Left to Right: Brad Heys, Jen Purkey, Dustin Pearce Jen Purkey and Brad Heys join the podcast again after sharing the story of Kava Haus to catch up on nine months of operating Trail Haus and also give an update on the upcoming Southridge Brewing! Listen to episode 68 of the Real Change Wilmington Podcast, 'The Story of Trail Haus and Upcoming Southridge Brewing' with Jen Purkey and Brad Heys, on your favorite podcast player below: 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website

Carrie Zeigler “It’s an excellent opportunity in our community and many, many families are benefiting from what our entire community is doing,” stated, Carrie Zeigler, President of the Clinton County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). SHP was originally started in 2012 by a man in his garage in Twin Falls, Idaho when he noticed a local child in need of a bed. They then expanded in 2018, when Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs and Returning the Favor, highlighted SHP. According to Carrie, SHP now has 350 chapters across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Fourteen of those chapters are located in Ohio.  Since 2017, SHP has received one million national applications for children who need beds. They have provided over 250,000 of those children aged 3 to 17 with beds since. According to SHP, each bed costs $250 to build, with bunk beds costing $350.  When the Clinton County chapter first began in 2019, there were 100 children on the waitlist for a bed. “It was enormous, how many children that really needed beds locally,” stated Carrie. There are now only 20 on the  list. According to Carrie, SHP Clinton County typically receives 75 applications per year. Since 2019, they have built 489 beds. SHP  hosts three bed build days and three delivery days each year. Each build day takes roughly 40 volunteers, according to Carrie. The process of building and delivering the beds begins with raising money for the materials and collecting donations. SHP often partners with local businesses, churches, nonprofits, and other organizations for build days and supply collection.  Each build day has a “very organized process.”  The wood goes through several stations to be measured, sanded, tapped, and then drilled. Once it’s drilled, the wood is stained with a homemade stain created from soaking steel wool in vinegar to ensure a safe, chemical-free stain. The headboards are then branded with the SHP logo. On delivery days, each bed is assembled in the homes of the children. According to Carrie, a three-hour build can build 24 beds. Currently, SHP tentatively has one build day scheduled in April and one in May.  Learn more or donate to SHP at shpbeds.org .

From left to right: County Commissioner Mike McCarty; County Commissioner Brenda Woods; County Administrator Mary Anne Haines Foland; and Gary Huffenberger At the March 12th, 2025 meeting of the Clinton County Commissioners, Gary Huffenberger, former Wilmington News Journal Reporter and Assistant Editor, spoke about the usage of the City of Wilmington and Clinton County’s OneOhio Recovery Foundation  funds from the Ohio opioid settlement. Brenda Woods, County Commissioner; Mike McCarty, County Commissioner; and Mary Anne Haines Foland, County Administrator, were present at the meeting.  During his speech, Gary gave an example of Circleville, Ohio, where they used $85,000 of their OneOhio funds to purchase ‘Soap-n-Hope,’ a 32-foot trailer that is a mobile hygiene unit for homeless individuals. In this unit, homeless individuals are able to shower and do laundry. Gary stated, “Given Circleville’s ‘Soap-n-Hope’  project, at least some homeless related projects evidently are eligible for OneOhio funds, apparently because a certain percentage of the nation’s and Ohio’s homeless populations do have chronic substance use problems.” According to the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, the funds must be used on a “defined set of Approved Purposes and a comprehensive list of opioid remediation strategies,” which include, “fund of programs that address prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery; criminal justice; and public awareness expenditures that promote the overall health and well-being of Ohioans.”  Gary said that according to Mary Kay Vance, City of Wilmington Auditor, there are currently $80,963 in Wilmington’s OneOhio fund, and Kyle Rudduck, Clinton County Treasurer, there are $516,889 in Clinton County’s OneOhio fund, for a total of almost $600,000. According to both Kyle Rudduck and the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, funds will continue to be dispersed by the state for up to 18 years. After discussing the amounts, Gary stated, “I would like to see… county officials at their meetings consider spending a portion of these dollars for some type of eligible, homeless-related project”—like transitional housing as previously recommended by the Clinton County Homeless Coalition. Gary shared hopes that a portion of the money could help provide the “vital and basic needs” for homeless individuals. Since the money will continue to come in for years, he argued that this would be a “comparatively small use” of the funds. After speaking, Gary posed three questions. He asked if the county had current plans for the funds, if it was an eligible use to aid the homeless, and who makes the final decision on the expenditure of the funds. Gary also asked if the county or city had spent any of the funds.  Mike McCarty led the conversation, speaking on behalf of the commissioners and as the county representative for the OneOhio county funds. According to Mike, any project that would use state or regional funds requires data and evidence before it can be started. Essentially, Mike could not confirm whether Gary’s suggestion would be an accepted use for the OneOhio funds.  Mike met with the Educational Service Center (ESC) to attempt to use the funds for prevention purposes with local children. He stressed the importance of focusing on prevention with children to end the teen vaping epidemic. Gary countered that there were programs that deal with that issue already in existence. He stated, “It seems to me that the homeless population is the population that’s been neglected… I want to see local officials do something other than threaten to take Sugartree Ministries to court.” Addressing the issue of homelessness, Mike stated, “My opinion is a lot of our agencies that are meant to help that population sit in an office and are waiting for them to show up at their office and get help. That population is never, ever gonna be the type that comes to a board and says I need help.” Mike mentioned other programs in nearby towns that provide housing and “actual treatment.” He suggested a meeting with all the “independent care sources” for homeless individuals to create a collective goal and apply for grants. He argued that it will take a local population to “spearhead” what Wilmington needs to deal with homelessness. Regarding the funds, Mike suggested partnering with something that already occurs to be more cost efficient. According to Mike, he is open to projects or groups coming forward with suggestions on how to best spend the money. Gary closed the conversation by explaining that he heard about the funds and was hoping that it could be a potential source to provide the daily needs of homeless individuals. He also encouraged the county commissioners to “[keep] homelessness on [their] radar.” Learn more about the OneOhio Recovery Foundation at oneohiofoundation.com . To learn more about the county and city’s spending of the funds, visit wilmingtonohio.gov .

