Village of Russia Splash Pad & Pavilion Update

June 28, 2023

Village of Russia Pavilion & Splash Pad Update

The Village wanted to provide a quick update since the last correspondence on the Pavilion and Splash Pad projects. We are currently finalizing the Pavilion and Splash Pad drawings, determining the final locations of both, and will be bidding the entire project out soon. Our objective is to start construction in 2023 with a goal of being operational sometime in 2024. From a funding standpoint, we are very happy to share that the Village was awarded the Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant in the amount of $500,000. We’ve also had a handful of very generous private donations, bringing our total funding to over $1M. As there is a small shortfall in funding remaining, we are in the process of contacting local businesses to see if they have an interest in contributing to the project.

We’ve had a few inquiries from residents asking if they can contribute to this project’s funding. While we did not wish to solicit funds from the community, we also don’t want to stop our residents from contributing if they so desire.

If you would like to help fund this project, please direct your donation to The Community Foundation of Shelby County at commfoun.com/donate and designate the Russia Pavilion and Splash Pad Fund as the fund for your donation.

If you would prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to:
The Community Foundation of Shelby County

100 S. Main Avenue, Suite 202

Sidney, OH 45365.
Please note on your check “Russia Pavilion and Splash Pad Fund”.

We will continue to keep the community updated as this project moves along. Thanks again to all community members for their support. Feel free to reach out to any of the committee members if you have any questions.

Pavilion & Splash Pad Committee Members:
Adam Barga – Village Administrator
Brandon Simon – Village Council
Mary Jo High – Village Council
Jake Borchers – Village Council, Russia Wellness Foundation
Stephanie Fullenkamp – Russia Wellness Foundation
Jared Goubeaux – Russia Wellness Foundation
Treg Francis – Park Board
Zach Sherman – Park Board
Aaron Condon – Park Board

T&CP, Hotel Versailles Offer "Newsies Night Out"

By Chad Peyton
Towne & Country Players

   

     Who doesn't enjoy a "night out on the town"?  And if that town is New York, maybe you take in dinner and a show.  Granted, Versailles is not exactly the "Big Apple", but for three evenings in July, you can get a sampling of that NYC feeling, as Versailles Towne & Country Players and Hotel Versailles team up to offer a "Newsies Night Out".

  

     Looking for a new way to help create excitement for their upcoming July production of Disney's "Newsies", Towne & Country Players thought pairing a dinner event along with the show would be a fun idea and immediately thought Hotel Versailles and Silas would be a great potential partner.  T&CP Board members Lindsey Ausborn and Allison Cox reached out to Hotel Versailles' Managing Director Jack Olshan to gauge their interest in working on something that would be mutually beneficial.  Said Lindsey Ausborn of the initial idea, "Dinner and a show are a natural pairing.  Hotel Versailles and T&CP have been  looking for an opportunity to work together on an arts centered event since the hotel's reopening."

     Maria Bennett, Silas Food and Beverage, General Manager agreed with the logical nature of the event, saying, "At Hotel Versailles and Silas Creative Kitchen, we pride ourselves on the art of creating memorable experiences for our guests.  Every night the artists of Towne & Country Players take the stage, (they) are also creating memorable experiences!  We are excited to share in this!"

     This truly was a collaborative effort.  Along with T&CP board members Ausborn and Cox, ideas were shared and discussed over several meetings with Silas' Maria Bennett, Executive Chef Aaron Allen and Hotel Versailles Managing Director Jack Olshan.  Since "Newsies" takes place in New York City, the outcome was a vision of a true New York night on the town.  The hotel's 1819 Room would be used as a space to accommodate guests who would be offered a delicious New York themed dinner, along with cocktails.  

     Originally conceived as a one night event, it was decided to offer it all three evenings of the production.  The dinner and show package will include a ticket to the show and a seat in the 1819 Room where there will be a cash bar "cocktail hour" from 4:00-5:00 pm.  From 5:00-7:00 will be the New York themed dinner buffet, consisting of Mini Pastrami Sliders, an Italian Salad, Lasagna, Garlic Bread and New York Style Cheesecake.  There will also be a free shuttle to and from the theatre included for those interested.

  

     Towne & Country Players board members were thrilled with the plan and are very anxious to see the event succeed and lead to future endeavors.  Said Ausborn, " They have been absolutely wonderful to work with.  Chef Aaron created the New York themed cuisine and Jack had great ideas on how they could best serve our guests while continuing to give back to our organization. We hope this is just the beginning of a long partnership with Hotel Versailles that allows us to create a unique and memorable experience for our patrons."  Silas' Maria Bennett echoed the sentiment by stating, "We, too, hope this is the start to a long time partnership with the fine arts community."

