The following presentation was given at Wilmington’s City Council meeting on Thursday, January 4, 2024. 🧡🖤 Dustin Pearce. 276 W Locust Street. I recently presented a case to our school board to reconcile issues our community has with our schools so that we can heal relationships and be proud to pass our levy. It went exactly as I expected, meaning I was politely ignored. So tonight I now want to address our community here at city council. I met with our Superintendent and School Board President over the summer and they thought we could pass our levy by simply not taxing seniors, but I told them I thought it would fail, because despite our school board announcing that there would be student fees and staff cuts if our levy failed again, not a single parent or teacher showed up to our many outreach events over the summer, or even the events others put on. Even after our levy had just failed for the 4th time, those who had the most to lose if it failed again prioritized their vacations over the place they call home. Did you know 6,521 people showed up last November to vote for or against our schools, yet the average attendance at our schools’ board meetings when decisions are made that could make things better is ZERO? This does not include media, vendors, or parents and children who leave immediately after receiving awards, but the point still remains. That same month, at city council, a handful of persistent individuals showed up for the 2nd or 3rd time to present a case against a proposed condo complex in front of Timber Glen and saw our elected officials finally change their minds to veto the complex after weeks of passing it through. This example shows the power our community has to make real change when we simply show up, speak up, and be persistent. So, is a proposed condo complex more threatening to the “integrity of Wilmington” than our community’s schools failing? Or can we get a handful of residents, parents, and teachers who will show up, speak up, and be persistent for their own community, their own children, and their own careers? Our motto at Real Change Wilmington is “we are a community of empowered individuals”. This means we don’t just hope for change, we don’t just vote for change, we work for change. And through our WORK, “WE EARN OUR PRIDE”. We must all take personal responsibility for our schools, because they affect every aspect of our community. It would not be a true win for Wilmington if our schools’ levy passes in March by just 1–2 votes leaving our community divided, issues swept under the rug, and our children in danger of losing funding again in 5 years. So whether we support our schools or have problems with our schools that need solved, the only way things can get better is if we show up, speak up, and be persistent. Our next school board meeting is on January 22 and the details can be found on our schools’ website. I hope to see you there. Thank you. #OurCommunityOurSchools #WeEarnOurPride

Bill Liermann and Bill Davis will be starting their new roles are Board of Education Members for Wilmington City Schools starting in January of 2024. Below is there responses to a brief questionnaire asking: "why did you run for school board, and what changes can we expect in our schools?"

The community volunteer initiative, Clean-Up Wilmington, has recently completed its 3rd year of service in Wilmington, Ohio. The group’s main purpose has been helping clean-up and beautify the Wilmington community through volunteers who complete monthly service projects. Clean-Up Wilmington was started in 2021 out of a desire to clean our streets and communities. To date, over 520 volunteers have helped to remove 424 bags of litter and trash from our community. Along with the monthly events, Clean-Up Wilmington also facilitates clean-up activities for organizations looking to beautify their surroundings, work community service hours, or to assist in team building exercises. This year Clean-Up Wilmington also began a new community service program, giving those with non-violent criminal offenses opportunities to work off mandatory service hours within the program. To date, this program has had 34 participants who completed 139 hours of community service. More Photos: 2023 2021–2022 Those wanting to learn more can contact: Annen Vance, Code Enforcement Official Email: avance@wilmingtonoh.org Phone: (937) 382-6509 Facebook: Clean-Up Wilmington Community Partners: Sugartree Landscaping Sugar Grove Cemetery Clinton County Recycling & Solid Waste TimberTech (Earth Day Experience) Clinton County Juvenile Court Probation Community Service Program Wilmington College Alkermes Amazon Air Main Street Wilmington Clinton County Visitors’ Bureau Sugartree Ministries WHS National Honor Society Ada Chapel Friends Meeting

Over the past few months, two local baristas, Evelyn Miller and Christianna Yost, have been working with Executive Director of Sugartree Ministries, Lee Sandlin, with the idea of reopening Joe’s Java, a donation only coffee shop, a few days a week as a way to help women in our community. Sandlin said, “like Sugartree Landscaping, we want to create a work program for ladies to help them move forward and make some money for child care and bills. All the coffee is free [because as a nonprofit they cannot charge], but our baristas receive the tips. Our plan is to bring in local artists and musicians to showcase their talents to help support a worthy cause. Our hours now are Tuesday and Thursday, 6pm to 8pm, but we are hoping to expand those in the future.” Joe’s Java will also be changing its name to ‘Al’s Coffee’ to honor Sugartree Ministries Founder, Allen Willoughby (now retired). Sandlin surprised Willoughby with this announcement on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at their Christmas party held at The Murphy Theatre for the staff of all three of Wilmington’s homeless shelters. At the party, Sandlin, along with Denise Stryker, Executive Director of Clinton County Homeless Shelter, and Katie Terrell, Executive Director of Hope House, each recognized their teams for helping carry their ministries and being givers in our community. “The Bible says that ‘For God so loved the world He GAVE…’”, said Sandlin. “And out of everything you could be doing, you choose to be here and give.”