Clinton County Community Action Seniors and Head Start Students Throughout 2024, the Clinton County Community Action Program (CCCA) assisted county residents by providing various resources. CCCA operates assistance programs for children, seniors, and others in need.  Through CCCA, over 500 seniors participated in social activities such as outings, exercise classes, games, and more. Jane Newkirk, Chief Executive Officer of CCCA, stated, “All of [these activities] provide social activity and exercise for both the body and the mind… The Aging Up Senior Center provided a facility for individuals 50+ a place to socialize, exercise, and participate in activities which in turn assists in improving their overall health.” In addition, the center maintained a garden for seniors in 2024, expanding it by adding 15 spots with assistance from Clinton Memorial Hospital. The CCCA meal program delivered almost 35,000 meals in 2024. In addition, their food pantry served 551 food boxes, feeding over 1,000 people. The Community Action program also assisted 2,738 families in completing applications to assist with their heating and air conditioning bills. CCCA also assisted over 1,000 seniors with Medicare and Medicaid applications, in addition to assistance with completing bill payments.  According to Jane, they provided 36 gas cards to help with transportation to medical appointments outside the county. In addition, CCCA also provided over 2,000 seniors with rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other necessities. They also hosted a Mobile Mammogram Unit that checked 61 individuals.  Through the Head Start Center, CCCA helped 98 children by providing them with up-to-date physicals, vaccinations, dental screenings, and programming sessions. Many of the children assisted by the center were disabled, below the poverty line, or were in foster or kinship care. In addition to this, the learning center cared for 90 children. They also provided Christmas gifts and winter-wear to 101 children.  Learn more about CCCA at clintoncap.org .

