Memorial Day Weekend Century Ride in Dayton to Support Wounded Warriors

Dayton, Ohio – April 12, 2021 – On Memorial Day Weekend, avid cyclists and casual riders alike are invited to participate in the Dayton Century Ride, a 50 and 100-mile bike ride to support the Wounded Warrior Project. This is the second year for the event and there is no cost to participate, however organizers are hopeful participants will encourage family and friends to sponsor their ride and donate to the Wounded Warrior Project campaign. https://communityfundraising.woundedwarriorproject.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=3976

The event begins at 8am on Sunday, May 30, 2021 – Starting point will be at the Creekside Trail near the intersection of Springfield St and N Smithville Rd. Participants will follow the Creekside Trail to Xenia where it meets up with the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Riders will continue south to Cartridge Brewing, located right on the bike trail and a perfect 50 miles, one way. Participants can either have friends and family pick them up at Cartridge Brewing after a well-earned rest around noon or head back north to complete the full 100-mile century ride.

“The first ride was completed in 2020 by a few Air Force officers while stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB,” explained Mark Adams, one of the event organizers. “We hope to make the ride a staple event of the Dayton area, growing in number and impact as the ride becomes better known. We hope you join us on this great ride for a great cause!”

All proceeds support life-changing programs that empower, employ, and engage America’s injured Veterans. Thanks to the generosity of those who donate, warriors and their families never pay a cent for these services.

For more information, please call Mark Adams at 815-307-5004, or email mark.adams@alumni.purdue.edu.

Starting Point:

Midpoint for Century or Endpoint for 50 …

Las Vegas Prop Company Hosts Whip Crackers, Trick Ropers and More at 1st Annual Wild West Arts Fest

Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2, 2019 – Western Stage Props, a stage and film prop supply company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is sponsoring the 2019 Wild West Arts Fest, May 2^nd through the 4^th at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The festival consists of three full days of classes focused on the four classic Western art forms of gun spinning and handling, knife throwing, trick roping and whip cracking. The festival will also include open practice time, skill sharing sessions, lighthearted competitions, nightly events including a dinner show, and more.

The Western Arts are the performance skills that developed in the Old West, made famous since the earliest days of Wild West shows and cinema. While training in traditional variety arts such as juggling, dance and circus are now easier to find than ever, training in the Western Arts is limited to a select few who happen to be in the right place at the right time. This is where the organizers feel this festival is incredibly important.

Now under new ownership and management, Western Stage Props in Las Vegas has provided film and stage props for nearly three decades and specializes in Western Arts products such as whips, rope, throwing weapons, prop guns and trick saddles, as well as educational material. Their products have been featured in movies and theatrical productions including Indiana Jones and the world-famous Cirque Du Soleil. They are working to develop new products designed to bring the love of the Western Arts to a broader audience. Still, they have maintained the same high-quality items that make them the leader in Western performance equipment, that’s why they chose now to resurrect a long-loved tradition – the Wild West Arts Fest.

“Our event is all inclusive so anyone from an enthusiast to professional can participate and we believe having a place to meet up once a year to share and grow is vital to the Western community,” said Kyle Peterson, Western Stage Props manager. “We aim to unite the older generation and their deep history with a generation of newcomers looking to learn, grow and become a part of history. Even more important, our select teaching staff has grown out of the former Wild West Arts Conventions that originally brought so many wonderful performers together, where experts are thrilled to teach a new generation.”

The event is open to the public as either a full participant or a spectator. Discounted room rates are also available at the hotel by mentioning the event. Complete details are available by calling Western Stage Props at 702-873-1100 or online https://www.westernstageprops.com/Wild-West-Arts-Fest-s/1920.htm.

List of Teacher Performers Scheduled to Present at the 1^st Annual Wild West Arts Fest

AJ Silver was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. As a child, AJ was fascinated by the cowboy tales of the Wild West. Upon seeing his first rodeo at Madison Square Garden, he found his calling: He would be a rodeo trick rider! After graduation, AJ headed for the western trail and never looked back. Since AJ has traveled across the USA performing his western variety act combining trick roping, bullwhip artistry and boleadoras. His achievements include a lifetime of stage appearances, television spots on The Today Show, Good Morning America, MTV, ESPN, CNN, and most notably, the chance to trick ride at Madison Square Garden where his riding dreams were born.

