13 things to know today about coronavirus changes in Butler and Warren counties

Things to know today about coronavirus changes in Butler and Warren counties:

HAMILTON

MUH Downtown events canceled for June

The events for the public that ordinarily happen at Miami University’s Downtown Hamilton Center have been canceled or rescheduled through June, organizers have announced.

John Vaughn, coordinator at the center, announced that because of coronavirus and safety closures by the Ohio Department of Health, such events, which often include concerts, lectures and other gatherings, “have been canceled or rescheduled for a future date.” STAFF REPORT

HAMILTON

City council meeting planned

The council of the city of Hamilton will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers, first floor, 345 High St. At the current time this city council meeting will take place in council chambers. This is subject to change to an all digital format. Seating will only be available in the lobby to encourage social distancing and having only 10 people in a room at a time.

Residents and other interested parties are highly encouraged to watch the live stream on TvHamilton’s Facebook or when TvHamilton posts the recording to their website or Facebook. Additionally, the meeting will air in its entirety also on TvHamilton.

If citizens wish to have an issue addressed by city council or city administration they should email those questions or comments to the city clerk at nick.garuckas@hamilton-oh.gov. The city clerk may read your comments into the record during the appropriate council meeting. If comments are submitted far enough in advance of an upcoming meeting, an official city response may also be read into the record. Citizens must still provide their name and address for the record. CONTRIBUTED

MIDDLETOWN

Annual Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk to go virtually

Downtown Middletown’s 8th Annual Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk has been postponed, like all events during this current pandemic. The event is Downtown Middletown Inc’s, premier fundraiser of the year, helping support their mission of downtown revitalization and historic preservation.

The organization is partnering with The Windamere to create a wine and chocolate virtual tasting event that will allow attendees to sip, sample and stay safe. Kits include everything attendees need to enjoy a tasting event at home- wine, chocolate, tasting glass, tasting guide and notes, souvenir pin and link for a Facebook Live pairing event.

The Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk AT HOME Edition will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday. Pick up kits Thursday through Saturday at The Windamere.

Women may also taste independently at their own pace with the self-guiding Tasting Book.

Cost is $35. For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1890794167720004/.

To purchase tickets, go to https://athomewine.eventbrite.com. CONTRIBUTED

BUTLER COUNTY

Board to hold meeting

The next regular meeting of the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday.

In keeping with Governor Mike DeWine’s Stay-Safe-Ohio Order, the meeting will be available to the public via the Board’s Facebook Live feed, found at @butlerdd.org. CONTRIBUTED

BUTLER COUNTY

Chamber to hold virtual event

The Chamber of Commerce - Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton will hold its first virtual Networking at Noon Wednesday. Register at http://www.thechamberofcommerce.org/events/details/networking-at-noon-05-13-2020-885 to receive a link the morning of the event with connection details.

Only those registered by close of business today will receive a link.

For more information, call 513-422-4551. STAFF REPORT

WEST CHESTER TWP.

Trustees to live stream meeting

West Chester Township will live stream today’s Board of Trustees meeting beginning at 6 p.m. tday at the YouTube link at https://youtu.be/AmMpTzRCZ0o.

During this health crisis, the township is committed to keeping residents safe while maintaining the high level of transparency residents expect. While watching from home, viewers will notice a couple of things:

• The trustees, fiscal officer, administrator and township leadership will maintain distance, therefore the view on the screen will be different than what is typical.

• The West Chester Board of Trustees has always accepted comments from residents and property owners in the room. Comments will not be accepted on the YouTube feed, but if a person has a question or comment to make email the questions/comments, including your West Chester address, to Assistant Township Administrator Lisa Brown at: LBrown@westchesteroh.org no later than 5:30 p.m. Questions and comments will be shared in the citizens comments section of the meeting with responses provided during Discussion Items.

The meeting video will be posted to Vimeo afterward. CONTRIBUTED

WARREN COUNTY

Board of directors meets via video/conference call

Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren & Clinton Counties (MHRB) Board of Directors will hold a board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, via video/conference call.

Participants are to go to https://www.gotomeet.me/ColleenChamberlain or dial into the meeting by calling 872-240-3311 and enter access code, 635-340-333, and identify that you are on the call. CONTRIBUTED

HAMILTON

Spring plant sale to be held

Hamilton Urban Garden Systems (HUGS) will hold a Spring Plant Sale from noon to 6 p.m. May 17-21 at 545 S. Front St. HUGS will be following the CDC safety guidelines for COVID-19 of social distancing and wearing masks. There will be a limit access to a maximum of five customers at a time in the hoop house where the plants will be located.

Cash or check payments only. Exact change would be appreciated. Organic grown plants for $3. Buy one, get one free.

Plants include Bell Peppers, Eggplant,s Squash, Pumpkin, Banana Peppers, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Watermelon, Hot Peppers, Cantaloupe, Cucumber and more.

For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonUrbanGardens/posts/3284894634875560. STAFF REPORT

BUTLER COUNTY

SELF has assistance program

Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families’s (SELF) Winter Crisis Program ended last week after being extended from its original March 31 deadline by the Ohio Development Services Agency. The Winter Crisis Program served 1,475 households from Nov. 1, 2019 through April 30.

While the Winter Crisis Program has ended, SELF is still offering its regular Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and processing Duke Energy customers for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus. The organization’s offices remain closed to the public; however, applications are available outside both the Hamilton and Middletown locations at 1790 S. Erie Hwy. and 930 9th Ave., respectively. Applications are also available at www.selfhelps.org.

