About Preble County, OH

Child care is a pretty important issue. If you have little ones and you work, its probably always at the forefront of your mind. I know it was for me.

In fact, a lot of times the thoughts of what type of care my kids were getting gnawed at me, day and night. It didn't help that my daughter pretty much clung to my leg every time I tried to drop her off, and I would leave sobbing, feeling like the worlds worst parent. And yes, she was fine a minute later. It would take me however, half the day to shake off the guilt and the inner voice telling me I was a bad mom!!

My kids are a little bigger now and the daycare days are past. But it is still on my mind a lot. I have clients with little ones, and always seem to be meeting somebody looking for a "good, reliable" place to put the kids. A place they can feel good about, and trust their most precious thing to.

So for the first time in a blog (I think), I'm going to plug just one place. WHY? Because this daycare really loved my kids the way I hoped they would be loved in my absence.

ST. Clair Academy

Just a wonderful child care center, located in Eaton Ohio. One of my biggest concerns when I picked a daycare was that I wanted the ability to stop in impromptu, at a whim, just to visit my kids, or simply spy and ease my mind that they were OK. And pretty much the first thing the director of the daycare told me was to drop in anytime. So I was put at ease immediately.

The daycare is divided into different sections and age groups. Babies are well removed from older kids. And the activities....well, I dont have enough space here to even come close to getting it all.

The rooms are set up with plenty of good toys, as well as great items for the older kids such as computers and video game centers, reading stations and such. There are a variety of summer activities including bowling trips, daily swimming at the community pool, many field trips, and more.

Very flexible scheduling is allowed. Part time needed? No problem. Half days, half weeks, every other week, as needed? No problem. when I say accommodating, I MEAN accommodating!

My kids really liked St Clair Academy and though my son was already in school and didn't get to do any of the preschool classes there, my daughter took full advantage of all of the specified units of study that St Clair Academy offered, and she even had a little "graduation" that was adorable!

So, the director is named Donna Sitloh. She goes by "Micki", and is just about the swwetest gal you will ever know. A Mom of 5 herself, this lady really loves kids, AND runs a tight ship. Employee turnover here is essentially non-existent. Continuing education is not only encouraged but expected. The center is sanitary, and employees are well trained and very sweet.

Here's the info you will need in order to contact Micki:

St Clair Academy

116 W St Clair Street

Eaton OH 45320

937-456-6856

If you have any questions about this daycare or want suggestions for other childcare providers in the Preble County area, please give me a call!

Looks like summer is finally heading towards Lake Lakengren, and not a moment too soon. It has been great to hear the jet-skis and boats back out on the lake, see kids back on the bikes and all the walkers, human and dog both, enjoying the fresh air and pretty views.

So I'm going to try to do a month to month blog just to keep Lakengren people up to date about what is going on in the community. Another good place to look for Lakengren info and a forum full of good and HONEST Lakengren tidbits, is www.lakengrenhomes.com.

Ski Club: The Lakengren Ski club is lookking for members of any age and every skill. Even if you are green on the water skis, someone will be happy to teach you the ropes. The ski club meets Monday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm at the Lakengren Marina (South East end of Lakengren).

Volleyball anyone? On June 6th at 10:00 am at the new Volleyball court next to the Marina there will be a Volleyball Tournament. I have personally walked on the new court and it is very nice..great view of the lake too. If you are interested, here is who to contact: Rick McMahon, 513-532-3008.

Swimming! Free swimming lessons, sponsored by the Lakengren Dragons, will be from June 15 to June 19, weather permitting. This is open to any and all Lakengren children and grandchildren. You can visit the pool, the gaurd house at the front, or the new LPOA office for registration forms. These forms MUST be filled out and submitted by Friday June 12th. The swimming lessons will be broken down by age groups and you will be notified as to what time your little swimmer should arrive. One word of warning: The pool is unheated and might be cold. Though maybe its just adults that cant handle the cold because my kids have never seemed to mind!

Lakengren Property Owners Association meeting: June 8, 7 pm at new office.

Kids fishing Derby: I'm really surpirsed that more isn't said about this derby, because my kids have done it for 3-4 years running now and have a great time! The derby is on June 20 from 9am to 11 am at Hammer Lake. This is a fun time, as the fish are almost always biting. Kids need to be 12 or under to be a part of the derby, and prizes (sometimes even very nice trophy's) are given for the most fish caught. Dans Sport shop in Camden Ohio typically runs a side-by-side contest for the kids as well. So kids can enter at Dans sport shop and get a t-shirt, plus prizes from Dans including trophy's for smallest fish, biggest, ugliest and the like.

There's always a lot going on in the community of Lakengren. If you would like more info or a tour, just contact me anytime!

Thanks for reading!

Kelley Weimer

a house "SOLD" name!

www.buypreblecounty.com

www.kelleysellspreble.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, Lewisburg, Brookville, Camden, West Alexandria, Germantown and Lake Lakengren.

Camden! Not quite a city, but a village in Preble County. And for those who call it home, Camden offers small town living the likes of which you just wont find anywhere else. You know...quiet evenings on the front porch watching the world go by. Sunsets off the back deck, deer grazing in the fields. Neighbors you have known for years and just like the TV show "Cheers": everybody knows your name.

