Julie Beall CRS

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so many people live such an unreal life.They take the images outside them for reality and never allow the world within to assert itself."
~ Hermann Hesse

JUST ASK DOROTHY!

You've probably seen it a dozen times - "The Wizard of Oz." It's a delightful tale of fantasy, complete with munchkins, a scarecrow in need of a brain, a yellow brick road, a wicked witch and a mythical wizard with the imagined power to send Dorothy back to Kansas.

Regardless of the fantasy, the beautiful color, the unusual characters, and the whimsical plot, there is a powerful message that comes as one of Dorothy's last lines as she prepares to leave Oz. She says, "If ever again I go looking for my heart's desire, I won't look any further than my own backyard." It's such a simple statement, yet it carries a lesson for all of us.

How often do we look outside our own world of home and family for "our heart's desire?" There are so many distractions that lure us out of our own backyard: careers, shopping, powerful people, sports, clubs, TV, committees, the Internet, and the list goes on. There's so much to do and so little time. Then one day we look and our own backyard no longer seems to exist.

We should take time to smell the roses in our own garden, rather than looking over the fence and down the yellow brick road to see the roses of others. We need to let go of the imagined - the tin man, lion, and scarecrow of our own making - and appreciate the real Auntie Em's in our lives. If we don't, we may wake up one day to realize we're "not in Kansas anymore."

Top Places to Live?

Trivia Question of the Day: If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would it be?

A. New York City or Chicago! I love the big city

B. Give me the hot weather! I'm thinking Orlando or Santa Clara.

C. I prefer the remote rural areas in Arizona or Wisconsin.

D. Anywhere with a beach. Maine, South Carolina, Michigan, I don't care!

While you may have chosen one of the above places to live, Money Magazine is considering the following to be a top choice for Americans:

E. Springboro, OH

"Why?" you may ask? For its balance.

Springboro, Ohio is located within 30 minutes of the big cities, Dayton and Cincinnati, yet in and of itself does not have the congestion of a big city. Main Street portrays the old-fashioned history that the city contains, with quaint storefronts and family owned businesses. When asked, what is your favorite part of Springboro, one resident replied, "My favorite part about Springboro has to be Main Street. I love how it feels like a little town with so many family oriented businesses and restaurants. Especially K&W ice cream!" Another answered, "Don't forget the Tractor Supply Store! I bought birthday gifts there for my dad the last 2 years!"

Springboro also provides its residents with a various church denominations, quality private schools, and professional hospitals. It is also a bicycle friendly community that provides safe accommodation for cycling and encourages its residents to bike for transportation and recreation. Local farm markets and family-owned pizza restaurants provide a family friendly atmosphere for those in the community. Most of Springboro's subdivisions are even equipped with a community center with a swimming pool and tennis court. Heatherwoode Golf Course is also quite an attraction.

All in all, Springboro is a great mix of suburban life-small enough to feel old-fashioned and personal, yet big enough to stay connected and updated technologically. So look to see if Springboro makes it as ‘one of the top places to live in America' in Money Magazine's August Edition! (I certainly think it is!)

by Julie Beall and Brandi Hoffer

Won't you be my neighbor?

By Julie Beall and Brandi Hoffer

This morning as I tied my gym shoes, stepped out my front door, and began my morning jogging routine, I decided to go little farther than usual. I cut over toward Settler's Walk and Dorothy Lane Market. The weather was perfect--not too cold to tighten your lungs, but not too hot to send you running back into the air conditioning. Several others shared my thoughts: one girl walked with her Dalmatian; an elderly couple strolled down the sidewalk holding a cheerful conversation; and a fit man was just completing his morning workout.

As I turned down Yankee to start my trek back home, I decided to take a detour into Brookside. I noticed a moving truck in the driveway of one of the homes, and watched as the family was filling it with boxes upon boxes. Still a little far off, I saw his next door neighbor come out, coffee in hand to retrieve the morning paper. After a short exchange, he agreed to change his clothes and help his neighbor finish packing his boxes into the truck. The man seemed overcome with relief.

I continued on my way back home, now with a smile on my face. Though it was a small gesture to simply carry some boxes, its impact went deeper. We all know how a little act of kindness can go a long way, and the quality of neighbors really can make all the difference in a community.

Simple Pleasures

by Julie Beall and Brandi Hoffer

Grabbing a cup of coffee on the way to the office, taking the kids to soccer practice, running by the bank, filling the car up, getting this week's groceries, stopping by McDonald's before the baseball game. Sound familiar? In the hustle and bustle of life, we may not take time to stop and enjoy the simple pleasures it has to offer-especially not in today's busy society.

But rewind a generation or two and we see that our grandparents made it a point to enjoy the small things in life. Whether it was once a week for a Sunday morning church service, or every evening for a family meal, they took a time out for the small things. The simple pleasures.

One such grandfather was Lee Lovely. In the early 1920's, he moved to Ohio from Kentucky to better support his family working at a paper factory. He and his wife soon purchased a piece of land to live out their dream of beginning a farm market. During the hard economic times of the Great Depression, the Lovely's strove to earn a little extra money with this investment in sweet corn in tomatoes. Yet in the process, they encompassed the meaning of community: giving of themselves to help someone else.

Driving east on State Route 73, you may have never noticed the quaint store amid the new buildings and housing developments. Yet still today, Lee's grandson, Steve Lovely continues to bring that same sense of community to Springboro-not only with his quality homegrown foods, but with his service.

So I urge you, the next time you drive east on 73 to give Lovely's Farm Market a try. Whether it's to pick up a watermelon for an afternoon picnic or to treat your kids to a scoop of ice cream, or simply to just experience some friendly, old fashioned service, make it a point to slow down a little bit. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Here are some of Lovely's Farm Market's favorites:

•· Fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, watermelon

•· Ice cream, bags of candy, caramel apples

•· 12 varieties of sweet corn

•· Tomatoes, lettuce, string beans

Lovely's Country Café serves homemade fried chicken and sandwiches along with homemade sides!

For more information, visit: http://www.lovelysfarmmarket.com/index.htm

A Taste of Broadway?

by Julie Beall and Brandi Hoffer

For thirty-three years, LaComedia Dinner Theatre has provided superior entertainment for the community of Springboro. "A Taste of Broadway". Or so they claim.

They perform 6 shows a year, and last autumn I was able to attend Beauty and the Beast. Now, I have been to more than my fair share of musicals and plays on all levels, so I went into the show with a bit of skepticism. They begin the evening with serving their house signature salad and then opening up the buffet. The food was truly something to rave about: Steamy sweet potato soufflé, chef-carved meats, and-my favorite-gourmet macaroni and cheese! So far, so good. If the show turned out to be a faux pas , then at least I could leave with a satisfied appetite.

As the curtain parted, my sixth sense of hypercriticism turned on. I was no longer another member of the 600 seated audience. I was a judge. A critic.

And so it began. The tale of the cursed prince in the castle was told. Belle entered the stage skippingand singing through the little town. A shot from stage left rang out, and Gaston boasted loudly about his kill of the day. Every character played the role to a tee. I sat in my front row seat, feeling like a little girl with my mouth agape, and eyes wide with fascination and amazement. Even the difficult portrayal of wolves in the forest and the unforgettable transformation of the beast into man provedto be phenomenal.

Truly, LaComediahas captured a beautiful snapshot of Broadway productions. And to think that it lies so close to home!

Currently (from May 7^th - July 5^th) High School Musical is showing. Click on the following link to find out more information on this and other upcoming productions:

http://www.lacomedia.com/playbill.htm

I think I may be seeing another production before this year is out. But this time not as a critic-as a little kid.