David Adamovich better known as The Great Throwdini holds over 40 world records including being the world’s fastest and most accurate knife thrower.  A man of many talents David ‘s previous endeavors include a career as a paramedic, appearing at the 1967 World’s Fair as a partner acrobat with his twin brother and becoming an ordained minister. David began his knife throwing adventures as The Great Throwdini in his 50’s. He has appeared on Ripley’s Believe It or Not, America’s Got Talent, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. And just when you thought his story couldn’t get any more interesting, David is the only knife thrower to ever perform The Veiled Double Wheel of Death (2 assistants behind a paper veil), no small feat.

Chris McDaniel is a long-time cowboy performing and teaching trick roping as well as delighting audiences with his whip cracking skills. Chris got his start on stage as a formally trained actor and singer, wanting to stand out in the crowd; he picked up a rope and fell in love with the Wild West. Chris has graced the stage in innumerable cabaret, variety and dinner theater stage shows across the county. His TV appearances include: Late Night with David Letterman and Best Week Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, but you may know him best from his career-defining role with the Broadway tour of The Will Roger’s Follies.

Paul Nolan is one of the county’s most revered whip artisans. Paul began the art of making whips as young adolescent learning from the best in the business. He spent countless years perfecting his craft. You can see him in action on The Discovery Channel’s How It’s Made as he takes you step by step through the labor-intensive process of making one of his beautiful art pieces. Paul has been commissioned by some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters to make whips including The Kingsman films, The Lone Ranger, Django Unchained, and the TV series Freakshow.

Loop Rawlins is a Wild West superstar. Launched to fame by his outstanding success on America’s Got Talent Loop has made an impressive career form rodeos to the red carpet. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, as a youngster Loop loved adventure movies and always had a knack for entertaining.  When he saw trick roping for the first time, he was inspired to learn the technique. Nowadays Loop can do it all: he is a gunslinger, rope spinner and whip cracker. After a 3-year run with Cirque Du Soliel in Viva Elvis, Loop can be seen opening for country music stars, performing for celebrities and stunt doubling in the major motion picture The Kingsman.

Gery Deer is a world-renowned veteran whip artist and coach and the founder of The Whip Artistry Studio in Jamestown, Ohio. Raised on a cattle farm in rural Ohio, he opened the studio in 1998 as the only permanent facility in the United States dedicated to the non-combative study of the whip for sports, fitness and performance art. The facility provides training for whip handling, targeting, competition performance, and fitness. Students of the whip studio include hobbyists, stage and stunt performers, and many performers who have worked as “Indiana Jones” in the Universal Studios’ Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. In addition to his work as a master whip coach, Gery has been a featured performer on stages around the country. He has appeared on countless television variety programs over his 30-year career including Steve Harvey’s Big Time, America’s Got Talent, The Bonnie Hunt Show, as well as the PBS series, Our Ohio. He also designs original whip holstering equipment and utility belts used by some of the largest production companies in the world including Universal Studios, Warner Brothers and 21^st Century Fox.

Is your vacation actually relaxing?

Deer In Headlines
By Gery L. Deer

Vacation. For some people the word conjures up images of sandy beaches, mountain cabins or just a sunny day hanging in the back yard. But what if you’re one of those people for whom the idea of sitting idle makes you feel anxious, unproductive and wasteful of time and money? Yep, I’m one of those people too.

I never understood the concept of vacation. I mean, really, what good does it do? For me, having down time means rest, to stop burning energy and recover. I can’t get into the idea of exhausting yourself for no good reason. So how do you actually get some relaxation on vacation? Here are some tips.

First, scale it back. Whenever someone talks about an upcoming vacation and the itinerary is jam packed with back-to-back activity, I have to wonder how that’s relaxing at all? Try to dial it back a bit and choose one location, maybe one major event, like a dinner out or something, and use the rest of the time to unwind. The more complicated your agenda, the more stressful it will be.

