowing toy box, the rock tumbler they begged for but only used once — and what’s left is something quietly monumental: the first incarnation of personal identity, in its purest form.
To a child — especially one trying to decode their place in the world — their bedroom is personal. A place apart. Not because it’s off-limits to others, but because it feels like the only space in their universe that is truly, unquestionably, theirs. It’s one of the first places over which a young person has reasonably full control.
When I was a kid, my bedrooms weren’t luxurious or particularly large. From the age of 5, when I first got my own room, to about 25, when I left the farm for my first apartment, I had occupied four different rooms – in two houses. The one I had the longest was on the second floor of our small, Cape Cod farmhouse. Unlike the loft at the top of the stairs – which also once served as my bedroom – this one had a real door. Having a door offered independence and solitude — the kind you don’t realize is valuable until adulthood starts chipping away at your time and control like a sculptor with a new block of marble.
One corner of Gery’s bedroom at the farm in Jamestown, ca. 1988 – drafting table and work area while studying for his engineering degree.
Except for food, my room was outfitted with everything I needed to hole up. There was a pair of hand-me-down twin beds, a tiny black and white TV sitting on a corner step stool, plenty of art supplies and books, and a JC Penney stereo system perched on a wobbly stand. All of these things, and the room itself, helped chisel out the person I’d eventually become. I also had a desk that became far more important that I could have predicted, although somehow my mom knew.
Around 1981, predicting the computers that would eventually occupy so much of my time, my mother insisted on getting me a large, wrap-around desk. The epidemy of 1980s techno-furniture, its wood frame sported a black, slate top, with just one lonely shelf above. It wasn’t fancy, just functional. As it turned out, that old desk, as much as the room it occupied, became my launchpad. My mother seemed to believe in things before me, and now — 43 years later — I’m sitting at that very desk as I type this for you.
Those who were there have said that, in many important ways, my office and personal study echo that childhood haven. I think what they mean is that my work and home offices are more than just organized – they’re curated. Every object has meaning and purpose: typewriters that don’t just tap out words but inspire my writing, photos and nick-nacks that remind me of family and events and highlight why I write, and lots of blue — a color that, for reasons I can’t explain, always made me feel… like me. I think we all need someplace like that, even if we don’t realize it.
In my old room, even if everything outside felt like chaos, even if fitting in at school was like trying to breathe underwater, I could always retreat to a place where I made the rules. Ask any of the nieces I grew up with and they’ll complain, as they did to my mother when we were kids, that I would never let them come up there.
We seriously underestimate how foundational a child’s room can be as they grow up. Like so many other children, my room gave me solace, but it also provided a launchpad from which to craft my life’s narrative — one where my voice mattered. It wasn’t just any room in any farmhouse. It was my room, my Fortress of Solitude – maybe yours was too.
I’ve arranged other spaces in the image of that room but, try as I might, nothing will ever be like that again. Sometimes I would give anything to be back there, with so little responsibility and so much to live for. I’d hear the bustle of my family downstairs and, just once more, my mother calling up the stairs, “Gery, supper’s on.”
XENIA, OHIO — Representatives of the Greene County Parks and Trails, Trail Sentinels volunteer group, visited the Greene County Veterans Services office on Tuesday, August 12th, to present a donation check to the Greene County Suicide Prevention Coalition Veterans Subcommittee. The donation is the result of funds raised from the first annual Greene County Cycling Tour for Veteran Suicide Prevention, held July 19th.
The event raised $1,800.00 for the coalition, and it was made possible thanks to the hard work of the Greene County Parks & Trails staff, the Trail Sentinels, and through generous sponsorships from the following: Rodriguez Financial Strategies, LLC, White Allen European Auto Group of Dayton, and GLD Communications of Jamestown. Their support helped cover logistics and ensured that every dollar raised could go directly to the Veterans Subcommittee’s efforts.
From the Greene County Suicide Prevention Coalition Veteran’s Subcommittee: Captain Dennis Eng, Scott Page, Andrew Ullom, Bill Hoying, Wanda Ortiz Thayne, Teresa Innocent, Desiree Rollyson, Tim Spradlin. From the Greene County Parks and Trails: Assistant Director Richard Kharman, Chief Ranger/Army Veteran Darrell Hannah, and Trail Sentinels Rick Sedlotshek and Gery Deer.
The Greene County Parks & Trails Trail Sentinels, a dedicated group of volunteer cyclists who patrol the trails and host seasonal workshops and group rides, played a pivotal role in the day’s success. They provided on-trail support and manned rest stops stocked with snacks and cold drinks, ensuring riders stayed hydrated and energized throughout their journey.
