The party is the beginning of three days of open houses, special activities, sales and prizes at various area merchants, Thursday November 12 through Saturday November 14. Businesses participating include Bruning’s Clock Shop, Home Accents Store & Wine Cellar, Cake Craft, Central Carpet and Interiors, MVP Video Creations, Piano Preparatory School, Pinnacle Home Care, Puzzles Plus, Travelplex and The UPS Store.

In conjunction with the open houses, merchants are hosting a “Basic Necessities” drive to benefit the United Way of Greene County. Each participating business is a drop off point and is collecting donated “shelter” items such as blankets, sheets, coats, hats, mittens and gloves. Additional drop-off points include Barney’s hardware and The Color Wheel.

The party and subsequent events are sponsored by the Retail Merchants of the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce.

Source: 2009 Holiday Kickoff Party, Open Houses… Buy Beavercreek Campaign and the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce.

Below: The flyer being distributed to advertise the 2009 Holiday Kickoff Party and Open Houses.

The long awaited episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition featuring the Terpenning family from Beavercreek premiered last night on ABC. The episode was filmed in late July and early August in Beavercreek, Ohio.

The family along with many others attended a viewing party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Beavercreek. ABC Channel 22 also ran an half hour special before the episode aired and another after the 11:00 pm news cast featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the event.

Waving to the Crowd – The Terpenning family waves to a crowd of hundreds with Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Photo © Craig Barhorst

Move That Bus! A large crowd showed up for the big reveal in August when Extreme Makeover Home Edition visited the Terpenning family in Beavercreek, Ohio. Photo © Craig Barhorst

The episode highlighted the family’s struggles with having two members with disabilities living in a house that was not very handicap accessible. But as the episode made clear, being disabled doesn’t mean giving up on dreams or accomplishments. James Terpenning, confined to a wheelchair, is a gold medal winner, plays on a wheelchair basketball team and also has a list of goals to accomplish throughout his life. One of those goals was to go scuba diving and that goal was fulfilled in the episode when he got to go scuba diving in Disney World.

The description for the episode read as follows: “The team rebuilds the home of a family whose father is a wheelchair sports champion and mentor to disabled Iraq War veterans; Kellie Pickler is the celebrity volunteer.”

Demolition Day for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and the Terpenning family in Beavercreek, Ohio. July 2009. Photo © 2009 Craig Barhorst

The new home designed and built by Extreme Makover and Coventry Fine Homes was designed specifically for those with disabilities. The doorways and hallways are wider. Bathrooms, kitchen and other rooms have enough space for wheel chairs and the entire plan was created with the disabled in mind.

Jim works as an Information Technology expert at WPAFB. He was nominated for the show by the base’s three-star general among others. Jim has no legs and uses a wheelchair. As a child he suffered from polio in Vietnam and was one of the last children rescued before the country fell. After arriving in this country he was dopted by the Terpenning family. Later, his brother who suffers from cerebral palsy, was also adopted by the family. Jim’s brother now lives with Jim, his wife and 4 children in Beavercreek.

Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition mugging for the handheld as the dust settles. July 2009. Photo © 2009 Craig Barhorst

Jim has won several Special Olympics International metals for the USA for swimming and he now donates much of time to work with soldiers returning from conflicts with physical disabilities.

Governor Ted Strickland and First Lady Frances Strickland honored a Beavercreek couple and 24 others for their dedication to marriage and volunteerism at the 9th annual Joined Hearts in Giving celebration on Valentine’s Day at the governor’s residence in Columbus.

Alfred and Ruth Fields of Beavercreek received a certificate from the governor and first lady of Ohio. The Fields have been married for 53 years and have been a vital part of the Beavercreek Senior Center for more than 13 years. They volunteer as front desk staff and as escorts in the transportation department. Ruth helps out with special events, fundraisers and the ukulele group. Al is always willing to fill in at the last minute with the transportation program.

“These couples enrich their communities by generously volunteering their time and skills,” said Mrs. Strickland, the event’s host. “Their dedication to their families and their communities is an example for us all.”