Next, minimize the amount of baggage you take along. People – especially Americans – have a tendency to overpack. Don’t take so much with you. Take only what you need, rather than looking like the Howells on Gilligan’s Island – a different outfit for every hour.

It’s important next to remember why you’re going – just to get away. It really doesn’t matter where you go as long as it’s a change of scenery and day-to-day activity. Make sure you get away and get a break.

Finally, turn off the tech. No kidding, leave the iPhone in the car or packed in a bag or something. Don’t take laptops or tablets. How about a book, you know, the paper kind with pages and ink? They never need to be recharged and are super cheap. If you’re on vacation with family and friends, spend time with them, not with Facebook and Twitter. Relax and put down the tech for a while.

I’d imagine I sound like a pretty big wet blanket, but I just don’t care for the beach, or water in general, and forget a cruise. If I’m going to a monstrous hotel, I want it to be attached to dry land. There are just some vacation choices I can’t understand.

Take camping, for example. My mom and dad loved taking the whole family to one of the local state parks for a weekend of the great outdoors. I grew up on a farm, with plenty of wildlife, grassland and woods, so “the great outdoors” was all around me. I didn’t see the point in paying to see more of the same. I liked being with the family, but otherwise I just never got it.

Today, I spend a great deal of money on a mortgage so that I don’t have to cook, eat and sleep outside. But some people spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on just such pursuits.

I like nature as much as the next person, but camping is so much work you might just as well have stayed at your job. Building a fire, food prep and cooking, setting up the tent, all the equipment and the planning always left me exhausted, not rejuvenated.

What about fishing? Yuck. I really don’t see the “sport” in it and I’m not eating anything that came out of the water around where I live. I’ve never been a fan of freshwater fish in the first place, so I’m probably not the best judge on that one anyway.

And don’t get me started on camping trailers. I mean, what’s the point? Why go out to the woods to camp and just hole up in a rolling hotel room with satellite TV and Wi-Fi?

According to most financial sources I reviewed, wealthy Americans spend an average of $13,000 on vacation, annually. What puzzles me is when someone who normally complains about being unable to pay bills suddenly posts photos from their recent trip to Florida. How does that not add to stress instead of relieving it?

Of course, I know all the psychological and medical reasons one should take a break from work and refresh. But to spend money you don’t have and time that could be better used in some other way has always been a foreign concept to me.

Over the last decade, between work, maintaining my home and caring for my parents, I’ve rarely had a day off anyway. But, when I do, there is plenty to fill my time without my having to invent something.

When I do choose to relax, I’d prefer it had something to do with a nice hotel, music, a book and a long car drive. And I make choices that I can afford, not overload credit cards while my bills lay unpaid. That’s just ridiculous.

The point is that, while I have little interest in the usual vacation options, I do understand the need to relax. You should do whatever helps you unwind, but be mindful of how much stress the activity adds to your daily life and how much money you have to spend on it.

Taking a break doesn’t mean you have to empty your wallet. Consider something that actually allows you to rest, rather than waste energy and money doing the same thing every year. Whatever you choose, remember the point is to spend time with family and away from the daily grind.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business writer. Deer In Headlines is distributed by GLD Enterprises Communications, Ltd. More at deerinheadlines.com.

 

Combating fear and terrorism at the holidays

Deer In Headlines
By Gery L. Deer

As the holiday season begins, bad guys around the world are watching and willing to do anything to disrupt safety and security. In the shadow of the Paris attacks in which 129 people died and more than 350 injured, it’s hard not to worry that another strike is just around the corner.

The level of anger and hatred leveled at peace-loving people is almost incomprehensible. But what can we do, as individual Americans, to remain safe and keep the terrorists from spreading fear?

For the most part, remaining diligent about safety should be a common sense concept. But, surprisingly, many Americans are complacent about their place on the global stage. But it’s only a matter of time before ISIS and similar groups manage to hit an American target on a massive scale, just as al Qaeda did in 2001. In other words, we’ve been lucky.