The event started early in the morning from the Fairground Recreation Center. The 38 registered riders had their choice of four scenic routes, each winding through the county’s lush trail system and quiet backroads.
“This ride was about more than miles—it was about mission,” said Gery Deer, a Trail Sentinel volunteer and event liaison to the veteran’s organization. “We’re proud to work on behalf of our veterans and help bring attention and financial support to the resources they need.”
Adding a touch of whimsy and nostalgia to the event were members of the Central Ohio Ghostbusters club, a charity cosplay group known for their appearances at fundraisers, children’s events, and festivals. Dressed in full gear with their version of an “ectomobile” at Xenia Station, they brought smiles and photo ops to riders and spectators alike.
A large contingent of veterans participated in the ride as well. Retired Colonel Rafi Rodriguez, a 30-year Air Force veteran and a sponsor, took to the trails himself to support the cause. “The ride was a lot of fun,” he said. “It was great to learn more about what the coalition does to support veterans on Greene County.”
The donation check was formally presented this week to the Greene County Suicide Prevention Coalition Veterans Subcommittee, marking the culmination of a community-driven initiative that blended recreation, advocacy, and heartfelt generosity.
“This contribution will help us expand outreach and support for veterans in Greene County,” said a representative from the coalition. “We’re grateful to the cyclists, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone who came together to make this event possible.”
More than just a fun bike ride, this tour was a moving tribute to those who’ve served and a rallying cry for mental health awareness. Planning is already underway for next year’s ride, tentatively scheduled for the same weekend. Visit www.gcparkstrails.com to follow the events calendar throughout the year.
Berea, KY – Writers from across the country will converge in Kentucky this fall for the 2025 Appalachian Writer’s Conference 2025 (AWC), an immersive, genre-inclusive gathering designed to sharpen craft and demystify the business of publishing. From agent pitch sessions to expert-led workshops on branding, contracts, and publicity, AWC equips aspiring and established authors alike with the tools to thrive. Founded by Martin Sisters Publishing President and CEO Melissa Newman, Ed.D., the conference has evolved into a nationally respected event featuring award-winning faculty dedicated to helping writers succeed, regardless of their path or project.
“I strongly believe that everyone has a story, and most people have more than one,” Newman explained. “What we offer at our conference is the opportunity for writers to learn from professionals and develop the skills they need for a successful career as an author.”
Returning to this year’s faculty are fantasy/romance author Summer Hanford, fiction novelist Sherry Robinson, crime thriller novelist Susan Furlong, and screenwriter Mark Daniels. Frank K. Newman, J.D., President and CEO of the law firm Cole, Cole, Anderson & Newman, PSC, will be back to share insights into publishing and media contracts. Gery Deer, GLD Communications‘s creative director and author of the Pulitzer-nominated op-ed series “Deer In Headlines,” also returns with a session on making a living writing professionally in between book projects.
Deer first attended in 2023 as a participant but transitioned into a faculty role and took on a support position last year. “This is a unique experience for writers, and the intimate setting is ideal, in my opinion, for a better learning experience,” he said. “Melissa has created an environment of support and education, and the faculty is part of the group, interacting and spending time with the participants as fellow artists.” Deer also noted that they continue efforts to improve the event based on participant feedback.
For example, a literary agent joins the faculty for the first time at AWC. Jackie Kruzie, author, literacy advocate, and associate literary agent at Focused Artists, will lead sessions on “Perfecting Your Pitch,” “The Dreaded Synopsis,” and a Lunch-and-Learn Session called “Should I Get an Agent?” She will also meet with authors for eight-minute pitch sessions. Another new addition is award-winning crime, thriller, and suspense novelist Trace Conger. In addition to class presentations, faculty will participate in the “Ask Me Anything” lunch panel to answer questions and discuss writing and publishing topics in a conversational setting.
Martin Sisters Publishing and the Appalachian Writers Conference present the Appy Inkwell Awards for the second year. “We want to give writers a chance to have their work recognized,” said Appy Inkwell Awards Coordinator, writer, and English Literature instructor Mary Ryan Wineberg. “We may even discover some new literary talent.”
This award celebrates outstanding achievement in fiction writing and offers talented writers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and skill before a supportive community of peers. Participants can submit up to 2,500 words of unpublished fiction, in progress or complete, that demonstrates originality, craft, and storytelling prowess. Eligible submissions include: a complete short story, a short story collection, or a piece of flash fiction.
