Great Museums to visit, awesome family time

I just found an American Civil War History Museum, here in Ohio.  It is located at 217 S. Washington Street in Tiffin, Ohio.  It is a 10,000 square ft museum that offers interactive activities, a research library, theater and a gift shop.  According to their website “Our museum offers eight exhibit rooms with hands on exhibits for adults and children designed to enhance your experience and knowledge of the Civil War and Ohio’s role in it”. It is open year round from noon to 4pm Wednesday through Saturday, in the historic district of Tiffin.  There is a small cost for visiting the museum.  Adults are $6, Seniors (55+) $5, Students $3 and children under 6 are free.  What I found interesting is there is a Bluestar Museum Program.  It says “Active Duty Military/Immediate Family Free during the summer with proof, half prices the remainder of the year, Adults $3 Students $1.50.  You can contact them at 419-455-9551 or e-mail them at info@acwmo.org .  Sounds like a fun trip!

While in Tiffin make sure you stop by the Tiffin Glass Museum.  The Tiffin Glass Factory began in 1889 as the A.J.  Beatty & Sons Company and ended production in 1980.  This museum is open from 1-5pm Tuesday through Saturday and they are located at 25 S. Washington Street in downtown Tiffin.  If you are a glass collector, this should be a must see location on your family trips.  Just be careful when your kids are walking around this museum, remember this is a glass museum.

Well, if you are out exploring some of the greatness of our State of Ohio, don’t forget the John & Annie Glenn Historic Museum.  This is a non-profit organization, whose mission is “to honor the first American to orbit the Earth and his partnership with a remarkable woman. We teach about life during the Great Depression and the Home Front during WWII.” according to their website.  This bit of history is located at 72 W. Main Street in New Concord, Ohio.  The hours are Wednesday through Saturday May through October 10am to 4pm, open Sundays also 1-4.  Now, it appears you don’t have to wait until May.  If you want to get a group of friends, or people from your organization together you can schedule a tour throughout the year.  There is an admission fee, Adults $7, Seniors (& groups of 10 or more) $6, Students are $3, Children under 6 are free.  For more information call 740-826-3305.

Here is one place I have never been, but still plan on making a day trip out of it someday - The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  I understand it has about 472,900 square feet and 11 galleries.  It is also, according to their website, “Indiana’s No.1 non-sports attraction.”  Just glancing at their website it appears they have many exhibits.  All Aboard, Carousel Wishes and Dreams, Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their world, Fireworks of Glass, Giant Water Clock, The Library inside the Museum, Ruth Allison Lilly Theater, Playscape, Power of Children: Making a Difference and many many more.  This museum is located at 3000 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis.  Call 317-334-3322 for more details.  Though there is a cost to enter, they also offer free days, which are listed on their website along with a Target Free Family Night, which is from 4-8pm on the first Thursday of each month.  Call and get all the details.  

I realize this could be a bit more driving, but as much snow as we have had lately, this would be great just to see something different, other than our own yard covered in the white stuff.  Have fun, and enjoy your family time.

End of February great time at the library!!

There are a few fun things going on this week around town.

There will be a LEGO Brickmasters  event held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at the Fairborn Library located at 1 East Main Street in Fairborn.  The Fairborn Library website says “Be innovative with LEGO bricks! “  This will be held in the meeting room downstairs at the Library.  It will be from 3:30-5pm and it is open to grades 6-8.  I have to say I always like it when I find things to do for this age group!  If you have questions, you can call the Fairborn Library at 878-9383.

Also at the Fairborn Library will be Pre-School Story Time from 10:30-11:30am on Wednesday, February 26.   We used to take our kids to this they had a great time with stories, singing, puppets, and other activities.  This is for pre-schoolers ages 3-6.  This will also be in the meeting room located downstairs in the library.

Something I just discovered.  The Fairborn Library has “Library Buddy Tutors by Appointment”  According to the website, it is from 3-5pm  on Thursday and it is for kids of all ages.  It says “Baker Middle School National Honor Society and Volunteer Tutors will provide homework help and tutoring in Science, Math, English, and Computer Skills.  To make an appointment call 937-878-4681, ask for Mrs. Guere.  She is awesome and has a true passion for teaching students.