Camden is about 10 miles South of Eaton, 15 miles NW of Middletown, and 33 miles N of Cincinnati. Population is about 2300 +/-. Median household income in 2007: $37,222.

Children of Camden attend Preble Shawnee School District. Students attend Camden Elementary (Grades K-3), West Elkton Elementary (4-6) and Preble Shawnee School (7-12). The district's mascot is the Arrows and the colors are balck and red.

Here are some interesting points about Camden;

In October, during the third full weekend, the annual tradition is the Black Walnut Festival. Each year, this draws in about 40,000 visitors. There is a parade, bake sales, antique farm machinery on display, chain saw carving, and typically over 130 vendors with all types of goodies and crafts. And of course, all sorts of goodies featuring black walnuts, including the popular homemade black walnut ice cream.

Hauntings!!! The Devils Backbone: a high crooked gorge along State Route 725 in Camden, is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Native Americans, whose leaders were left along the gorge after death; Indians were forbidden to touch the bones for fear of supernatural retribution. A Miami Indian chief is said to have cursed the area when his people were driven out of the lands by settlers.

CryBaby Bridge: Located on Fudge Road, in Camden. Rumor has it that a woman suuposedly hung herself on the bridge after the death of her child. If you park your car on the bridge and turn off all the lights and say "Mama Mama", you will supposedly hear a baby crying.

The Camden area is also a "supposed" hotspot for bigfoot sightings.

Some notable natives of Camden ohio include Sherwoon Anderson - American Novelist, and Myron Scott-inventor of the American Soap Box Derby.

Camden also features some great pieces of architectural history, including the Camden City Hall and Opera House. Built in 1889, it is in the National Register of Historic Buildings. This building has been used for many tihngs from a city hall to fire station to music facility.

Another building is the Camden School, also known as the old Camden Elementary. Although it is vacant now, many residents of Camden can still recall being within its hallowed halls.

The Village of Camden calls back to a easier way of life. Great historic homes of yesteryear line main street. The trains still pass thru everyday. Farming is a way of life and church functions still gather in great crowds. Folks look out for one another and kids still play outside after dark.

For your tour of Camden or any info on living in Preble County Ohio, please contact me!

Today is yet another sad day for Neaton Auto. The folks who have decided to take the buy-out option are wrapping up this afternoon and calling it done after many years of loyal service.

Many of the people who decided to take the buyout option (for those who dont know of what I speak, click here) are people who were close to retirement. So this has to be a hard day. Saying goodbye to friends and the familiar surroundings they have come to know so well over the years.

It probably isn't how they had envisioned leaving Neaton. No retirement party. No big celebrations or counting down the days. Rather, the resignation that this is probably the only option they had left. That can't leave a good taste in anyones mouth.

So I wish you all well, those of you who dedicated sweat, laughter, tears and TIME to Neaton Auto Products. Your service and your dedication was appreciated more than you know, and more than the company probably showed you. Not to knock Neaton...I think they are doing probably the best they can, all things considered.

Thanks for reading!

Kelley Weimer,

a house "SOLD" name!

www.buypreblecounty.com

Professional Real Estate Services for Preble County OH and beyond; including Eaton, Lewisburg, Camden, Germantown, Brookville, Lakengren and West Alexandria.

Business Growth. OK, I couldn't find a better "B" in the area than this, because for all the rural appeal that Preble County has going for it, the growth of business in the area speaks to the continued growth and improvement of the area as a whole.

When I moved to the area in 1988, Preble County was extremely limited in what it had to offer as far as retail, restaurants and the like. In the past 20 years, we have experienced controlled growth that has brought to the area many more options while still keeping Preble County the rural, quiet area folks are accustomed to.

Smaller villages in the area such as West Alexandria, Camden and Lewisburg have seen slow but steady improvement in commerce, but the City of Eaton, heart of Preble County, has really experienced a tremendous facelift in the past few years. Newer additions include a super Wal-mart, Shoe Show, Tractor Supply Co., Advanced Auto, O'Reillys auto, Great Clips, Family Video, Movie Gallery, Cato fashions, as well as other businesses such as banks, general stores/pharmacies like CVS and WalGreens, photography studios, home inprovement stores and more.

20 years ago, going out to eat in the area didn't offer many choices. Today we have many more options to choose from, such as Sonic, Sky Line, Bob Evans, Pizza Hut/Wing Street, KFC, Subway, Cassanos, and more. Not to mention local favorites such as Carmelas Pizza, Fiesta Charra Mexican Cuisine, Powerhouse Pizza, The Depot, China Wok, Peking Palace, The Red Mule, Taffy's, Beares Restaurant, Little Italys, Brumbachs BBQ, The Rib Shack, and lots more. Rumor has it we may soon see a Buffalo Wild Wings as well as Rallys.

Since this is MY blog, I think now is as good a time as any to mention that as far as commercial growth is concerned, Preble County should seriously be considered. Population forecasts predict an annual growth of 19%, and commercial development will continue to increase to meet the needs of the community, and increase the general retail sales volume available in the area.

If you are considering opening or growing a business of your own, NOW really is the time you should be considering the space options in the area. Lease rates are running as low as $6.00 per square foot.

I hope if you are considering a move in or to the Preble County area you will give me a call. Many people just think "farms and sheep" when they think of Preble, but we really have so much more to offer. Let me be your guide! Thanks!