     Tickets for Towne & Country Players production of Disney's "Newsies" are on sale now.   Production dates are July 13th and 14th at 7:30 pm and two shows on Saturday, July 15th at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm.  Dinner and show tickets are available for each performance and are $45.  Show only tickets are also available for $15.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.towneandcountryplayers.com and clicking on the ticket link or by calling (937)417-1094.  Make your plans today and allow Towne & Country Players and Hotel Versailles give you a night out you won't soon forget!

The Thrill Of My Lifetime

I've watched your kids and mine grow up on the course, in the gym, on the field, and inside the track. 

I'm not one that usually reminiscences on many birthdays or anniversaries. Rather, I prefer looking forward to the years ahead. However, Fish Report recently turned 19 and on this occasion it's pertinent to reflect on the past and understand how we got to this point. One question I heard often when this whole thing started was, "what is a Fish Report?"

The website was born in 2004 and a number of early readers might recall, the content was typically more juvenile entertainment than bona fide news. Requests for the web address grew quickly and my domain gradually transformed from pictures of Russia Ohio shenanigans into an area information source for high school sports, and more. Athletic accomplishments and small town stories became the coffee that wakes me every weekday around 5:15am and the nightcap that often keeps my computer monitor on past 11:00pm.

Fish Report's lifespan of nearly two decades is the result of many. So many.

Many generous sponsors. The first ever was Silver Cross Catholic Books & Gifts in Ft. Loramie. I recruited them 15 years ago in 2008 and they've been around ever since. Over the years a total of 60 sponsors have advertised on Fish Report. Most of them realized my mission of giving back to the community and joined me with their support. 

Many great friends. When I asked Ken Francis in 2012 if he wanted to launch a high school sports talk show he was all in. Soon after, Tim Kearns, Darryl Sherman, Brandon Koverman and Daniel Kearns joined and were working for peanuts, literally. We called the program Fish Report LIVE! and it streamed to viewers across the country and aired on two cable channels. Nine seasons, 274 episodes, numerous guest hosts and over 900 interviews during our run. The adventures and laughs were unforgettable.

Team chemistry was the big reason for FRL's success

Many longtime contributors too. Including several that are no longer with us. The late Joann Gariety Shipley, Matt Zircher and Harry Boerger kindheartedly gave me local history and their precious time. Most recently, I've been blessed by two living legends who both enjoyed amazing runs. Dave Boerger blogged about his Midwestern Ohio Memories weekly for nine years. It satisfies me knowing those posts that chronicle his life and others will live on these pages forever. Dave Ross shared his Sidney Daily News sports column with Fish Report too. I idolized Dave's voice at WMVR radio during my childhood and surprisingly discovered in 2020 he was actually my cousin. When we later joined forces on the airwaves for a Russia versus Ft. Loramie basketball broadcast, it was a full circle moment I'll never forget.

Above all though, I'm forever humbled by the many daily website visitors. You know who you are. Near and far. I often hear comments about Fish Report being part of your morning routine. I've also received countless emails from out-of-state readers thankful that Fish Report allows you to stay in touch with life back home. It's those kind words from so many that kept me motivated while my wife and I raised three very active kids. I'm especially thankful for your understanding of my priorities as a full-time dad followed by part-time reporter. Those two things regularly overlapped and you tolerated my oftentimes Russia Raiders bias. I always strived to be fair and I hope I was.

One of the nicest emails I ever received

All that said, my youngest of three children graduated high school several weekends ago and wrapped up his high school sports career this past Saturday. Ross was born seven months after Fish Report started and a long, happy chapter in my sports crazy home has finally come to an end. As this next new chapter is just beginning, Fish Report won't completely vanish, but will be drastically changing. I plan to continue following local sports, but not near as passionately as you've become used to. I'm 51-years-old now and for the first time since age 32, I'm looking forward to closing my eyes at night without dreaming about what to post on the front page in six hours.

Here's what you can expect from Fish Report in the future. For starters, fishreportonline.blogspot.com is now your bookmark from this point on. The URL fishreportonline.com will no longer be updated and will soon disappear. All of the website links on the right side of this page will remain, but I will not be posting daily news stories like I have since 2004. Occasional stories on this blog may be published randomly and likely influenced by my interest in area teams and local events. Lastly, I still have a love for sports broadcasting and want to continue airing certain games depending on the matchups. For those of you that follow Fish Report Twitter, I will continue to tweet when appropriate. 

Yep, this will take some getting used to for me also. It's been the thrill of my lifetime folks. I'd like to leave you by revisiting that question when all this started about, "what is a Fish Report?" Looking back.. it was simply a reflection of our daily lives from this authentic place we call home. Together we watched a lot of people grow up on Fish Report. I'm glad I got to share this 19-year journey with so many.

Thanks for following. 

~ Fish

This post-COVID banner still hangs proudly at my old basement studio

My inspiration: Ross, Ellie, Stacey and Anna