Chamber calendar
Tuesday, Sept. 11: Membership and Events Committee, chamber, 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept 12: Advantage Data Systems ribbon cutting, 33 North Plaza Boulevard, 10 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13: Ross County Safety Council Kickoff Picnic, 11:30 a.m., Milestone Lodge, Safety registration.
Thursday, Sept. 13: Young Professionals Network, Healthy Lifestyles presentation by Drs. Joe and Brandy Spaulding, 5:30-7 p.m., Chillicothe Country Club, $5 admission.
Thursday, Sept. 13: Candidates and Issue Night: Mayoral debate and presentations by other candidates; Ross County Service Center, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 19: Business After Business, Advantage Data Systems, 33 N. Plaza Boulevard, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration
Wednesday, November 14: Annual combined Business Expo and Business After Business, Shoemaker Convocation Center, Ohio University-Chillicothe, 5-8 p.m., registrations to be taken shortly.
What's happening this weekend? Check out the community events calendar.
Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business
Check out photos from chamber events at any time by going to www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.
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Copyright 2007
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722
Tourism season results
mixed for attractions
Adena Mansion and Gardens apparently had a good summer while other major attractions in Ross County were showing mixed results.
Based on attendance figures through July, Adena saw a 14 percent gain, reaching nearly 7,000 visitors from April through July. Exact figures were not available for “Tecumseh!”, but officials there were reporting flat to a slight decrease for the season that just ended. Through July, nearly 26,000 had made it to Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater.
At Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, attendance for all of this year is down 6 percent, or nearly 1,000, while the Ross County Heritage Center saw the steepest drop with a 25 percent downturn through the first seven months.
While attendance figures are the best barometers for the attractions, receipts from the city and county lodging taxes are the best indicator of total visitors to the county, including those on business trips and those passing through on vacation and other business. Lodging tax revenue is up 10 percent this year. However, the pace of growth in the revenue slowed in the last quarter. Receipts for the first two quarters were up 13 percent.
STEEL NEWS GREAT FOR SOUTHERN OHIO: More than 1,000 jobs are expected to be created if a Russian steel company follows through on its plan to build a $1 billion plant in Scioto County just east of Portsmouth on the Ohio River. Officials from the Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, better known as MMK, plan to meet later this month with Gov Ted Strickland and administration officials. The Columbus Dispatch reported only six projects topped the $1 billion barrier in the U.S. in 2006. If built, the plant could supply steel to automakers such as Honda and Toyota.
NEW RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN?: Word is that the former Portabello’s Restaurant in the O’Dell Building on North Paint Street will re-open under new management. No plans on the type of restaurant or when it will open were available.
FIX FOR BRIDGE STREET TRAFFIC STILL IN WORKS: Apparently city officials continue to work with business owners and the Ohio Department of Transportation to move North Plaza Boulevard to align with the U.S. 35 exit ramp. That would remove one of the main bottlenecks for traffic on North Bridge Street. Unfortunately, it would not be done in time for the coming holiday shopping season. But there’s hope for next year.
DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS TO MEET: As a result of the HyettPalma strategic plan for downtown Chillicothe, owners of property in the historic district are invited to a meeting Thursday, Sept. 20 at 11:30 at the chamber. The owners will get an update on the progress being made on implementing the plan, including efforts to provide new guidelines to the city’s Design Review Board which oversees the appearance of the district, including signs, demolitions and new construction.
CANDIDATES NIGHT NEXT THURSDAY: City Council candidates get a chance to deliver their platforms while the mayoral candidates will have a mini-debate Thursday starting at 7 p.m. in the Ross County Service Center. The chamber’s Candidates and Issue Night also will have presentations on the library and senior citizens levies that are on the ballot in November.
READERS PICK ROSS SITES: The Bainbridge area and Yoctangee Park won “Point of Pride” Awards from Over the Back Fence magazine. Readers voted Bainbridge and the Fall Festival of Leaves as the best place to see fall colors in southern Ohio while the park was voted the best place to have a picnic. Check out all the award winners at www.backfencemagazine.com.
BLOOD DRIVE AT CENTER: Pioneer Center is sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive next Friday, Sept. 14 from 9-2 at Pioneer School on County Road 550. You can make a reservation by calling Kari at 773-2165.
GET RID OF OLD COMPUTER EQUIPMENT: An Electronics Recycling Collections Event is set for Saturday, Sept. 15 in the Fine Arts Building at the Ross County Fairgrounds from 9-2. It’s a chance for you to safely dispose of computer and other electronic equipment, including televisions. Charges range from $35 for a big-screen TV to $2 for printers and scanners and $5 for monitors. There’s no charge for videotapes, CDs and cell phones. If your business or organization has a great deal to dispose, call 774-3793 to pre-register for early disposal.
ADENA PLANS SPECIAL TOURS: “Barter and Buy” tours of Adena Mansion and Gardens on Saturday, Sept. 15 are designed to enable guests to learn more about the economics during Ohio’s frontier days. Guest can become a character such as a servant, tenant farmer or a member of the Worthington family. For more information on the schedule and all activities, call 772-5100.
ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED: The Gift Post at 601 E. Main St. is celebrating its 4th anniversary next Friday and Saturday from 10-4. Refreshments will be available and there will be daily drawings for prizes. Each purchase will come with a gift.
SAFETY PICNIC: Many members already have registered to attend the kickoff picnic of the Ross County Safety Council Thursday. Milestone Lodge off Debord Road is the site for the luncheon that is free to members and counts toward the requirements for the discount program. Check it out: Safety picnic
YPN INTO HEALTH: Drs. Joe and Brandy Spaulding of Spaulding Chiropractic and Sports Therapy present the program Thursday for the Young Professionals Network. Those ages 21-45 are invited to attend at the Chillicothe Country Club beginning at 5:30. Admission is $5 and a cash bar will be available. A speed networking exercise also is on the agenda.
ACTIVITIES ABOUND THIS WEEKEND: The Southern Ohio Storytelling Arts and Music Festival, Gallery Stroll downtown, Bishop Flaget festival and what seem to be countless other activities are available today and all weekend. To get all the details, click here for the calendar of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
VENDORS LICENSES: Here’s who’s received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:
- Steve’s Village Inn, 30 N. Main St., Kingston.