Local sisters, Doughena Irwin and Ashlee Cup, with Salon 92 join the podcast to discuss what it took to start their own small business on South Street and honor their late sister who passed away due to addiction. This is an encouraging episode marked by both courage and compassion—growing in courage to follow your dreams, and having compassion for others regardless of their labels. Listen to episode 59 of the Real Change Wilmington Podcast, 'Local Sisters Start a Small Business at Salon 92' with Doughlena Irwin & Ashlee Cupp, 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

For roughly 5o years, students, staff, and community members have been contributing to “White Gift”, a service project organized by the WHS Student Council and their advisors. Lead by Amy Faris and Tyler Williams, co-student council advisors, the project provides meals to over 200 families in need during the holiday season. The White Gift delivers meal packages in mid-December, right before the students leave for winter break. Although the content in the kits can vary per year, the general theme is to provide a “holiday meal-esque” package. The packages often contain: a bag of potatoes, a ham or turkey, butter, milk, canned goods like corn and green beans, stuffing mix, cake or cornbread mix, and mac n’ cheese. They also aim to include pans and foil in their packages. Throughout the process, Amy and Tyler coordinate with their community partners, such as Kroger and R+L, and collect addresses and information about families in need. The two mentioned that Kroger will notify them when holiday food items are on sale, in order to ensure they can serve as many families as possible. White Gift also provides meal packages to local homeless shelters. The students are responsible for packing and delivering the kits. In addition to student council members, other students also join in on assembly and delivery day, with over 60 students helping pack, deliver, and clean up after the service event. Each year, WHS hosts fundraisers to raise money for the meals that they provide. In addition to fundraising events, like homecoming, students also reach out to the community and speak with potential donors. According to Tyler and Amy, students gain not only empathy, but real life experience when speaking to local businesses in seek of donations. The two stressed the impactfulness of the program on both the students and members of the community, emphasizing how grateful the families are upon receiving their meal packages. Amy and Tyler simply “want to continue to serve as many families as possible” and “honor the tradition of the project” moving forward. To donate or get involved with White Gift, contact WCS at (937) 382-1641.

"Bussing, communication, and bullying… oh my!" Wilmington City Schools' Superintendent and School Board address community survey concerns at PTO meeting on November 12, 2024.

From dishwasher, to Executive Director, to her current position as Corporate Manager of Memory Care at Ohio Living, Jean Morgan is passionate about providing residents with enhanced quality of life, especially those who require memory care. “For me, quality of life is when the person with dementia is truly enjoying life”, said Jean, when speaking at Cape May about the future of memory care.  According to Jean, Ohio Living is changing the culture of how they serve their residents with dementia by partnering with Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, who prioritizes caretaker education and meaningful patient activities over medication. Jean made special mention of the resources provided by Hearthstone for those with dementia, including a book club that features books specifically for dementia patients. Throughout her talk, Jean emphasized their focus on engagement and hope. She explained that engagement decreases apathy, agitation, anxiety, and aggression among dementia patients. Ohio Living also has an ‘I’m Still Here’ motto, emphasizing that people with dementia can still enjoy the same quality of life.  Jean stressed the importance of expanding memory care in the area, as one in eight people over the age of 65 are affected by dementia and one in two over 85. Jean complimented Ohio Living’s ability to provide senior living and care, and plans to translate that success into a designated memory care center at Cape May.  The center’s presence at Cape May would ensure specific programs that promote independence and offer opportunities to those with dementia. To bring this level of care to Cape May, they need capital renovations and funding. There is currently no comprehensive memory care center in Clinton County. While the program costs are covered through the Clinton County Community Fund, Cape May still needs $250,000 to renovate a designated area on their campus. To learn more or donate, call (937) 382-2995.

