Beer is just Beer….. Right?

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

I attended my first 2010 Ohio Brew Week event last night, Sparbock keg tapping at Jackie Os. The pub was full of brew-goers eager to taste the craft brews that will be offered all week at many of the drinking establishments in Athens. I was really excited to be among the group of people who were there tasting, scoring, and talking about the beers. As I listened to the folks at the tables around me, I realized that there is an entirely different jargon that I was previously unaware of when discussing beer and its flavors. It was really entertaining to hear statements like; this one is really hoppy, that one has a sweet nose but a bitter finish, perfect balance.
I have to say, I am a person who knows what she likes. I never really thought beyond that when drinking my beer. I was introduced to a different perspective last night. So, here is a little of what I learned;

*IPA – An ale brewed in England for British troops stationed in India in the 18th century. It was brewed very strong to survive a voyage that could take as long as six months. Highly hopped.

posted in: arts, athens, athens county, balance, beer, brew week, brewers, drinking, economic development, entertainment, entrepreneur, events, family, food, fun, music, people, quality of life, specialty foods, unique, uptown

July 13, 2010 | comments (1)

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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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New Energy, New Jobs

by Todd Shelton, Director, Athens County Economic Development Council

I was very excited when it was announced that Athens would host the 2009 Appalachian Regional Commission Conference. The conference took place on Oct. 26-28 on the campus of Ohio University and was a great success! With over 350 participants, individuals from across the 13 state appalachian region witnessed first hand what Athens County has to offer.

With the theme of the conference being New Energy, New Jobs, I knew this would be a wonderful opportunity for our Alternative Energy Companies here in Athens County to show the wonderful things they are working on. It was a great honor to have Governor Strickland personally visit and see first hand the tremendous work that Third Sun, Sunpower, Global Cooling, and Dovetail are accomplishing. These companies are great examples of how Athens County is becoming a leader in the Alternative Energy Industry.

posted in: alternative energy, athens, athens county, development, economic development, employment, entrepreneur, workforce

November 2, 2009 | comments (0)

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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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Love the Buzz

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

When I started as Executive Director at the Athens County Historical Society & Museum in August, 2006, I noticed that it was quiet, (which one would expect at a museum) but perhaps it wastoo quiet. Where were the Ohio University students learning about collections care and researching, designing, and executing changing exhibits? Where were all the county school children coming in for a lesson on some aspect of Athens County history? This is what I envisioned in a historical society workplace environment. It was clear I needed to find ways to bring in the community. Little did I know it would take more than posting our info on an OU volunteer website.

We used to get OU students who just wanted to volunteer somewhereanywherevia this website. The students were polite and meant well, but they didnt have a passion for history thats required when building an exhibit or organizing a collection. How do we get students that are already in the history tent? We approached professors in the history department and a history club already established at OU: the Undergraduate History Association. Now we were cooking with gas: these students, a small handful, researched, developed and designed their own exhibits and a few did collections work.

posted in: athens, athens county, leadership, moving resources, networking, people, strategy, workforce

September 25, 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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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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Democracy in Action!

by Sarah Conley, Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market

Last Thursday, I joined over 150 fellow Athenians for a Town Hall Meeting. The topics ranged from Transportation Infrastructure to Uptown Economic Development. I facilitated the panel on Increasing Food Security, and was impressed when ten eager and knowledgable individuals sat down at the table. Our group whipped up an incredible brain storm discussing ways in which we can inform and improve the way our City tackles the issue of food security. There must have been an inspirational spark at many of the other tables, too, because after each group met indivdually, we collectively shared some highlights from our discussions. A lot of great ideas were shared, and most groups made plans to meet again before the next Town Hall meeting.

It’s a real testament to this community to see that many citizens excercise their civic responsibility. I was equally impressed with the Mayor and City Planner, as they voiced high regard for hearing the voices of their citizenry.

posted in: athens, development, economic development, government, infrastructure, leadership, networking, strategy, sustainable, uptown

March 18, 2009 | comments (0)

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Dial-Up Land

by Sarah Conley, Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market

Remind me, next time you see me, to thank my lucky stars. Yes, I need reminded from time to time that life works out, and that my list of blessings is truly endless. Life in our country home is a dream come true and I’ll never look back on the chance we took two years ago to buy nine acres in the hills of Southeastern Ohio.
That said – I will take the next three sentences to complain.
Dial-up internet is for the birds. No, perhaps even the birds would complain, because they can certainly fly faster than the time it takes for me to upload one simple webpage. There are days when I actually consider applying for a tech job with Verizon simply to infiltrate the business and run hi-speed internet service to me and my neighbors.

Living in rural Athens County, such is life. Roads are paved with tar and cinder and may become impassible with a hard rain. Access to utilities is not a guarantee, some places just now getting pipelines installed. Ridges are steep, bridges narrow, but there’s nothing like the view from atop Hooper Ridge.

posted in: , athens, athens county, balance, development, infrastructure, place, quality of life

February 16, 2009 | comments (0)

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Lemonade in February

by Sarah Conley, Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market

I don’t know if rain was falling on my first visit to Athens, but it should have been, considering the magnetism it evokes in me. Dreary day or not, I remember the sycamore trees on campus best of all. They loomed statuesque among oaks, beeches and a lone American elm, last among a proud tradition of bygone trees. I didn’t know it then, but these trees would be the friends I’d visit each and every day on my long walks across campus, pursuing dreams yet to be divined.

That was then, this is now. The rain here again, warm and cloudy. Art Gish, one of our veteran farmers at the Market, would always remind me that the ducks were happy on rainy days. Particularly the most miserable ones, he’d say. Art went to Palastine this winter, as he does each winter. I think of him most days, wondering how he has fared in the latest violent clashes over there. A man of great tenacity, Art is.

posted in: , athens, athens county, sustainable

February 10, 2009 | comments (0)

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The Jetsons Visit the Flintstones.

by Emily Prince, Program Specialist, ARTS/West

Welcome to Business Remixed! I am Emily Prince, the program specialist for ARTS/West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts – the City of Athens’ community performing arts facility. What’s a “program specialist,” you say? Well, I kind of run the arts section for our Arts, Parks and Recreation Department. I am a humble civil servant, a director, I dabble in acting, I love to knit, read books and am an arts advocate – that’s my passion.

Among the many things that make living in Athens County so fantastic, and there are many – are the people. This community never ceases to amaze me.

posted in: , arts, athens, athens county, development, entertainment, music, networking, quality of life

February 3, 2009 | comments (1)

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