The Murphy Theatre In celebration of the 5th year of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s (DPIL) presence in Clinton County, they will be showing a complimentary viewing of the documentary, “The Library That Dolly Built.”  The film will be shown at the Murphy Theatre on March 28th at 7 pm. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the program, showing the “warehouse to mailbox process,” according to Karen Long, Coordinator of DPIL. The film will also feature images of local children and families. Charlie’s will be open for happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. They plan to feature a special Dolly-Parton-inspired cocktail. The DPIL is a book gifting program that provides enrolled children one book per month from birth through five. According to Karen, there are 1,707 children in the program locally (72% of children in the county). The program began in Clinton County in March 2020.  Initially, Dolly started the program in East Tennessee in 1995 in honor of her father who could not read. The program now exists in every state and five countries. The program is free to families. The cost to mail the books is $2.60 per child per month. According to Karen, the state pays for half of that cost. In Clinton County, ATSG pays for the “bulk” of the remaining cost.  Karen also mentioned that reading to children multiple times a day could increase the number of words they know by kindergarten by over a million. Karen stated, “It’s amazing the number of words, if you read a book to kids or read to kids, how many words they know.” She also stated that 80% of the brain is developed by age three. Karen continued, “[Dolly] wants to positively impact brain development by getting books in homes of families.”  Tickets to the event are free. To reserve tickets or donate to the DPIL, visit clintoncountyohiofoundation.org .

Dustin Pearce & Veronica Grabill Veronica Grabill joined the podcast to share about her role as Chaplain and Volunteer Coordinator at Clinton Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Wilmington, Ohio. Veronica helps support and pray with patients and families at the hospital as well as helps organize essential community volunteer opportunities for the hospital. Active volunteers range in age from 18 to 90 and work in several departments of the hospital, including the gift shop, medical records, admissions, financial services and others. If you have an interest in volunteering, contact Veronica to set up a time to discuss our areas of need and your interests to make this experience fulfilling and enjoyable. Additionally, you can expect to complete an application (background check), sign a Volunteer Pledge, and participate in any necessary training. Listen to episode 67 of the Real Change Wilmington Podcast, '067: Clinton Memorial Hospital Volunteer Opportunities' with Veronica Grabill, on your favorite podcast player below: 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website

On February 18th, 2025, the Wilmington Charter Steering Committee hosted a public meeting at the Murphy Theatre for its ‘Let’s Charter Our Success’ campaign. The campaign is intended to answer community questions and consider the benefits of becoming a charter city. The meeting featured a public forum and a question-and-answer session with Dave Kennedy, the city manager of Loveland, Ohio.  Like Wilmington, Loveland has several city parks, a bike trail, and a historic downtown. Loveland and Wilmington are also similar in size, as Wilmington’s population is roughly 12,000, and Loveland’s is roughly 13,000. Loveland adopted their charter in 1961 and has revised it five times since.  Dave briefly explained the difference between charter and statutory cities. He stated that a statutory city, like Wilmington, must follow the governance rules set forth by the Ohio Revised Code. However, a charter city can personalize its rules for governance to best fit the needs of the individual city. Dave stated, “It’s written by the people of the town. That’s the key and it’s changed by the people of the town. It’s the true constitution of the community.” Dave stressed tailoring a city’s charter to its needs to best serve the city’s goals. He referred to a charter document as the “most power of the people document there is,” because of the level of specification a city is able to include in the document. Currently, Loveland has a Council-Manager Plan for their government. Their charter features a city manager who is hired by city council. Their mayor presides over council meeting and the position is mostly ceremonial, according to Dave. The city manager oversees the daily operations of the city full-time. According to Dave, the city sets goals every 1–2 years and he is evaluated on his performance in achieving those goals. If he does not achieve those goals, then he can be terminated at any time. David Kennedy, City Manager for the City of Loveland, Ohio Dave mentioned Loveland’s intense focus on seeking out grants to fund projects within the city. He mentioned during the public meeting that he has brought in more grant money than his salary each year. According to the City of Loveland, Dave has applied for and received over six million dollars in grants that helped improve the city. According to Dave, he has been able to look at, revitalize, and seek out grants for every aspect of the city through his position. During the meeting, Dave cited a specific example of a new parking lot that will be almost completely funded by grant money. Dave has worked in public service for 40 years. He has been the city manager of Loveland since 2014. According to Dave, he has worked for diverse communities, spending many years trying to build a charter in New Richmond, a town of 3,000, before transitioning to work in Loveland. When asked why the charter initiative failed in New Richmond, Dave stated that the specifics of a charter were unclear to residents and public education surrounding the initiative was not communicated successfully. In response to local concerns that Wilmington would lose its identity through the adoption of a charter, Dave stated that he believed the opposite. He emphasized, “It’s the only format [of government] you’re ever going to have to cater it to what you do need.” Dave also responded to the confusion that voting to change Wilmington into a charter city would make it a “sanctuary city.” He clarified that charter cities are not sanctuary cities at all. Dave also spoke about the process of adopting a charter. He explained that to begin the city votes on adopting a charter and the charter commission at the same time. If an individual votes in favor of a charter city, they would also elect at least 15 residents of the city to sit on a charter commission. Those 15 individuals would draft the charter. After the passage of the charter and the election of the commission, the commission members would have to create and customize the charter to the city’s needs within a year of their election. Once the charter is drafted, it would then be mailed to every current registered voter in city limits. Presenting: Dave Kennedy, City Manager for The City of Loveland, Ohio Several residents and local business owners were in attendance at the public Steering Committee meeting, in addition to local political leaders Jim Rankin, Chair of the Clinton County Republican Central Committee, and Michael Allbright, Chair of the Clinton County Democratic Central Committee. The current members of the Steering Committee for the eventual City of Wilmington Charter Commission include: Bruce Saunders, President of the Clinton County Trails Coalition; John Wirmel, Pastor at Wilmington Assemble of God; Sydney Murtland, Assistant Director of the Clinton County Homeless Shelter; and others. The Steering Committee is seeking to represent the voice of a diverse group of key community stakeholders. The Steering Committee is open to additional members who live within city limits with the following background: Local Business, Public Education, Finance, Legal, Agriculture, and Political. The next public meeting for the ‘Let’s Charter Our Success’ campaign is scheduled for May 13th from 7pm to 8pm at the Murphy Theatre. To learn more or watch past recordings, visit wilmingtoncharter.com .

