Preble County Ohio Preble Life

Page 1 Click to TurnPage 2Inside this issue... The Fort Saint Clair Battlefield- We visit Fort Saint Clair located in Eaton, Ohio.As one of Ohio's premier state parks it is steepedin American history! Incredible Guitar-Slinger- Guitarist Eric Loy: An interview about hislove for music and teaching. Preble County Economic Development:- It's all about ways to bring jobs, education,industry and opportunity to Preble County.Important information every resident shouldknow....and more! Page 3
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Nestled on the western outskirts of Eaton, Ohio on state route 122 is Fort Saint Clair State Park. This 14 acre park was constructed on and around the site of a colonial era American military fort and battlefield. Founded in 1806, as the city of Eaton evolved, so did the communities intentions for the property surrounding Fort Saint Clair location.
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Historic Battlefield Site and Park

Fort Saint Clair
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In the late 1890's there was great interest across America in memorializing veterans of the Civil War. Veteran's organizations like the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) and DAR (Daughter's of the American Revolution) led the way and were at the fore front of insuring local veterans were remembered for their service to their nation. Local Preble County enthusiasts jumped aboard and sought to create a memorial honoring the sacrifice of six American soldiers killed in combat with indians in 1793 at the Fort Saint Clair site. As the memorial idea took root eventually the decision was made to create a park around the battlefield site that would provide not just a memorial to the fallen six but for all veterans from all conflicts. It would also be a place for families and friends to gather and enjoy a warm summers day, recreate, walk and enjoy the beauty of Preble County.
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The 14 acres is well groomed and a black topped road circling the park is perfect for walking, jogging or biking. A small creek winds its way through the grounds of the park as deer, rabbits and all manner of birds roam the grounds.
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Fort Saint Clair State Park offers visitors a chance to walk the historic grounds and explore the park at no cost. There is room to walk, wander and play. The picnic grounds feature covered pavilions, a great kids playground, picnic tables, grills and rest rooms.
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Explore Historic Preble County
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Fort Saint Clair is located on St Route 122 (West Main Street) on the western outskirts of the county seat of Preble County, Eaton.
The park is open from 8 am to 8 pm
April through October.

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Eric Loy

The contrapuntally, hipptastic...

04 the moment of intent

"The Moment of Intent"

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Eric Loy's a musical institution in Preble County. After 40 plus years of playing live gigs all over Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, he's paid his dues yet he still feels the passion, excitement and thrill of playing the guitar live. He's a true ambassador for Preble County with his upbeat personality, creative musical direction and integrity for trying to do the right thing. Eric Loy's far more than just a guitar player; he's a teacher, a mentor and an all around positive force.Preble Life recent sat down with this influential performer and respected musical instructor to talk about guitars, musicians, and what Preble County means to him.Preble Life: Eric, you're well known in our area as a phenominal performing guitarist but a lot of people don't know you teach the guitar as well. How long have you been doing that?Eric Loy: This is my 31st year teaching the guitar. Oh, boy, I'd say several thousand people have had lessons.Preble Life: Would you say your teaching is as important to you as the music you record and play?Eric Loy: Yeah, I really do think it's important. Well, I love to teach, I like the interaction and really providing a great service to people. The guitar can be difficult to learn and I enjoy giving lessons to the people who are thisting to know how to play.Preble Life: Your newest record is "Trajaectories." Describe the disc for how does it compare to your previous works.Eric Loy: I think it's a natural progression as all my records have been. I think the songs are really "me", it's my music and it's very diverse. There are jazz pieces, rock pieces and claissical pieces and I like them all equally. Preble Life: I've seen you perform dozens of time and you always have so much enthusiasm. What keeps you going and so fired up?Eric Loy: Well, you can, as a human being and as a performer fall into a trap. You can complain and say, that only three people came out to a show or get bummed out because something didn't go your way. I don't want to feel that way. I've been playing the guitar for 45 years and I am still excited and fired up. I learn new things everyday about music and the guitar. When I am out playing , even if there is only one person listening, I try to reach out and touch them.Preble Life: You're a life-long resident of Preble County. With all your talent what kept you from moving to Nashville, New York, Memphis or one of the other music meccas?Eric Loy: I've thought of that and I have friends who have done that. I've considered it but I really think this is my place. This is my home. It's because of family and friends. Preble Life: Well your calendar is filled with gigs over Ohio this year. Do you have any new albums or projects in the works?Eric Loy: Yeah, I'm always working on new stuff. I've got half a new record in the works. In addition I'd like to do a cover album of classical pieces with my own arrangements. Eric, thanks for your time and we look forward to hearing you perform soon.For more information on Eric Loy you can visit his website at www.ericloy.comA link to Eric's site will be posted at the end of this publication
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A sample of Eric Loy Eric Loy's not just your typical acoustic guitar god. While most players are content to struggle to master six or twelve strings, Loy's a bit more ambitious. His custom, hand-built ,"harp guitar" built by Mark Kaiser of Fret Repair, features a whopping 24 strings. Eclectic,interesting, and unique in its sound, when Eric plucks the strings of this one-of-a-kind guitar it turns heads and never fails to impress!