As the White House plans for the reception of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing terrorism themselves, many conservatives are debating the idea that the inrush of refugees may include planted ISIS terrorists. Although this is certainly a legitimate concern, my guess is, however, they already have people on the ground here in the States, recruiting American young people on our own soil.

It can still happen here … again.

Young, mush-brained Americans are being recruited into these terrorist cells in staggering numbers. One report by CNN.com states, “ISIS takes a somewhat secular approach, portraying how much better life purportedly is in the caliphate as compared to the corrupt West.”

The article also offers a reminder that it’s not just American youth who are attracted to the ISIS recruitment process. It also appeals to a wide demographic of people from all ages and socioeconomic ranges.

Additionally, gun control in the U.S. may help reduce domestic terror violence, but taking guns from the hands of law-abiding citizens might actually make ISIS’ job easier by making them bolder. My guess is that one of the few things keeping the bad guys at bay is a “Texas” mentality – the belief that we’re all gun-crazy and packing heats everywhere we go.

While that wouldn’t scare the leaders or group on the whole, those individuals they recruit to actually act would think twice if there was a possibility of not completing their “holy” mission – the deaths of hundreds of free Americans. If the assailant were to be gunned down by a regular citizen before he can detonate his bomb or unload his weapon on innocents, he’d be a failure and dishonor himself.

Americans can’t afford to depend entirely on the federal government to protect them from these threats and should remember the advice of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). On the official DHS website, the agency states, “Citizens should report suspicious activity to their local law enforcement authorities.”

DHS officials urge citizens to be “vigilant for indicators of potential terrorist activity” and watch the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Alerts for information about specific threats. While being vigilant, however, it’s important to be clear on who exactly constitutes “the enemy.”

Clearly, Americans are behind our French allies, in solidarity against a common enemy with no borders, no face, no diplomatic recognition, no motive (except murder) – the enemy could be anyone. But we must keep in mind that “alert” doesn’t mean “paranoid.”

The words “Islam” and “Muslim” are being thrown around in the reports about the most recent terror attacks. We must remember that Muslims are not the enemy – ISIS is the threat. Muslims, like most Christians, are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who are deeply harmed by what these radicals are doing.

History is full of religious extremism, from virtually every major sect on the planet. We’ll never be completely rid of it, but we can do our best to keep it from damaging our society and protect citizens of the free world as effectively as possible.

As a people and a country, America survived 9/11 and we’ll survive whatever ISIS throws at us. But anything we can do to prevent this most recent threat from any level of success is worth the effort and diligence.

 

Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business writer. Deer In Headlines is distributed by GLD Enterprises Communications. More at gerydeer.com.

 

 

 

Think Pink Motorcycle Poker Run to sponsor cancer survivor in Susan G. Komen walk

DAYTON, OH – In 2010, Dayton area resident Karen Clary became one of America’s 2.9 million breast cancer survivors. This year, she hopes to be one of the thousands across the country to participate in the 2014 Susan G. Komen 3-Day® walk. To support her participation, the Miami Valley Victory Riders motorcycle club and Motor Sports of Dayton are sponsoring the 2nd Annual “Think Pink” Poker Run, Saturday, September 27. The event will help raise awareness and generate the $2,300 Clary needs to attend the 3-day, 60 mile the race.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series of 5K runs and fitness walks attracts people of all ages and fitness levels, from walkers to elite runners. Celebrating breast cancer survivors and honoring those who have lost their battle with the disease, the series began in 1983 with a single race with 800 participants in Dallas. Today, it has grown into a global series of more than 140 Races with 1.5 million runners.

Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists working to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and the Komen 3-Day, the organization has invested more than $2.2 billion, making it the largest worldwide source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

Seventy-five percent of the net proceeds raised by the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® help support Komen’s global research program, the largest nonprofit source of breast cancer research funding outside of the U.S. government. Money raised also supports large public health programs that address critical issues in breast cancer treatment and care. The remaining 25 percent stays in the local community, funding financial, social and medical needs.