Piece of art titled: "(Like I Swore It Would)," enamel on acrylic painting, 12x15. WILMINGTON, Ohio (March 6th, 2025) — Jeffery Cortland Jones describes his upcoming exhibit at Wilmington College’s Harcum Gallery as “works about place, once familiar, yet not. That place of remembering and simultaneously forgetting. Of triumph and tragedy. Of breathing and drowning. Of mourning and morning.” Jones’ exhibit, titled “Landscape Segments,” will be featured March 19 through May 2. An artist’s reception with refreshments is scheduled for March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Normal gallery hours are weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by special appointment scheduled through the gallery curator, Hal Shunk, emeritus professor of art. Harcum Gallery is located in Boyd Cultural Arts Center, corner of College and Douglas streets. “I am interested in the landscape as a physical location and as an unattainable romantic idea,” Jones added. He is a full professor in the University of Dayton’s Department of Art + Design. He has a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in painting and drawing from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, and a Master of Fine Art in painting and drawing from the University of Cincinnati. “I am interested in locating, apprehending then releasing, the resistance of a color (and) then surrendering to it, a hard edge as it softens, the slight peeking that comes from covering and layering, that space between the wall and the object, when shallow and deep appear the same, what it’s like to look through the fog, when a mostly matte surface shifts to a little tinge of gloss that hangs out at the edge, that place between misplacing and finding, how white can be both warm and cool at the same time, when you find that correcting is making it worse, the moment when a stable stack is on the verge of collapse and when contemplation breaks down and you go for it.” Jones’ work is featured in private collections in North America, Europe and China, as well as at the Arizona Biltmore, Cleveland Clinic, Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, Brooklyn Art Library, the Ritz-Carlton in Naples and Amelia Island, Florida, and the universities of Dayton, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas Southwestern. Article Submitted by Wilmington College