For the adults this week at the Library:  Computer One-On-One Assistance.  This is Friday, February 28 from 12-4pm.  Their description says to call the reference desk at 878-8393 ext. 3 to register.  This is a great opportunity for some- one on one computer assistance.

For the college student in your family who likes to ski, Mad River Mountain has college Fridays.  Their website says “Every Friday of the season college students with valid ID can score a lift ticket or tubing ticket for any session of the day for only $20.  Ski the All Day session from 10:00-9:30pm or hit the Extreme session from 4:00pm-3:00am for the same price. Need equipment?  No problem-add on a ski or snowboard rental to your college lift ticket for just $15.”  If you don’t know how to ski, no problem, they do offer lessons on that too!

Saturday, March 1, from 8:30am until 11:30am, there will be a Maple Sugaring and Pancake Breakfast at Bellbrook Middle School located at 3600 Feedwire Road in Bellbrook.   According to the website, www.gcparkstrails.com/event-MapleSugar.html   “There’s no better way to spend a Saturday morning in March than to experience the magic of Maple Sugar season.  Start your  day by enjoying a hearty breakfast of sausage and pancakes with real Narrows Reserve maple syrup, along with coffee, juice or milk.  After breakfast, take a tour of the sugar camp to see how the syrup is made. “  It appears the tours are free with your breakfast purchase.  The cost is ages 7 and older $7; ages 3-6 $4; under age 3: free.  If you only want to take the tour it is $4; under age 6 is free.  For more information on the this event and maple sugaring call 937-562-6440.

If you have an event you want me to mention, please contact me at slewisneuman@hotmail.com

From Little Guys Playing to the Mountains with Snow (yes I said the S word)

Hello again!,

I just found out there will be an American Heart Association “Red Out” basketball game, Friday, February 7^th as the Fairborn Skyhawks take on the West Carrollton Pirates.  The Varsity game will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Baker Memorial Fieldhouse.  Red Out t-shirts can be purchased at the Fairborn High School on Friday.  If you would like to hit an early game, try the Fairborn High School Boys Freshman game at 4:30 and the Boys JV play at 6.  I would be remiss if I did not mention the Fairborn Varsity Girls Basketball team play, Thursday, February 6^th at 7:30 p.m.  at West Carrollton.  High school basketball is always a great way to spend fun time with your family. You can probably get more information on the basketball games or any Fairborn City Schools sports by calling the athletic department at 937-878-6305.

Mad River Mountain will be hosting a Pretty in Pink event.  They will donate $1 from every lift ticket sold to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Center and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.  The mountain will be filled with people wearing pink.  Skiers and non-skiers alike can help the cause by purchasing support items such as bandanas and t-shirts, as well as raffle tickets for an end of the day raffle.  Their website says “The raffle will feature a wide array of prizes such a customer Mad River Mountain Snowboard and autographed Ohio State Football memorabilia.  There will be a Giant Slalom fun Race on Regulator at 1pm and an “all-ability Rail Jam on the Lower Louie Vito Terrain Park at 2pm.”  It also states that “Both events will feature prizes donated by Aspen Ski & Board Company, Smith, Dakine, Neff, Rossignol, Giant Eagle, and Mad River Mountain.”  You can participate in either activity for $10. Goodie bags will be given to all contestants.  Checkout their website at http://www.skimadriver.com

There will be a Pre-School Craft and Play-Valentine Fun on February 11 two sessions are available to choose from -9:30am 10:15am and 1pm to 1:45pm at Fairborn Fire Station 2, located t 2200 Commerce Center Blvd.  Their information says for $5 they will play group games, make arts and crafts.  This is a great opportunity for your children to make new friends. This is open to children ages 3-5.  For more information call 754-3090. 