Habitat for Humanity is building more than just houses. They’re “making other people better” and “making a change in the world”, according to Cecilia Krusling, President of Clinton County Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is providing families with affordable homes, education programs, and community, made possible through its hard-working volunteers. For Cecilia, hard work and volunteering have always been important values, a belief she shares with ReStore Manager, Steve Church. Together, they spoke about their backgrounds, their involvement in Habitat, and the inner workings of the organization. When speaking about her upbringing, Cecilia said, “The ‘work-hard’ standard has always been part of my life.” When she was not working as an advanced practice nurse, Cecilia would join her husband on the Habitat construction sites, during which time she stepped onto Habitat’s Board of Directors. Similarly to Cecilia’s upbringing and passion for volunteering, Steve started volunteering for the Salvation Army at a young age, donating and delivering food baskets to those in need. After working for thrift stores for most of his life, Steve found his way to Wilmington through his work with Habitat for Humanity International. “I like working for Habitat and this kind of organization because it’s ‘Christianity with its sleeves rolled up’”, Steve said. Inspired by this mission, he came to town excited to help grow Habitat’s ReStore. Clinton County’s Habitat for Humanity started in the early 1990’s as the “outgrowth” of a KKK rally held at the courthouse in Wilmington. Angered by such a display of hatred, community organizers planned a community day to “counteract” the rally. Inspired by this, a group of three men decided they would initiate a Habitat chapter in Clinton County. After writing letters, reaching out to local churches and businesses, and creating a board and by-laws, Clinton County Habitat for Humanity was incorporated in 1995 and the first house was built soon after. Excluding the pandemic, Habitat has built an average of two houses per year since. The houses are built almost exclusively by volunteers, excluding certain things that must be done by contractors. Of the houses built each year, they’ve only repossessed a few, a positive result partly due to the education programs provided and partly due to the diligence of the partner families, according to Cecilia. The ReStore opened a few years later in 2005 after a co-founder of Habitat spoke at Wilmington College and inspired the then-secretary to open a ReStore in Clinton County. The store sells gently used items to keep them out of the landfills and earn revenue towards building houses. According to Steve, “you never know what treasures you’re going to find at the ReStore.” The ReStore accepts donations via drop off and pick up. When speaking about Habitat’s mission beyond the store, Cecilia stated, “Our mission is to build cost effective, energy efficient homes for underprivileged people here in Clinton County.” She touched on the difficulty of finding affordable, livable homes in the area and emphasized that many of the families Habitat helps would likely not qualify for a traditional loan. Cecilia stressed that the homes are not “handouts”, stating, “We give them kindness, and volunteer a lot.. But nothing financial.” The families must pay back an interest-free loan, along with the completion of other requirements. Habitat also requires “sweat equity”, time that the family has to spend giving back. For a two adult family, they must put in 500 sweat equity hours. For a one adult family, they must do 300 sweat equity hours. The goal of these hours is to encourage a “circle of involvement”. To meet their required hours, the families may work on construction sites, work at the ReStore, work fundraisers, and more. A certain number of the hours must be on a construction or job site. In addition to the circle of involvement, the goal of the hours is to teach the families to respect the house-building process, bond with the construction crew, learn valuable skills, and “have fun”, as emphasized by Cecilia. To ensure that families are continuously involved in the process, Habitat homes have a “soft mortgage” in addition to their interest-free mortgage. The soft mortgage is currently valued at $20,000 for ten years. In order to remove that mortgage from their principal loan, the families must complete 50 hours of sweat equity per year for two adult families or 30 hours per year for single adult families. Cecilia mentioned that the homes are valued at $200,000 but only cost $115,000 to build because of  volunteer help, including help received from the partner families.  To qualify for a Habitat home, families must want to be a part of the organization. Additionally, the family must meet the HUD requirements for the average median income in Clinton County, which currently falls between $50,000 and $80,000. The last requirement is the completion of sweat equity hours. The qualification process is mostly financial; however, families can also qualify based on need, such as the condition of their house. For their partner families, Habitat also provides extensive training programs that cover various subjects—these subjects include money management, insurance information, wills and POA, emergency preparedness, and more. These programs are open to the public for anyone that would like to learn. Their assistance goes beyond helping those locally, as a percentage of their donations and revenue are passed on to Habitat International, which can be used to build homes across the United States and in third world countries. Listen to Cecilia and Steve’s full story on episode 58 of The Real Change Podcast. Learn more about Habitat for Humanity at clintonhabitat.org . 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website

Clinton County Health District Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) director Renee Quallen sorts through books for children that were recently donated to the WIC program by the Friends of the Wilmington Public Library (FOL). Quallen said that the books will be available to enrolled WIC families while they are at the local health department and may also be donated for children and parents to read at home. WIC provides support and education for pregnant and breastfeeding women; new mothers; and infants, and children up to five years of age. FOL is a volunteer group that collects, stocks and rotates books that are available at the library for a donation. Article submitted by Dana Dunn