Two years ago, Clary and her daughter, Jen, attended the San Francisco 3-day race together. “My daughter asked me to do the 3-day walk with her in 2012,” Clary says. “At first I thought she was crazy; 60 miles in three days? I eventually decided to go because it looked like so much fun and because of how much this means to others who shared my experience, and their families.”

Beginning at 10AM from Motor Sports of Dayton, 2135 Dayton-Lakeview Rd., in New Carlisle (45344), riders will collect a card from each stop, trying for the highest hand at the end of the ride. From Motor Sports of Dayton, riders will make stops at Moose Lodge in Beavercreek, Buckminn’s D&D Harley Davidson in Xenia, Little River Café in Oregonia, Whiskey Barrell in Oregonia, and finally end up at Jack Ass Flats in Huber Heights. The rider with the highest poker hand at the end of the run will win the grand prize. Single riders can participate for $15, doubles for $20, or buy an extra hand at $5 each. Other activities during the event include a 50/50 drawing, raffle prizes, silent auction, door prizes and entertainment.

“My first walk was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and also the most awesome,” Clary says. “Jen wanted to do the walk for me and, because I have given her a greater chance of getting cancer, I wanted to do it for her. Hopefully we can all help to wipe it out.” For more information, call Karen Clary at (937) 620-8597 or email her at teampol@aol.com.

 

Like Earhart, evidence lacking in Malaysian Air mystery

More than 76 years after aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished during an attempt to fly around the world at the equator, their fate is still an unsolved mystery. The two were presumed lost somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, along with any trace of their Lockheed Electra aircraft. While many theories have surfaced over the years, no conclusive evidence has ever been found to indicate what really happened to, “Lady Lindy,” a woman who was well aware of the potential dangers she faced as a pilot.

On AameliaEarhart.com, the official website commemorating the aviation pioneer, there are passages from a letter written to her husband, publisher G.P. Putnam, in case a dangerous flight proved her last. One particular section fully demonstrates her bravery and total acceptance of the risks she took in the sky. It reads, “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.”

Aviation Pioneer, Amelia Earhart vanished in 1937 during an attempt to fly around the world.

Earhart was a ground breaker, driven by a desire, not only to set an example to women who wanted a piece of man’s world, but also to meet a public expectation created by her husband. She was a risk taker at a time when flying was still young. Even now the risks associated with flying are still quite real but there is a reasonable expectation of safety in modern commercial aviation.

Still, no one could have predicted the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Malaysia Air Flight 370. As of the time of this writing, there is still no trace of the plane. One needn’t be an aviation expert or pilot to know that a Boeing 777, one of the most complex flying machines ever built, cannot simply vanish into thin air. As with the Earhart disappearance, conspiracy theories are running rampant. Was it sabotage, hijacking, or might the plane have been shot down by terrorists? So far, there are no answers.

Other than the tragedy and sheer mystery involved, there is little similarity between the Earhart disappearance and this most recent incident, with one exception: the sheer lack of telemetry data in both situations. Like Earhart’s Lockheed Electra, the Boeing twin-turbofan is a well-tested, commercial passenger aircraft. But, in order to stay aloft longer with fewer stops, the Electra had been stripped down to what amounted to a flying gas can, even leaving behind two parachutes and a life raft to save weight.

Earhart also left behind key equipment that might have aided in pinpointing her position when she went down; the equivalent of disabling satellite tracking systems and radio transponders used on modern aircraft. Officials are reasonably sure that virtually every piece of telemetry technology aboard Flight 370 was intentionally deactivated making it, like Earhart’s Electra, nearly impossible to track.

With a possible search area stretching north into Central Asia and almost as far south as Australia, finding a needle in a haystack would be a piece of cake in comparison. Malaysian officials have requested electronic and satellite data, as well as search and rescue assistance, from more than two-dozen countries. What data does exist suggests that Flight 370 most likely crashed, either in the Bay of Bengal or elsewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Whether in pieces at the bottom of the sea or parked on some secret tarmac, someone knows where Flight 370 is and how it got there. The real trick will be to find out who orchestrated the plane’s disappearance and what security flaws exist which allowed it to happen.