Long-Married Beavercreek Couple Honored By Governor for Volunteerism
Alfred and Ruth Fields of Beavercreek holding their certificate pictured with Ohio Department of Aging Director Barbara E. Riley and Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland. Photo courtesy ODA

“Ohio is a better place because of the efforts of these great people,” added the governor. “Through the hours and hard work they volunteer, they embody all that makes this state exceptional.”

Joined Hearts in Giving honors Ohioans at least 60 years old who have been married 40 years or longer and who share a commitment to volunteerism.

“The devotion of these couples is truly heart-warming,” said Barbara E. Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. “Their commitment to each other and their passion to help others is a model we can all take to heart.”

The 2008 Joined Hearts in Giving Celebration, hosted by the First Lady’s Office and the Ohio Department of Aging, was held Thursday, February 14, at the governor’s residence in Columbus. The governor, first lady and Ms. Riley honored the couples for their life long volunteer efforts and service to others.

The special volunteers range in age from 64 to 89 years, and one couple has been married 63 years. Below is a list of the coupled honored during the 2008 celebration.

Alfred and Ruth Fields of Beavercreek
Jack and Shirley Baer of Galion
Richard and Mardelle Barrell of Republic
Cliff and Joyce Biddinger of Findlay
Gerald and Jean Boldt of Parma
Jack and Rose Casto of Marietta
Glen and Susie Cole of Crestline
Philip and Louise Friedman of Oxford
Roland and Lenore Heine of Seven Hills
Ellis “Bud” and Joyce Helge of Upper Sandusky
Lester and Mary Ann Huth of Tiffin
Roy and Pat Ickes of Middletown
Alfred and Visitacion (Vi) James of Cleveland
Sidney and Mary Kelly of Waverly
Jim and Doris Leugers of Hamilton
Leroy “Lee” and Dorothy Marshall of Belmont
Cecil and Kathryn Maxwell of Cardington
Murle and Kaye McLaughlin of Lake Milton
David and Maria Miller of Westerville
Malcolm and Jerry Pennell of Lakeview
Norm and Kay Rex of Ada
Elmo and Mary Smalley of West Portsmouth
Robert and Betty Sorrell of Cincinnati
Mitch and Nancy Toto of Belmont
Waldemar and Lillian Wirtz of Cleveland

The Ohio Department of Aging accepts nominations for Joined Hearts in Giving year-round through its Web site: www.goldenbuckeye.com/joinedhearts.

Story by staff. Source: Ohio Department of Aging    br20080218-01

Photo Feature: From February 14 – 16 The Greene in Beavercreek offered free carriage rides benefitting the Go Red campaign and the American Heart Association. See photos of a ride.

The Greene in Beavercreek offered free carriage rides from February 14 – 16 in honor of Valentine’s Day. The free rides were available from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Riders could make an optional donation at the end of their ride and all donations collected benefited The American Heart Association and the Go Red for Women campaign.

Photo Feature: Free Carriage Rides at The Greene for Go Red

Carriage Rides at The Greene for GO RED for WOMEN and The American Heart Association
Carriage rides began on Valentine’s Day and continue through Saturday, February 16. The free rides are offered from 6:00 pm through 10:00 pm. Photos © Craig Barhorst



CJCarriages Runs 2 Carriages at The Greene
The carriage rides are being run by CJCarriages for The Greene. CJCarriages is running 2 carriages to make sure wait times for riders are short. Photos © Craig Barhorst



Boarding the Carriage and Friendly Drivers
Riders are greeted by friendly drivers like Mike Scott, husband of CJCarriages owner Heather Scott. On board blankets are provided to keep away the chills. Photos © Craig Barhorst



A Ride Around the Block
The ride itself lasts about 5 minutes. The carriage is taken around the block of the center square at The Greene. Pictured is owner Heather Scott in a carriage pulled by “Ziek”. Photos © Craig Barhorst

CJCarriages services are available for private and corporate events. Some past private events have included weddings, surprise engagements, anniversaries, proms, romantic evenings and more. Some past corporate events have included Christmas parties, grand openings, festivals, home tours, parades, company picnics, fundraisers and more. CJCarriages, LLC is based in Xenia at 781 Hoop Road. To contact the company for more information on their services call 937-266-7966, email Heather@CJCarriages.com, or visit their website at www.CJCarriages.com.

Story by Craig Barhorst. Sources: The Greene. CJCarriages. www.cjcarriages.com.

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