Residents of the 4-A Ward should expect to see a D-6 liquor permit on their ballot on November 5th. The General Denver is petitioning to sell “wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor” on Sundays at their restaurant, bars, patio, and rooftop. The issue requires a majority yes vote in order to pass. A D-6 liquor permit is required of any business in Ohio that would like to sell wine, mixed drinks, and spirits on Sundays. According to an amendment of the Ohio Revised Code, A D-6 permit allows Sunday alcohol sales during the same hours that the permit holder is allowed to sell alcohol Monday through Saturday. After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, this practice was put in place to “ensure the safe consumption of alcoholic beverages and an orderly, competitive marketplace”, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. This governance model allows voters to have a direct influence regarding the types of alcohol sold in their precinct and “where, when, and how” that alcohol may be sold. The General Denver features two bars and a Four Seasons Room “to socialize or sip any time of day”, in addition to their restaurant. When asked if General Denver had a comment about the D-6 permit on the ballot, Brad Reid, Manager, stated, “We’re just hoping that it passes… for business sake and for other things.” The General Denver previously had a D-6 permit but due to a change in ownership, they needed to re-initiate the issue. The restaurant is unsure at this time if they plan to expand alcohol sales at the other restaurants owned by the same LLC, 73 Grill, located on OH-380, and Rod’s Capricorn Inn, located on OH-730. Learn more about the General Denver at generaldenver.com .

Wilmington City Schools is currently facing transportation challenges, as they are short two bus drivers due to long-term illness leave. Due to these vacant positions, two of their sixteen regular routes have been affected, in addition to transportation to sporting events. To complicate the situation even further, the school also has a shortage of substitute bus drivers, stretching the bus dispatcher and bus mechanic beyond their normal responsibilities and affecting communication. Parents have voiced their concerns about the regularly late buses, issues getting children’s bus routes changed in a timely manner, and an overarching concern with a lack of consistent communication. In response to these concerns, Tim Dettwiller, Interim Superintendent of WCS, stated, “we’re throwing time, effort, and money at this problem” and spoke about their plan to resolve the issue and alleviate parents' concerns, emphasizing the importance of transparency and consistency. To attempt to ensure that parents are receiving prompt communication, everyone in the central office is working together to distribute bus information, according to Dettwiller. The central office now has hard copies of routes and rosters in order to ensure that communication is still possible without the internet, due to a recent internet outage resulting in the slow notification of a bus accident. Dettwiller also detailed the ‘Bus Driver Recruiting Incentive Plan’ that was discussed at the October School Board Meeting and is set to be ratified at the upcoming board meeting. According to Dettwiller, the proposed plan is a “beefed up” version of a pre-existing plan that expired in June. The plan consists of three levels of incentives depending on an individual’s licensures and qualifications with bonuses ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. These incentives are in addition to the $18.93 per hour starting rate. In addition to this program, staff members are also rewarded for referring a bus driver and receive an additional personal day along with a $500 bonus. WCS also plans to display a large sign at East End Elementary and several smaller signs around town advertising their open bus driver positions. According to Dettwiller, “we’ve got the money to hire, we’ve got the desire to hire, it’s just getting [bus drivers] in the door.” He went on to say, “it takes four to six weeks to get them licensed. So that’s another big challenge is that it takes time. So that’s why we beefed up the second and third tier of our recruitment plan to offer more money.” If the issue persists beyond a month, Dettwiller mentioned cutting high school busing as a last resort; however, he doesn’t expect or want to be in that situation. Offering comfort to parents, Dettwiller noted that bus driver shortages are a statewide issue, occurring in multiple districts in the region. He also emphasized that students are not being punished for tardies or absences that are beyond their control due to the bus driver shortage. Dettwiller encouraged parents and students to communicate their concerns at local board meetings or call his office directly for a one-on-one conversation. However, throughout the process of resolving the issue, Dettwiller just asks that parents provide him with grace and stated, “the schools have to have the ability to research to provide you with an appropriate answer… There has to be a little bit of grace. If your child is safe and you know that and you’re just upset about something, call, we will get back to you if we don’t talk to you immediately.” Dettwiler acknowledged frustrations expressed on social media and the effect the situation has had on morale across the school district, and encouraged people to “talk about the good things that are happening, too.” If you are interested in driving part-time or full-time for Wilmington City Schools, call (937) 382-2357 or email Jessica Miller at Jessica.Miller@wilmington.k12.oh.us .

