Home Again, Home Again

by Kristin Chesser, Human Resource Manager, Career Connections, Inc.

I would not consider myself transient but over the past six or seven years, I have moved from Athens, to Marietta, to the west side of Columbus, and then to Canal Winchester. Originally, I was desperate to get out, see new things, meet new people and now, I am desperate to get back.

I lived through two of the worst floods Marietta has ever seen and lost a 1988 Toyota Corolla as the Muskingham and Ohio Rivers poured through that trusty old car’s doors.

posted in: athens, athens county, family, living in athens, moving, people, quality of life, unique

March 29, 2010 | comments (3)

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Findings In and Under ACHS&M

by Kelee Riesbeck, Executive Director, Athens County Historical Society \& Museum

Well this is embarrassing. Here I thought me, of all people, with always plenty to say, would be more forthright in submitting her blogs that she agreed to do every week. The only excuse I can offer is that our rather large and extensive remodeling project demanded more of my attention than I had planned. Namely, weve found a few things inside the highest reaches of the building as well as underneath the building that have made this particular renovation project intriguing.

One of the construction workers found what appeared to be animal bones while he was digging out the pit for the elevator we are installing. To make sure, we called Dr. Nancy Tatarek, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Ohio University. She is an expert in skeletal biology and is the instructor for some of ACHS&Ms student interns. She determined the bones were from a young horse. Next, an archeology student noticed some interesting-looking stone slabs in the pit that appeared to be purposefully set. So we called Dr. Elliot Abrams, a professor in the same department who specializes in Ohio Valley Archaeology. He determined that, since the North end of Court Street was home to many liveries, we had probably stumbled upon the edge of the livery building, making he horse bones make a lot more sense. Both neat things to have happen underneath the historical societys building.

posted in: athens, athens county, buldings, infrastructure, living in athens, quality of life, real estate, sites, transportation, unique

October 20, 2009 | comments (0)

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Sould Be Old to This, Yet, I’m New

by Kelee Riesbeck, Executive Director, Athens County Historical Society \& Museum

posted in: arts, athens, athens county, child care, entertainment, family, food, hiking, living in athens, people, specialty foods, sustainable

September 10, 2009 | comments (0)

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Brew Stimulus

by Sara Marrs, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Athens County Economic Development Council

Summer is officially here. The pools are open, summer softball is well under way, and my girls are catching lightning bugs in the back yard. For many folks summer means the official vacation season is here. But this year, for many families, traveling somewhere far away is not an option. Economically. Recession.. nasty, nasty word! So, we make due with what we have, our more local options, and there are many. We have so much to offer right here in Athens county. Not to mention the money you spend here will go farther, help your neighbors businesses, impact our economy in a positive way.

My vacation this year is hereright here in Athens. Im so excited for Ohio Brew Week Festival, and the best part, it comes to me!! One of my favorite things to do is meet new people, engage in interesting conversations, share experiences. Ohio Brew Week brings an estimated 8,000 people into our little community throughout the week of carefully planned events and activities. All of our local businesses see overflow spending from OBW. Hotels are filled with Brew-goers who spend their money here in the Athens area as patrons in, restaurants, gift shops, carry-outs, and countless other businesses. There is a beautiful economic trickle down from all of this spending. This comes at a time when many of these businesses are experience less patronage because of the absence of the student population.

posted in: development, entertainment, events, family, food, fun, living in athens, uptown

June 26, 2009 | comments (0)

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Spring, Athens, Saturday

by Michelle Greenfield, CEO, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power

I love Saturdays in Athens. Especially in the spring. Here’s an sample of Saturday with the Greenfield’s in Athens.

We wake up later than usual, knock around the house doing cleaning, gardening, or playing outside. Then me, my husband and my two pre-teen boys load into the car and head for town. If it’s soccer season, the adults will have a game and the boys will have practice. It’s all in the same general vicinity on East State. If our game is late and boys are done with soccer, they will trade their shin pads and cleats for knee pads and helmets and head down the bike path to the skatepark to skateboard until we are done. After our fresh air and exercise, we head over to the Farmers Market.

posted in: athens, family, food, hiking, living in Athens, outdoor recreation, people, quality of life

April 20, 2009 | comments (0)

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Athens County Breakdown

by Michelle Greenfield, CEO, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power

There is a phrase that is thrown around in Athens quite a bit known as the “Athens County Breakdown”. I am a victim of it, as is my husband and many of our friends. The phrase describes this phenomenon: you come to Athens to go to Ohio University or Hocking College for your undergrad or graduate education; you wind up falling in love with the area and then decide to hang out for longer than you need to for your degree. Eventually, many of these breakdown victims live for decades in Athens County, starting families, establishing businesses and becoming part of the fabric of our community.