The mystery of what really happened to Amelia Earhart may never be solved but the search for answers continues. It seems easier to accept the loss of two people in a primitive aircraft than that of 300 in a modern commercial jetliner, but the lack of information invites uninformed speculation. Until some hard evidence is uncovered, however, all anyone can do is let the investigation proceed … and wait.

Jamestown Comet.com Editor Gery L. Deer is an independent columnist and business contributor to WDTN-TV2’s “Living Dayton” program.

Doc Barth’s Medicine Show, still captivating crowds

Over the last couple of decades, I have worked all over the country as a writer and performer. From small hometown stages to Hollywood television projects, I think I’ve seen just about everything. Recently, however, I had the privilege of working at a festival in northern Indiana alongside a gentleman who, in my mind, is the quintessential entertainment professional. His name is Dan Barth and for the last 40-plus years, he’s been in the medicine show business.

From the 1850s through the 1930s the traveling medicine show was one of the most effective advertising endeavors in history. Moving from town to town by horse and wagon, these performing salesmen practiced what has become the foundation of the most successful modern advertising.

With a few magic tricks, some ventriloquism and a plethora of bad jokes, the medicine show brought to town a live, often interactive stage performance long before there was radio or television. At the end of the show, the performer would give a lecture about the health properties of some kind of tonic, the tastiness of a box of candy, or any other positive attributes about whatever product he was selling.

The salesman’s performance was the way he got people to sit there long enough to listen to his advertisement. Now, if you think you’re too modern to fall for such things, you should know that this method still works today – every eight minutes or so during your favorite TV show. Think about it.

Dan Barth’s traveling historical medicine show.

With his 19^th Century medicine show wagon in tow, Dan and his charming wife, Ulli, have traveled all around the country educating and entertaining crowds with the same kinds of routines used in the original presentations. From ventriloquism to magic, Dan told the story behind his artifacts and the history of the shows. I watched nearly every show he did over our four days together and marveled at how his audience was so taken with his work.

In today’s high-paced world of Wi-Fi, cell phone apps and squirrel-like attention spans, I was fascinated to watch people of all ages sit in the hot, Indiana sun and hang on Dan’s every motion and word. It was gratifying to see that people still have an interest in this kind of entertainment; a type that now seems relegated to the odd variety act or child’s birthday party and even then, thoroughly under-appreciated.

Not this weekend however. People loved watching Dan’s performance, me included. Ironically, I felt good about the fact that we are using some of the same routines in my family’s variety show. Now I think I finally understand why those simple routines are always so well-received.

But from my own standpoint, Dan’s presentation and his audience’s reaction to it allowed me to see more about my work – both in print and on stage – than I have ever noticed before. As a writer or stage performer, if our mind is in the right place, our ultimate goal is to entertain our audience.

I have always believed that most skilled writers and performers spend far too much time showing off their respective talents and not enough actually entertaining anyone but themselves; but not Dan Barth. His mind is always on the audience. He may be in it to make a living, but he really wants his audience to have experienced something unique for their time and he genuinely appreciates their attention.

Gery L. Deer (left) with Dan Barth

Personally, I’ve seen just about every possible incarnation of sideshow, Wild West performance, medicine show and variety act. But there was something unique about this performance. It was unassuming, generous and genuine. It had my attention every time, even though, by the end of the first day, I could practically recite his script verbatim.

With a 25 minute show, he captivated the audience with no more than four or five routines. But, in the end, it’s not what you do or say on stage or in print, but how you present it. No matter how great your technical skill, there is always room to be more engaging to an audience. From stage shows, to newspaper articles to television advertisements, it’s the consuming audience that matters. After all, they’re the ones paying for the ticket.