What is Ohio Issue 1 on the ballot for November 5th 2024 really about? Republican propaganda says to vote ‘no’ or “hand Ohio to the Democrats”. Democratic propaganda says vote ‘yes’ to stop Republicans from “rigging the districts”. Both claim that voting in their favor would “end gerrymandering”. However, beyond the political rhetoric, what are the practical applications if the issue passes or fails? Essentially, Ohio Issue 1 will decide which system Ohio uses to draw district lines for its two state legislative maps and one U.S. Congressional district map ( view maps ) . Maps are redrawn every 10 years, on years ending in “1”, after the U.S. Census. Currently, maps must “correspond closely” with the statewide elections and party preferences. The proposed amendment would have similar provisions. Across the nation, there are three major systems used to draw district lines and each system’s exact details vary per state. Legislature Dominant: Used by ~60% of states. Ohio currently uses this to draw its U.S. Congressional maps. In Ohio, the state legislature draws and passes district maps, similar to other legislation. Politician Commission: Used by ~10% of states. Ohio currently uses this to draw its 2 state legislature maps. In Ohio, the 7 member Ohio Redistricting Commission (ORC) is made up of: Ohio’s Governor, Auditor, Secretary, plus 2 Republican, and 2 Democrat appointees. Non-Politician Commission: Used by ~14% of states. Ohio would use this if Issue 1 passes. The Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) would be 15 members: 5 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 5 Independents. Ohio’s Ballot Board would initially select 4 retired judges (2 R, 2 D) to help select 6 initial commissioners, who would then select the remaining 9. Defending Ohio’s current systems, Clinton County’s Republican Committee President, Jim Rankin, said, “the politician lead model, one of the pros is that we voted for them... that’s how a party gets power... that’s fair... There’s a reason why the majority of states use that [legislature dominant] system… They have to be voted in, they are to be held accountable by the American citizens.” Defending Issue 1, Clinton County’s Democratic Committee President, Michael Allbright, said, “I support the non-politician system because of the way it’s divided and that it has no political representation.. It’s not active politicians doing it... they’ve [15 commissioners] got less skin in the game because they’re not trying to fight to keep them in power.” During their conversation, Jim stressed the importance of “civil dialogue” and both parties working together. Michael suggested an improvement to the Politician Commission if Issue 1 fails is ensuring a 4:3 party split (it is currently 5:2)—an idea Jim agreed could be a “fair concession”. Listen to their full conversation on episode 57 of The Real Change Podcast. 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website

Wilmington College president, Corey Cockerill, recently spoke about her background, strategic plans, and exciting additions coming to Wilmington College at Cape May. She was joined by Professor Russell Kincaid, who also spoke about the “new era of Wilmington College” with Corey as president. Despite not growing up on a farm, Corey always wanted to be a farmer and enjoyed learning about agriculture, natural resources, and sustainability practices. After meeting her husband, who attended Wilmington College, and spending many years on the campus with him, she fell in love with Wilmington College. The two married, purchased a farm, and had two children, one of whom is planning to attend Wilmington College next fall. During her talk, Corey discussed her goals for the budget and stressed her desire to be “proactive” rather than “reactive”. She acknowledged the “hit” that undergraduate education took during the pandemic. Corey stated, “Undergraduate education is going to run in a deficit for the next ten years… It’s not something you can make money on.” However, she proudly mentioned that Wilmington College has a balanced budget and no deficit. Corey also added that they ended last year “$1 million ahead”. To combat previous errors in budgeting, her administration is setting realistic expectations when estimating student enrollment numbers.  Both Corey and Russell discussed the prison education program, mentioning that it is fully funded by the Pell Grant, which aids in increasing the college’s revenue. In addition, the college is focusing on promoting philanthropy, masters programs, and increasing international student presence, in order to subsidize the undergraduate programs and balance the budget. Corey specifically mentioned that they were $3 million ahead of their anticipated philanthropic goals. Corey also displayed images and blueprints of a proposed improvement to the agriculture and equestrian center on Fife Road. Wilmington College has one of the largest equestrian teams for a small college, consisting of 61 riders. Due to expanding student interest, the college feels the need to increase the size and amenities at the current location. The new center will feature two large classrooms, one lab room, and a horse arena. The college has already raised $1 million for the $7 million project. The project is expected to happen in 2027–2028. In addition to the upcoming agriculture and equestrian center, the college is adding a new track, paid for almost entirely by philanthropic donations, excluding $100,000. Learn more about Corey and Wilmington College at wilmington.edu .

