Come help us celebrate the “First Friday” at the Holiday Inn Xenia. We will have karaoke from 5:00pm to 8:00pm with meatballs and ribs cooking on our patio by Chef Phillip. Ladies night starts at 9:00pm and goes to 11:00pm in our Pit-Stop Lounge. King's Landing will perform from 9:00pm to 1:00am inside. Stop on by and enjoy the Xenia Area Merchants “First Friday”.

The Montgomery Insurance & Investments agency has represented The Cincinnati Insurance Co. for many years.  It is traditional for The Cincinnati Insurance Co. to award their top performing agents each year with a very nice all expense paid trip.  It was decided by top management, in these hard economic times, to cancel the awards trip and give each agency $1000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

The Xenia Area Merchants Association (XAMA) is pleased to announce the launch of First Fridays - a monthly celebration of our historic downtown and all it has to offer.  On the first Friday of each month this summer, participating businesses will extend their hours to 8:00 PM or later and offer a variety of free special events, activities, and refreshments.  The first First Friday event will take place on July 3rd, to be followed by similar festivities on August 7th and September 4th.  Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy the work of local artists and musicians and discover some of our town's hidden treasures.

The Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center, 130 E. Church Street (across from the YMCA) will be the site of July's Toast of the Town.  Come visit the Center from 4-6pm on July 9th and enjoy refreshments, door prizes and networking! If you haven't been to the Center in a while, the staff will be happy to give you a tour of their new and improved facility.  All are Welcome!

Greene County Libraries Closed Saturday, July 4
All locations of the Greene County Public Library will be closed on Saturday, July 4 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The libraries will reopen at their regular times on Sunday, July 5.

Exciting and fun programs for people of all ages are being planned at the Xenia Community Library, 76 East Market Street.

Xenia Educational Endowment Fund Awards Classroom Grants to Teachers
A Special Note from Supt. Jeffrey K. Lewis, Ed.D.
Multi-Generational Xenian Retires After 35 Years of Educating Community's Children
Spelling Bee Winners Honored at Xenia Board of Education Meeting
Xenia Community Schools’ Transportation Team Honored for ‘Rodeo’ Competition
Xenia Girls Track Team Honored for State Meet Achievements

On Friday, Governor Strickland proposed a last minute change to the State Budget: the new budget cuts funding for Ohio’s Libraries by an additional $100 million dollars a year for the next two years.

Public libraries are a vital lifeline to job hunting information, education, and family fun in a down economy. The Greene County Public Library system receives 55% of its funding from the State of Ohio.  This funding rises and falls with the State's income, and funding for libraries has already fallen dramatically in the current recession. If the Governor’s new cuts become permanent, it will devastate the services the library provides to children, teens, adults and seniors throughout Greene County even as Library use is at an all time high.

The increasing urbanization of coyotes will be the focus of a free seminar offered to park officials, city and county leaders, as well as the general public from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 14, at the OSU Extension-Greene County Buckeye Room, 100 Fairground Rd., Xenia.

Community Action Partnerships – one of United Way’s Partner Agencies – is looking for new or gently used clothes for their school give a way in August.  Due to the job loss in our area, donations are way down.  If you have a hankering to clean out your closets please save your clothes for us.  They are especially in need of clothes for children.  If you have a donation you can drop them off at my office, 1855 Bellbrook Ave., in Xenia or if you have a bunch of stuff I will try and pick them up.  Please share this with your friends and neighbors.  If you have any questions give me a call at either 376-5555 or 427-4008.

Meg Gillis, Director
United Way - Greene County

TUESDAY, JULY 7TH , 7:00 PM, BLUE JACKET BOOKS

Springfield resident Timothy Snyder will introduce his new book, Rainbows of Rock, Tables of Stone - the Natural Arches and Pillars of Ohio, Tuesday July 7th at 7:00 P.M.