Family Day at the Air Force Museum will be held February 15 from 10am to 3pm.  Gravity, freefall, the speed of sound and a lot more will be on the docket for this day.  There will be aerospace demonstrations throughout the museum.  Visitors will be allowed to experience “The concept of gravity in a variety of situations.  At one station, participants can try on a real parachute and sit in an actual B-2 ejection seat,” according to their website.  There will also be story times at 11:30am and 1:15pm.  This will be held in the Early Years Gallery.  It sounds like there will even be a craft project involved. 

This event is free and no reservations are necessary.  For more information call the Education Division at 937-255-4646.

A musical, a groundhog, and the stars (a bit more too!!)

Hi Everyone!!  

I am here to give you some ideas of family friendly things to do in the Fairborn area.  Originally, I was going to focus solely on Fairborn.  Then, my wise husband, Mark, suggested I write about things to do within a five hour drive from Fairborn.  So, I thought what the heck.  Let’s try it.

For those of you wondering what gives me the qualifications to talk about things to do around here.   I have lived in Fairborn most of my life.  I moved here when I was quite young, moved to California after I got married, we then came back here.  I have written in various formats, from radio news, television to newspaper.  I have kids being raised in Fairborn, so I like to keep in touch with what there is to do around here.  I especially like to keep in touch since we like to do things as a family.

This weekend at the Schuster Center will be Sister Act!  I am so excited.  I am hoping to get to see it Sunday.  The age for this great musical is 9 and up.  Friday, January 31^st show time is 8 p.m.  Saturday, February 1^st show time is 2 and 8 p.m. and the final performances are Sunday, February 2^nd 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  The show lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 20 minute intermission.  For information on tickets to their shows contact Tickets Center Stage at ( 937) 228-3630 or (888) 228-3630.  Their website is http://www.victoriatheatre.com

Groundhog’s Day is this Sunday, February 2^nd.  The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will hold their annual Groundhog Day celebration.  Rosie the groundhog/meteorologist “extraordinaire” will predict our winter’s future.  The price to see Rosie predict at 12:30 p.m. is included with the museum’s admission price.  For more information on events at the Boonshoft Museum of discovery visit their website at http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/programs-events/calendar/monthcalendar/2014/2/-

 

Also this weekend at the Boonshoft is the SpacePark 360. This looks like a fun event.  This show will be held in the Space Theatre.  They are advertising “Take a ride through the solar system!  You get to experience the solar system, like you are riding through it on a roller coaster.  You can check this out Saturday, February 1^st, Sunday, February 2^nd and Monday, February 3^rd at 3 p.m.

For those of you who didn’t know, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.   For awareness, there will be a Men’s March to stop teen dating violence, domestic violence and sexual assault.

Special Squarez and the Family Violence Prevention Center want men to understand what it is like to walk in another person’s shoes.  This is an awareness walk as well as a men’s march.  Those men participating in this walk will walk the mile long course in women’s high heel shoes to show that they stand up against violence and sexual assault. Male and female participants are encouraged to participate.  With this event you will put together a team to participate.  Many Greene County schools will be putting together their own team.  The flyer says “The school with the most participation and/or pledges wins the traveling trophy!”   Now, I know you want to know the rest.  Walk a mile in her shoes is on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club located at 4242 Clyo Road.  Registration begins at 1pm with the walk starting at 2.  Cost is $15 with a t-shirt or $5 without.  For more information or to get a pledge/registration form call 937-376-8526.  I found the information on the Fairborn City Schools website: http://www.fairborn.k12.oh.us

An hour east of here at COSI in Columbus is the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes opening on February 8, 2014.  This looks awesome.  Their website says “Become the greatest detective of all time.  The streets of London-dark, shadowy, mysterious-set the stage for the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes at COSI February 8th through September 1^st.”  They encourage you to help Holmes solve cases “using powers of deduction and the most cutting edge 19^th century techniques of forensic science.”   It also says “Surpass the infallible Holmes by joining today’s forensic scientists with 120 years of scientific progress.”   If you have never been to COSI they are located at 333 W. Broad Street in Columbus.  Cosi’s website is http://www.cosi.org/visit

Now, even though I am giving you the websites don’t worry, I plan on keeping track on what there is going on. 

This is just the first of what I hope to be a long running blog.  Check back next week for some new family friendly activities.  Enjoy!