Jamestown family presents country music variety show to help pay deceased mother’s medical debt

Lois Deer (center) with The Brothers & Co. members Gary Deer Jr., Gery Deer, and husband Gary Deer Sr. at the Jamestown Opera House in 2010

JAMESTOWN, OH – Exciting country music variety entertainment returns to the stage of the historic Jamestown Opera House at 7PM, Saturday, March 23 with The Brothers & Co. Variety Show. The 90-minute, live stage show is a one-of-a-kind performance perfect for all ages, full of amazing four-part harmonies, foot-tapping instrumentation, dazzling bullwhip handling, award-winning classic magic and side-splitting comedy routines.Tickets at the door are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are free. Reduced presale tickets are $7 and $5, respectively, available online by credit card and PayPal at http://www.thebrothersandcompany.com and in person at Ted’s Barber Shop, 3 W. Washington St. in Jamestown. Proceeds from this performance benefit the Lois Deer Memorial Expense Fund and the Jamestown Area Historical Society.

Following a long illness under full-time care, lifetime Jamestown Area Historical Society member, Lois Deer, passed away in 2011 at Hospice of Dayton from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Mrs. Deer was survived by four grand children, several great grand children, her husband Gary Sr., daughter Cathy (Deer) Wolf and two sons, the founding “brothers” of the show, Gary Jr. and Gery. As a result of her lengthy illness, the family accumulated significant debt including legal and medical expenses upwards of $10,000.

Gary Deer Sr. and Lois Deer, around 2005.

About a year ago, Gary, Sr. was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but has continued to work to try to pay off the debts and remain at the family farm in Jamestown where The Brothers & Co. began. But as working becomes increasingly difficult and creditors grow more impatient the debt is becoming too difficult to manage and Lois’s family has not even been able to afford a headstone for her grave in Bowersville.Having performed for literally dozens of fundraisers over the years, Gery and Gary Jr. decided to help their dad the best way they knew how. Already scheduled to perform at the Jamestown Opera House, a building Lois and Gary, Sr. helped protect from the wrecking ball, they decided to follow their parents’ example.“Even when they had little to work with themselves, my parents always did their best to help others,” says pianist Gery Deer, who also directs and produces the Brothers performances. “The Brothers & Co. wouldn’t have happened without mom so doing this show is our small attempt to help repay my parents for everything they’ve done for so many over the years and ease some of my dad’s burden.”

The Brothers & Co. Entertainers started in 1995 and their formal western costuming is a tribute to their family’s musical heritage which dates back to 1917 with Lois’s father and uncle who both performed in the Lawrence County, Ohio civic band. Best known for their covers of The Statler Brothers, their repertoire includes country and oldies by The Statler Brothers, The Monkees, John Denver, and George Jones as well as many original pieces. Each performer is involved in creating the original music and comedy routines and the group’s fourth voice, Ed Jones, cousin of the Deer brothers, is their acoustic guitarist.

“If you’ve ever seen The Statler Brothers, they’re almost as good as we are,” jokes Gary Deer, Jr., percussionist of the group. “Mostly, we want to entertain people and give them a show like most haven’t seen since the 60’s. We are hoping to raise some money for the historical society while helping dad’s situation at the same time,” he says.

Gery Deer (left) with Jim Karns in “The Vanishing Bandana” – The Brothers & Co. Variety Show

While it might seem like it to some, the guys insist this show is not just for the older generation. “We put a modern spin on an old kind of entertainment that’s nostalgic and originally presented all at the same time,” offers bass singer, magician and the most recent addition to the quartet, Jim Karns, of Fairborn. “If you’ve never seen a live variety show, this is something the whole family will really enjoy.”As another way to raise money for their cause, commercial sponsorships for the performance ranging from $150 to $500 are also available through March 19th. Business sponsors receive a live, 30-second commercial during the performance along with a special listing and web link on thebrothersandcompany.com website and mention in all media.Video clips of the show, podcasts and the official show poster are all available at the group’s website, http://www.thebrothersandcompany.com. Doors open at 6:30PM and refreshments will be on sale by the historical society. For more information go online or call (937) 902-4857. Those unable to attend the show but that would still like to help with the memorial fund can donate directly, online, at www.indiegogo.com/projects/lois-deer-memorial-expense-fund.BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW …

(Watch for The Brothers & Co. Entertainers on WDTN-TV2’s “Living Dayton” program, Monday March 11th at Noon on Channel 2 or watch it streaming live.)