The Dr. Pam Parry Lifetime Learning Award also debuts this year. It was created in memory of Dr. Parry, an integral presence within the AWC faculty and a trusted conference advisor whose remarkable life touched many. This award will celebrate someone whose passion for lifelong learning and generosity in the writing community make a lasting impact.
Editor: The Jamestown Comet / Creative Director: GLD Communications
In the past year, small business owners have increasingly shifted their marketing focus toward referral partnerships—and for good reason.
Digital fatigue is turning customers away from their screens.
As digital advertising costs climb and consumer trust in traditional media wanes, referral-based strategies have emerged as a high-impact, cost-efficient alternative. For businesses seeking sustainable growth and deeper community engagement, referral partnerships offer a compelling return on investment (ROI) that outpaces many conventional marketing channels.
GLD Communications, a strategic communications firm based in southwest Ohio, has been at the forefront of helping small businesses harness the power of referral marketing. Through customized branding strategies, community outreach campaigns, and digital visibility audits, GLD equips entrepreneurs with the tools to build meaningful partnerships that drive measurable results.
Here are six key reasons why referral partnerships have become a go-to strategy for small business owners in the last year:
1. Higher Conversion Rates from Trusted Sources
Referred leads are significantly more likely to convert than those acquired through paid advertising or cold outreach. According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know over any other form of advertising. This trust translates into action: referred customers are four times more likely to make a purchase.
For small businesses, this means that a well-structured referral program—whether through customer incentives or strategic B2B alliances—can dramatically increase conversion rates without the need for aggressive ad spend.
2. Lower Customer Acquisition Costs
Referral partnerships offer a leaner path to customer acquisition. Unlike paid media campaigns that require ongoing investment, referrals often come at a fraction of the cost. A study by the Wharton School of Business found that referred customers cost less to acquire and are more profitable over time.
GLD Communications helps businesses identify and nurture referral channels that align with their brand values, reducing acquisition costs while enhancing customer quality.
3. Improved Customer Lifetime Value
Referred customers don’t just convert—they stick around. Research shows that they have a 25–31% higher lifetime value compared to non-referred customers. They’re more loyal, more engaged, and more likely to become brand advocates themselves.
This long-term value is especially critical for service-based businesses, subscription models, and family-owned enterprises that rely on repeat business and word-of-mouth reputation.
4. Stronger Community and Brand Advocacy
Referral partnerships naturally foster community engagement. Whether it’s a local business collaborating with a nonprofit or a service provider teaming up with complementary vendors, these relationships build trust and visibility within shared networks.
GLD Communications specializes in crafting community-oriented narratives that elevate brand advocacy. Their storytelling approach—often blending emotional depth with factual reporting—helps businesses connect with audiences on a human level, turning customers into ambassadors.
5. Better Measurability and ROI Tracking
Modern referral tools have made it easier than ever to track performance. Platforms like ReferralCandy, Yotpo, and HubSpot offer automated tracking, CRM integration, and analytics dashboards that allow business owners to monitor key metrics such as referral conversion rate, cost per acquisition, and net promoter score.
GLD Communications supports clients in selecting and implementing these tools, ensuring that referral efforts are not only strategic but also data-driven.
6. Adaptability to Privacy and Ad Fatigue Trends
With increasing restrictions on third-party cookies and growing consumer fatigue around digital ads, referral marketing offers a privacy-friendly alternative. It relies on first-party data and authentic relationships, making it more resilient to changes in the digital landscape.
As part of its digital marketing services, GLD Communications advises businesses on how to pivot toward trust-based strategies that align with evolving consumer expectations and regulatory standards.
Building a Referral Strategy That Works
Referral partnerships aren’t just about asking customers to “spread the word.” They require intentional planning, clear incentives, and consistent follow-through. GLD Communications recommends starting with the following steps:
Identify natural referral partners: Look for businesses or individuals who share your audience but don’t compete directly.
Create a compelling offer: Whether it’s a discount, exclusive access, or a charitable tie-in, make the referral worthwhile.
Track and optimize: Use referral software or manual tracking to monitor performance and adjust as needed.
Tell your story: Use branded content, testimonials, and community features to reinforce the value of your partnerships.
For small business owners ready to elevate their marketing ROI, referral partnerships offer a path that’s not only cost-effective but also deeply rooted in trust and community. With the guidance of firms like GLD Communications, these strategies transform informal word-of-mouth accidents into powerful engines of growth.
The Jamestown Comet 