In my case, I got my masters degree at Ohio U. and did not immediately have a job in my field. I decided to stay in town using it as my home base for my job search. The cost of living is low, the area is beautiful, and the town offers a lot more than most small Ohio towns in terms of cultural events, restaurant choices and outdoor activities. I ended up getting job in Athens doing work that was very similar to what I was looking for elsewhere. So I stayed. The longer you stay the more integrated you become into the community. Not just the university community, but the permanent community. Then you are hooked!

posted in: athens, athens county, living in athens, people, place, quality of life

April 20, 2009 | comments (0)

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Winter Dreaming of Spring

by Emily Prince, Program Specialist, ARTS/West

Today I feel like the ARTS/West banner: “Winter Dreaming of Spring”. The image was donated to us from the Passion Works Studio. It is glorious and hopeful and all of things I won’t feel like until I see the crocuses peeking up out of the ground. I hate to rush the seasons but, I know I’ll rush right into short sleeves as I dream of the spring on the next 60 degree day. I saw a robin about two weeks ago. Robins just can’t be trusted these days as the heralds of spring. Up north in the Snow Belt, yes; here, no. I am encouraged by the geese. They are back. The geese do rush the seasons and I am anxiously looking forward to seeing the white goose down by the Hocking River. They seem to accept him.

I know the Aquabear County Fair is coming up – that’s a sure sign of spring. This year, Athens-based Aquabear Legion (a group of musicians, bands, artists, and filmmakers from Ohio) is holding its 3rd annual Aquabear County Fair on the weekend of March 5-7, 2009 in Athens, Ohio. The weekend features thirteen bands playing at three different venues on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night in addition to an Ohio film Festival at ARTS/West on Saturday, March 7th at 2pm. ARTS/West will also be holding a local art show, curated by the Aquabear Legion as part of the weekend’s festivities.

posted in: , arts, entertainment, living in athens, unique

February 24, 2009 | comments (0)

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Raising free range kids

by Sarah Conley, Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market

Magnolia asked this morning if she could go outside and “visit with Riah” – our country hound dog, who was basking in the morning sunlight, presumably defrosting from the chilly night spent outdoors.
I was in the middle of changing Juniper’s diaper when the question was hollered from the living room, so I had no visual on my oldest daughter’s attire: sesame street t-shirt, boys boxer briefs (“just like daddy’s!”) and big purple rain boots.
I gave my usual reply, “put on your coat and some pants, and then you can go out”, but the sound of the front door slamming was all I heard.

From the front window, I saw my dear sweet daughter, clad in nothing but the aforementioned skivys, chasing a chicken around the yard. Riah, a bonified chicken killer, was close behind, but seemed more interested in playing with Maggi than catching the stray hen for a meal.

posted in: , athens county, family, living in athens, quality of life

February 23, 2009 | comments (3)

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Viva Athens

by Tanya Conrath, Coordinator, Ohio Skills Bank

I’m not sure why we even bothered taking a taxi. There was so much traffic on the Vegas Strip that a group of guys stumbling down the sidewalk, spilling their beer as they went, were making more forward progress than we were. Stuck in traffic and late for our dinner reservations, I asked the cabbie where the locals like to eat. “Anywhere but here.” he said. “Would you come here on your day off?” Sensing that this was more of a rhetorical question (because, actually, yes, I did come to Vegas on my day off), I let it go.

But I knew what he meant. The noise, traffic, lights, hordes of people, and a 28 story high billboard of Donny & Marie* can take a toll on your senses. It doesn’t take too many days in Vegas to reminded me of why I love living in Athens.

posted in: balance, living in Athens

February 6, 2009 | comments (0)

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