www.ericloy.com
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Paying reverence... All guitarists have influences and Eric is no exception. Greatly influenced by the Beatles, Eric Loy play a beautiful harp guitar rendition of the rarely-performed Beatles classic "She's Leaving Home" Click the banner below for information on album downloads!
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Promoting

Preble

Preble

Preble
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As a Preble County resident, if you've ever wondered if anyone is really working to bring jobs and opportunity to Preble County, the answer is a resounding yes.
On Friday, April 9th, a beautiful Preble County morning, approximately 80 people gathered at Silfex in Eaton to attend the Preble County Economic Development Forum.
Hosted by the Preble County Chamber of Commerce, the forum brought together the business community, local civil leaders, and interested citizens to compare notes and share ideas on bringing jobs and commerce to Preble County.
continued next page.

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Economic

Matt Appenzeller

Preble County Chamber of Commerce

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Development Efforts
In fact in Preble County there are are several organizations working hard to bring jobs and sustainable commerce to our area. It's not an easy task as nearly every other county in Ohio is struggling with the same economic challenges. With competition from around the state and across the country, it might seem that Preble County could be overshadowed.But not so fast. We've got some great things going for us. The Preble County Economic Development Forum demonstrated that neither our private or public sector is sitting on their hands. If the forum was any evidence, there's far more happening than one might expect. Opening up the presentations was Matt Appenzeller of the Preble County Chamber of Commerce. Appenzeller discussed the Chamber's involvement and interest in economic development. As the local professional organization for business and commerce in the county, the Chamber of Commerce is at the pointy end of the spear in the competative task of luring perspective jobs and business entities to Preble County. One of the key elements of the Preble County Development Partnership has been to take a proactive look at the local sentiment of local business and government leaders. In addition, the partnership wanted to determine the responsibilities for making economic development truly functional. In other words, what would the private sector be responsible for and what would the public (government) sector take the lead on? In a study conducted by Resource Development Group, paid for entirely by contributions from the private sector, 54 local leaders in the private and public sector were interviewed for their ideas and thoughts on economic development. The study indicated the following:The top two priorities to create a successful economic development program in Preble County were determined to be-Recruit New Business and jobs-Create a marketing program to promote Preble County.In addition, the study looked at the tasks required to impliment a viable program with the idea of determining who would be responsible for what. The study indicated that the Chamber of Commerce would be the best organization to lead the counties efforts at economic development in the following areas:-Workforce Recruitment-Marketing Preble County-New Business Recruitment-Changing Perceptions of Economic Development-Existing Industry Support-Workforce Development and Training-54% of those interviewed favored financial suport for an aggressive economic development initiative.-66% Indicated they would support multi-year financial support for economic development.Appenzeller's presentation was positive and optomistic. He, like all the speakers that would follow him, clearly understood the high stakes involved for the citizens of the county. portions of Matt's slide presentation appear to the left of this article. Continued on next page
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Meet Preble County Commissioner

Chris Day
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Chris Day is one of three Preble County Commissioners. After his presentation at the Preble County Economic Development Forum Preble Life spoke with Chris about his role in economic development in our community and the Goose Creek Commerce Center.
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A short message from 2009, Mrs. Ohio International, Preble Counties very own "royalty." Lindsey Gregg, talks about a little known illness her son is afflicted with. Take four minutes and meet a real Preble Patriot, Lindsey Gregg. Recorded in June 2009.
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Currently scheduled for the May issue of..

Lions, Tigers, Bears OH MY

Heavens Corner Zoo

For Endangered Animals

May 15th

And much more!
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"Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain."

America The Beautiful
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Do You Preble?

REMINDER!!! Ask Readers to tell their friends about Preble Life! www.preblelife.com
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If you're an aspiring writer, photographer, film-maker, musician, poet, or simply someone who has some great stories, perhaps you'd like to contribute material to Preble Life? We're looking for upbeat, positive features about the people, places and events that make Preble County a great place to live, work and play.The concept behind Preble Life is to create a multi-faceted, multi-media interface to spread the good word about a really good place; Preble County.Preble Life is seeking interesting stories about local people, historical places, points of interest or anything that helps present a positive image. Perhaps you know a veteran, teacher, a student or a seemingly ordinary resident who's done something extraordinary.Perhaps you've been dabbling with photography, or painting, sculpture, music or art and would like a venue to show off your stuff, drop Preble Life a note. Preble County is filled with talented, caring and innovative people and we'd like to hear about them.Preble Life wants to have a positive impact on our county. We want to bring commerce, industry and jobs into our community. It's serious business and Preble is competing with rural counties all over the midwest.But we have some advantages. One of them is you.We hope you'll help out and please pass the good word about Preble Life.Preble Life!

Drop a line and say hello!

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