In addition to educating our community on resources available to those in need, one of the main reasons Real Change Wilmington exists is to promote a positive outlook in our community by resolving “grumbling” where possible, and there is probably no greater source of grumbling than the lack of parking downtown—or so people say anyways. I have heard the argument both ways: some people say, “there is no parking downtown”, and others say “there is parking downtown, people just don’t want to walk around the corner”. However, for myself, it wasn’t until I saw the (very detailed) online parking map created by Regional Planning that I realized just how much parking is available downtown—for instance, I had no idea the lot by Fiesta Veracruz was city owned, or that the lot behind the courthouse is public parking. Then one evening I was walking through Miamisburg, Ohio with my family and noticed a few businesses had a simple, yet well designed, parking map displayed in their windows and I thought, “this would be perfect for Wilmington!” So I used my graphic design skills to print some posters and distribute them to local businesses such as Peoples Bank, TinCap, The Murphy, and several others. The goal is to both educate our community on parking spots available downtown, and encourage downtown shopping, eating, and attendance at events. Download the most updated parking map at realchangewilmington.com/parking. If you are a downtown property owner and would like a parking map, please send us an email through our website at realchangewilmington.com/contact.

🙋‍♀️🏬🗞️ Emily is moving to Columbus soon for a change of pace and we are looking to hire a writer! Know anyone? Have them apply! Must have a heart of gold and balls/ovaries of steel... journalism and print layout experience wouldn’t hurt either, lol. 😜 1) 📝 WRITER: Apply Online P.S. We’re also hiring someone who can make cold calls and manage our office: 2) 📞 COLD CALLER: Apply Online

The Friends of the Wilmington (Ohio) Public Library recently donated 58 bundles (four to a bundle) of age-appropriate books to the Ho Ho Shop of Clinton County for gifting to children in the county this Christmas season. The Clinton County Ho Ho Shop is a nonprofit organization that, along with its sponsors and friends in the community, help families in need by providing Christmas gifts for their children. The Friends of the Wilmington Public Library was founded in 1979 as a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the Wilmington Public Library and in recent years, the new Clinton-Massie branch. Its purpose is to recruit volunteers to support the library and the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights. In addition to special events to encourage reading, the Friends of the Wilmington Public Library collect and stock two collections of donated books at the Wilmington Public Library, one for adults and one for children that are available for cash donations. The collections are accessible anytime the library is open. The group is always looking for new members and book donations. Follow it on Facebook at the Friends of the Wilmington Public Library of Clinton County.

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, representatives from several local groups delivered a check of $2,600 "FOR THE KIDS" living at The Clinton County Homeless Shelter. Their donation not only helps children at Christmas time, but all year around with things like clothing, shoes, coats, haircuts, transportation, school related costs, kid-friendly food items, and birthday gifts. These organization include: Sons of Tyre Chapter-Widows Sons Blanchester Eagles Clarksville Masonic Lodge Sabina Masonic Lodge Blanchester Masonic Lodge Central Ohio Norton Owners For more than 25 years, Dan Kennelly, President of Sons of Tyre Chapter-Widos Sons, has reached out to The Clinton County Honeless Shelter to see how they can help children living at the shelter. Then, every year, men and women from these organizations work together to raise funds. Denise Stryker, Director of the Clinton County Homeless Shelter expressed a huge and heartfelt "thank you" to these organizations that raised funds for children living at the shelter: "Thank you, Sons of Tyre Chapter-Widows Sons, Blanchester Eagles, Clarksville Masonic Lodge, Sabina Masonic Lodge, Blanchester Masonic Lodge, and Central Ohio Norton Owners for all that you do to bring smiles to kids all year long! Your big hearts, caring, and compassion is forever appreciated," said Stryker.