College Hall in November WILMINGTON, Ohio (March 3rd, 2025) — The Ohio Tree City USA Awards Program and Arbor Day Foundations have named Wilmington College a Tree Campus USA for the second consecutive year. Trees and green space are an integral part of the college experience, especially at WC. Indeed, they make all campuses more livable, healthy, and beautiful, benefiting both students and the environment. The College earned this designation by meeting key criteria that include evidence of a campus tree-care plan, verification of the plan’s dedicated annual expenditures, creation of a service learning project aimed at engaging the student body, and observing Arbor Day, which is April 25. President Corey Cockerill noted Wilmington College is known for its beautiful campus and especially its trees. “From Collett Mall on our main campus to the 32.4 acres of adjacent land that make up the Frank O. Hazard Arboretum and S. Fredrik Anliot Natural Area, the College has long celebrated its expansive green spaces by planting trees,” she said. “Trees not only offer educational and environmental benefits, but they contribute to the health and well-being of the campus and local community,” she added. Indeed, a commitment to trees can significantly reduce the amount of energy a campus needs to generate, while planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change. Also, green space provides important mental health benefits to students, faculty and staff, as well as encourages physical activity. Involving students in tree-related, service-learning projects helps educate the next generation about the importance of caring for the environment. Cockerill expressed her appreciation to a pair of faculty members who coordinated the Tree Campus USA application renewal process, Dr. Kendra Cipollini, professor of environmental science/biology, and Dr. Russell Kincaid, professor of mathematics and physics. The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources Division of Forestry administers the Tree Campus programs on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972. The Tree Campus program recognizes schools, universities, and healthcare facilities that utilize trees to improve their communities. Article Submitted by Wilmington College

President of the Clinton County Trails Coalition, Bruce Saunders, presents to the Cape May 3M Club on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Terri Schlabach Piloting Trishaw “The Cycling Without Age program is gearing up for a full season of offering trail rides to people who aren’t able to bike or walk the trails themselves,” stated Bruce Saunders, President of the Clinton County Trails Coalition. According to Bruce, the program has two trishaw bikes with six drivers prepared to take elderly or handicapped individuals for rides in the spring. Bruce stated, “The Cycling Without Age program offers elderly or disabled people the opportunity to get outdoors and experience the joy of riding through our natural environment on our recreational trails.” Wheelies on Mulberry trains the volunteer pilots for those rides, in addition to coordinating the free rides. To “kick off” the season, Cycling Without Age plans to show a film at the Murphy Theatre on March 11th, 2025. According to Bruce, the film will explain the “Cycling Without Age worldwide movement” that began in 2012. After the film is shown, there will be a talk about Wilmington’s Cycling Without Age program. Admission to the event is free. The doors for the event will open at 6 pm and the event begins at 7 pm. The two trishaw bicycles and six trishaw pilots will be present in the lobby of the theatre to answer questions about Wilmington’s chapter before and after the 30-minute film. The showing of the film was sponsored by the Wilmington Chapter of Cycling Without Age and the Clinton County Trails Coalition. In addition to learning about the organization, individuals who attend the event will also learn how HealthFirst for Clinton County provided grant funding to the Clinton County Trails Coalition to purchase the first trishaw bike for the Wilmington chapter, as reported in the Wilmington News Journal. According to Wheelies on Mulberry, the second trishaw bike was purchased through grant funds from the Rails to Trails Conservancy. To learn more about the event at the Murphy Theatre on March 11th, visit facebook.com/ClintonCountyTrailsCoalition .

After serving as the Director of the Clinton County Homeless Shelter (CCHS) for 30 years, Denise Stryker recently retired and the board has passed the leadership role to Amber Taylor. According to Denise, CCHS was the first Ohio shelter to open in a rural area in 1988. Denise began her involvement in March of 1994. Denise acknowledged the importance of learning to “meet people where they are” and that each individual’s needs are different. Denise recalled that in the beginning of her time at the shelter, it was often filled with newly single parents, and while mental health and addiction have always been present, they have increased over the past 30 years, making partnerships with local service agencies vital. Denise’s proudest accomplishments are the success stories. She stated, “Having people come back after they lived there and have overcame challenges, are housed, some employed, those… just really fill my heart”. Denise Stryker & Amber Tayler Amber worked at the shelter for 18 years prior to her new role. She began as a part-time employee and quickly became assistant director to Denise. Since taking over, Amber has been focusing on grant writing and shelter operations. She also plans to bring back “Can-struction,” where groups can build structures out of canned goods to donate to the shelter. At recent city council meetings, both the public and elected officials have discussed how to deal with homelessness. In response to the conflation of homelessness with crime, Denise and Amber stressed the import need of housing for individuals to thrive, and encouraged people to visit homelessness assistance organizations prior to making judgments. When speaking of those in need, Amber stated, “I want them to know that they have support... they have someone that’s caring about them and they want to help them.” Listen to Denise and Amber’s full story on episode 66 of The Real Change Wilmington Podcast. To learn more, volunteer, or donate to CCHS, call (937) 382-7058. 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website