Completed applications may be returned to either office where drop boxes have been installed, or in one of the following ways:

• Mailed to PO Box 1322, Hamilton, OH 45012

• Faxed to 513-737-3889

SELF’s HEAP is a federally funded utility assistance program which helps qualifying Ohioans who are at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines meet the high costs of home heating.

For more information about how the organization is helping during the pandemic, call SELF at 513-868-9300. CONTRIBUTED

LEBANON

Theatre group to hold auditions

The Lebanon Theatre Company has announced tentative dates for auditions and performances for “Assassins.” Auditions will be held by appointment only May 17 and May 19. Sign up on “Sign up Genius” found on the auditions page at www.ltcplays.com.

Performances will be held July 24-26, and July 31-Aug. 2.

This is subject to ongoing government guidance on the Covid 19 outbreak. Check the web site for further information and updates. CONTRIBUTED

EATON

Library to accept returns

The book returns at Camden, Eaton, Eldorado, New Paris, and West Alexandria Branches of the Preble County District Library (PCDL) is open to accept checked out materials during select hours.

Book drops at West Elkton and West Manchester will remain closed as those branches are not large enough to allow for proper and safe handling of returns at this time.

The books drops will be available during the following hours:

Camden Branch, Monday through Friday noon to 6 p.m.

Eaton Branch, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eldorado Branch, Monday through Thursday noon to 6 p.m.

New Paris, Monday through Wednesday 2-6 p.m., Friday noon to 4 p.m.

West Alexandria, Monday through Wednesday noon to 6 p.m., Friday noon to 4 p.m.

• Book drops will be closed outside of the posted hours to ensure the safe handling of materials.

• If you have a relative that has received materials through the PCDL Homebound Program, you are welcome to return those materials at any of the open book drops.

• Due dates have been extended to ensure your items are not overdue. Opening some books drops will allow library staff to quarantine items until they are safe to handle. If you return items, they may still appear on your card as this process occurs.

• PCDL Branches remain closed to the public until further notice. PCDL staff are working hard to ensure safety procedures are being followed. CONTRIBUTED

MIDDLETOWN

Wine & Chocolate Walk to go virtual

Downtown Middletown’s 8th Annual Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk has been postponed. The event is Downtown Middletown Inc’s, premier fundraiser of the year, helping support their mission of downtown revitalization and historic preservation.

The organization is getting creative and partnering with The Windamere to create a wine & chocolate virtual tasting event that will allow attendees to sip, sample and stay safe. Kits include everything attendees need to enjoy a tasting event at home- wine, chocolate, tasting glass, tasting guide and notes, souvenir pin and link for a Facebook Live pairing event.

The Women’s Wine & Chocolate Walk AT HOME Edition will be held May 16. People may pick up kits May 14-16 at The Windamere

The Virtual Tasting Event will be held on Facebook LIVE at 7 p.m. Or taste independently at your own pace with the self-guiding Tasting Book. Cost is $35.

For more information, see the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1890794167720004/.

To purchase tickets, go to https://athomewine.eventbrite.com. CONTRIBUTED

FAIRFIELD

City made decisions on events and pools

Fairfield joins other community parks and recreation agencies in making very difficult decisions regarding their summer camps, aquatics center, summer concerts, and other summer activities. To comply with public health directives from Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, the City of Fairfield is rescheduling, modifying and cancelling many summer programs.

Most of the department’s activities and facilities will continue to be impacted by COVID-19 directives including:

  • Red, White & KaBOOM: Fireworks will take place at 10 p.m. July 3. Parks will close at dusk and there will be no organized activities on city property. The team is adjusting the display so that fireworks can be viewed at a greater distance. The soundtrack will stream live on the radio.
  • Fairfield Aquatics Center: The pool will remain closed and will not open this season. Season passes purchased before April 30, will be extended into the 2021 season.
  • Marsh Lake Bait House: The bait house will re-open on May 12 with restrictions in order to meet health order mandates. Visitors may fish and launch their boats (canoes or kayaks only) free of charge at Marsh Lake. All fees are waived for the remainder of the 2020 season. Transportation to fishing locations will not be provided and operating hours will be limited. Season passes that have been purchased before April 30, will be extended into the 2021 season.
  • Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: The traditional parade and event is cancelled. Staff is planning a private ceremony that will be aired on TV Fairfield and Facebook Live. The event will include special recognition of veterans and their families.
  • Summer Concert Series: The Thursday Groovin' on the Green and Friday at the Green concerts for the month of June are being rescheduled for later this summer. Dates are not yet set. Staff will evaluate whether the city will be able to host concerts later this summer pending updated health orders.
  • Village Green Farmers Market: Pre-orders only. Orders can be picked up during designated times on Wednesdays beginning May 6.
  • Summer Camp: All camps are cancelled until June 15. Full-Day summer camps (Fun and Adventure Camps) have been completely cancelled for the entire summer. Staff is evaluating whether part-day camps will continue as planned after June 15.
  • Movies in the Park: May and June movies are cancelled. Staff is evaluating whether Movies in the Park will continue after June 30 pending public health directives.

There are many more recreational opportunities available throughout the parks system with the most recent efforts in providing virtual and individual experiences. The staff have planned a plethora of activities, with theme weeks, that can be found on the “Virtual Community Arts Center” page of the website. For more information, go to www.fairfield-city.org. CONTRIBUTED

To have a community news item included, email information to ButlerCountyNews@coxohio.com.

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