Address: 1760 Fife Ave, Wilmington, OH 45177 Hours: 24/7/365 Phone: (937) 383-0703 Website: www.clintoncohumanesociety.org What does the CC Humane Society do? We are a mostly volunteer group of Clinton County citizens who are dedicated to protecting and saving the lives of homeless, abused and neglected animals in Clinton County. Our animals are vet-checked, spayed, and neutered before their adoptions in order to ensure they are healthy when they find their loving family and home—and to help control our animal population. What services do you offer? Animal sheltering for Clinton County’s “discarded” pets Animal Adoption Vet Care for animals in their shelter Project Abigail (supporting spaying/neutering of shelter animals) What are some statistics on adoption at your shelter? In 2022, we found homes for 299 previously homeless animals. Thanks go to our wonderful caring volunteers and to our dedicated individuals who bring us supplies and funds. What criteria does someone need to meet to adopt? You have to complete the Pre-Adoption Questionnaire, found on our website and send it to us. If it’s a match, we will contact you to set up an appointment for you to come in to meet and possibly adopt a pet. How can the community become involved? Call for volunteer opportunities or make a donation! As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, donating to the Clinton County Humane Society, your donation can help animals find homes and receive veterinary care.

The Banned Book Nook and Other Curiosities (BBN&OC) opened their doors in mid-October. To much the disappointment of some, this was not a store offering books for bands, or skulls and taxidermy, but a bookstore specializing in providing readers of our community with low cost used books and books that have been added to the National Banned Book list—in their cautioned taped cabinet of course... The BBN&OC is a dream of Wilmington local, Rachel Collins, that shows one family’s love for literacy and bookstores despite the age of Amazon putting many out of business. During our interview with Rachel and her daughter, Lily, she shares that her grandmother once owned a bookstore in Wilmington. Rachel recalls some of her most fond memories as a middle and high schooler being spent reading books at her grandmother’s store after school and stopping at Julia’s Cheeser (now closed) for a “smoked string cheese.” You may find yourself wondering, “what is a banned book and why are they banned?” According to Rachel, “You can call them ‘banned’ or ‘challenged’ but at some point, they have been taken out of a school district or library. A parent could pick up a book and say ‘I don’t like this for whatever’, fill out a form and take it to the school board… It can be as simple as something like ‘James and the Giant Peach’ being banned for having the word ‘ass’ in it.” This leads to books that many have read in school no longer being there, such as ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Harry Potter’. If a book is banned, this does not mean you are unable to find or purchase them. It means that these books have become unavailable to communities, schools, and libraries. Whether it’s banned books, knickknacks, or other curiosities, the Collins’ have a bit of that magic associated with story time in the BBN&OC. Their simple bookstore, brightly decorated with modern furniture and filled to the brim with books for all ages, is nothing but warm and welcoming. The BBN&OC is the perfect place to find your next great read to curl up with this winter—even if you don’t have “a smoked string cheese.” To learn more about The Banned Book Nook, search for them up on Facebook.

Hey Everyone, this is Dustin Pearce with Real Change Wilmington. I recently purchased a building on North South Street that currently has a business tenant—I would have love to purchase one of the many vacant or underutilized buildings downtown, but unfortunately after 3 years of saving my money and asking around, none of their owners wanted to sell. Obviously I love Wilmington and made it my home, so I have been working above and beyond with this current business tenant to help them succeed through the transition—like letting them choose their own move out date, not charging their last month’s rent, helping them relocate, and so much more. And while I would love to share all the messy and beautifully human details right now publicly in my typical “real change” fashion, I am choosing to respect the people actually involved who wish to wait until after the holidays to share their own announcements. Our motto at Real Change Wilmington is “we are a community of empowered individuals.” We started just a year ago, but have quickly set an example of the relationships that can form when we have the character, courage, and humility to challenge our thoughts and take rumors we hear to the source with an approach that is positive, constructive, and lighthearted. And while it has been our joy to do, we believe it is everyone’s responsibility if we wish to have a healthy community. So as far as I know, good things are coming. But Until then, “keep it real, Wilmington!” 😎🤙

Robyn Morris, owner of Kairos Coffee, stoped by the podcast to share her journey as an (almost) actress in California, amazing mother, diligent prayer warrior, and current day coffee house owner loving life with her family and team of baristas. Listen to Robyn share her story on your favorite podcast player now: 🍎 Apple: https://bit.ly/rcwp-apple 🤖 Google: https://bit.ly/rcwp-google 🟢 Spotify: https://bit.ly/rcwp-spotify 🎥 YouTube: https://bit.ly/rcwp-youtube 😎 Website: https://bit.ly/rcwp-website