Greene County Safe Communities Traffic Fatalities Update

The Greene County Safe Communities program reports that as of November 27, 2012, there have been a total of sixteen (16) traffic fatalities in Greene County.  This compares with a total of eleven (11) traffic deaths for the entire year of 2011.  Five of the sixteen fatalities were teenagers.  Car crashes continue to be the number one cause of injury and death for U.S. teens 15-20 years of age, accounting for more than one in three fatalities for this age group (CDC, 2010).

The top five (5) causes for the majority of these crashes that have resulted in death and/or injury in Greene County are unsafe speeds, improper lane change/passing/off road, failure to control, following too closely, and distractions (i.e. cell phone use/texting).  The Coalition reminds everyone to put down the phone, avoid all distractions, drive sober and obey all traffic signs and signals.  Members of the Safe Communities coalition will continue to work with schools, businesses and the general public to provide educational materials and information to keep Greene County citizens safe on the roadways.  The coalition also reminds parents to talk openly with their new teen drivers about rules for safe driving including the number of passengers allowed in the vehicle, the dangers of speeding and distractions.  For every teenage passenger in a vehicle driven by a 16 – 17 year old, the chances for a teen driver fatality increase (AAA – Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers).

The safety of our Greene County residents while they are traveling on the roads is our biggest concern. As we are now heading into the winter months, Safe Communities would like to remind all drivers – new and seasoned – to buckle up, park the phone and drive responsibly or secure a designated driver.    

The Safe Communities program was developed to help communities decrease traffic injuries and deaths, increase safety awareness, decrease the amount of money spent on traffic-related injuries, and increase the number of people involved in keeping communities safe. 

 The next meeting of the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition is Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 at 9 a.m. at the Greene County Combined Health District in Xenia.  The public is welcome to attend.  For more information, contact Laurie Fox at 937-374-5669 or email lfox@gcchd.org. 

 

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Thanksgiving Travelers Encouraged to Buckle Up.

Every Trip. Every Time.

Xenia, Ohio – The Thanksgiving holiday period is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition wants to remind all travelers, whether they’re traveling across the country or just across town, that one of the best ways to ensure a safe arrival is to buckle up, every trip, every time. 

“During the long Thanksgiving travel weekend, many more people than usual are on the roads visiting family and friends,” says Laurie Fox, Safe Communities Coordinator.  “And we want to alert everyone that perhaps the single best thing they can do to save lives and protect themselves and their passengers on our roadways is to insist on the regular and proper use of their seat belts.”  

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved more than 12,500 lives nationwide during 2010 alone. In fact, research shows that the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45-percent and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50-percent, when seat beats are worn correctly. 

Yet, too many people are still not getting the message.  Fifty-one percent of the 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2010 were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

“It’s a simple step that each of us can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones.  Yet, too many people are still not buckling up — especially in the hustle and bustle of holiday travel,” says Fox. 

During the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday (which ran from 6 p.m., Wednesday, November 24, to 5:59 a.m., Monday, November 29) 337 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide, and 55-percent of those were unrestrained at the time of the crash. 

“Unfortunately, the overnight hours prove to be the most dangerous on our nation’s roadways, not only during the Thanksgiving holiday, but throughout the year,” says Fox. 

Nationally in 2010, 61-percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the overnight hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42-percent during the daytime hours.

During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 64-percent of nighttime fatalities involved unbelted passenger vehicle occupants, while only 41-percent of daytime fatalities involved unbelted passenger vehicle occupants.

“Every day of the year, but especially during more dangerous travel times like the Thanksgiving holiday and at nighttime, we are working hard to remind everyone to always buckle up,” says Fox.  “Seat belts save lives, so please buckle up, every trip, every time, and so you can give thanks this holiday season and enjoy the time with your loved ones.”

For more information about traveling safely during Thanksgiving, please visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.  For more information on Greene County Safe Communities, please call 937-374-5669 or email lfox@gcchd.org.  The Greene County Combined Health District is a grantee of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Ohio Criminal Justice Services, Traffic Safety Division.