Housing Resources in Wilmington, Ohio If you need help finding resources for affordable housing, this page has links to applications and subsidized housing complexes in Wilmington. Table of Contents Emergency Shelter ( view ) Furniture Assistance ( view ) Subsidized/Section 8 Housing ( view ) Utility Assistance ( view ) Emergency Shelter Clinton County Homeless Shelter Provides emergency shelter for men, women, and children. People can take a shower, do a load of laundry, and get help with food, clothing, and household items. Address: 36 Gallup Ave, Wilmington, OH 45177 Hours: Everyday 24/7 (donation center open 10am to noon) Phone: (937) 382-7058 Learn More: Website Hope House Women and accompanying children are welcome. Address: 495 E Locust St, Wilmington, OH 45177 Hours: Everyday 9pm to 9:30pm for intake (winter hours may vary) Phone: (937) 366-1123 Email: hopehouse45177@gmail.com Learn More: Website Sugartree Ministries Men's shelter. Address: 180 E Main St, Wilmington, OH 45177 Hours: Everyday 24/7 Phone: (937) 382-8359 Learn More: Facebook Furniture Assistance Sleep in Heavenly Peace Clinton County We fully believe that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs. Too many boys and girls go without a bed – or even a pillow – to sleep on. These children end up sleeping on couches, blankets, and even floors. This can affect their happiness and health. That’s where Sleep in Heavenly Peace comes in. We’re a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling and delivering top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need. No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!®. Phone: (937) 728-0986 Email: carrie.zeigler@shpbeds.org Learn More: Facebook Subsidized/Section 8 Housing Clinton County Metropolitan Housing Address: 478 Thorne Ave, Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-5749 Community Action Sponsored Housing Ohio Tenants Rights Waiting List Application Clinton Community Housing (CCCAP) Community Action is very involved in making sure that families/individuals are given the opportunity to live in affordable housing. Since 1995 we have been building apartment complexes designed to help lower income families/individuals afford a place to live. The complexes are geared toward people that don’t make enough money for market rate rent but make too much for subsidized housing. Address: 789 N Nelson Ave, Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-8365 Office Hours: 8am-4:30pm M-F Learn More: Website Family Housing PDF Download Senior Housing PDF Download Foxglove Apartments Address: 1117 S South St D, Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-2726 Office Hours: 9:30am-5:30pm M-F Mulberry Hill Apartments Address: 459 S. Mulberry St. Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-4563 Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 8am-4pm Learn More: Website Prairie View Apartments (Seniors) Address: 360 Prairie Ave. Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-4569 Office Hours: Coming Soon Wilmington Court Apartments Address: 959 Xenia Ave, Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 453-0119 Office Hours: M-F 9am-5pm Wilmington Green Apartments Address: 60 Jodie Ln, Wilmington, OH 45177 Phone: (937) 382-6342 Office Hours: Mon–Thu 10am to 5pm Utilities Assistance Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Income-based heat and electric assistance. Phone: (937) 382-8365 Learn More: Website PPIP PIPP is a CCCAP program designed to assist those struggling with paying for their electric costs. This program is on a first come, first serve basis. Hours: Mon—Friday 8am-3pm Phone: (937) 382-1234 Home Weatherization Program Assists low-income families to make their homes more energy efficient. Phone: (937) 382-8365 Learn More: Website

“We were completely set up for success,” said Nate Collett, co-owner of Pot-Luck Greenhouse, located at 6555 OH-73 West in Wilmington, Ohio, when speaking about his family farm. Nate’s parents started the greenhouse in 1978, after moving from the New Burlington area when the state aquired their farm land, using imminent domain, to build Caesar’s Creek. The stipend they received was enough to purchase land in Wilmington and start Pot-Luck Greenhouse. The farm has been expanding ever since, slowly growing its greenhouse abilities, selling statues and decor, and bulk items like mulch and gravel. After serving his country in the military, completing three tours overseas, and then returning home to work construction, Nate determined construction was not his permanent path. Along with his brother, a Wilmington College graduate, they began “building [the business] up” so that they could take over to assist their parents. While working together, Nate’s mother had the idea to start a “Fall Fest”, one of the farm’s most popular features today. The Fall Fest features “ag-ertainment”, as termed by Nate, such as bouncy houses, slides, giant chess, a “corn swim”, a giant trike track, a themed corn maze, and many more. This year’s maze theme is “Island Adventure”. After expanding Pot-Luck’s operations, Nate and his brother purchased the business from their parents 3 years ago and have since added the shed and barn division, selling sheds, barns, and greenhouses. The expansions and additions over the years have tripled the revenue for the farm in less than 10 years. Hear Nate’s full story on episode 56 of The Real Change Podcast. Learn more about Pot-Luck at potluckgreenhouse.com . 🍎 Apple: bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🟢 Spotify: bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: bit.ly/rcwp-website