Social activists earn awards, recognition
By Danielle Hale | Mar. 19, 2014On Wednesday night, United Campus Ministry (UCM) honored individuals and organizations in the community for their efforts in promoting peace and justice in the community.
LOCAL
Staples closing its doors at 225 stores
By Kelly Fisher | Mar. 19, 2014As the digital age takes over our everyday culture, it forces both small and corporate businesses to make adjustments to fit the needs of consumers. To instead meet business necessities, officials from office-supply giant Staples Inc. recently announced that the company will downsize.
Mayor unconcerned by Mill, High fests
By Hannah Yang | Mar. 19, 2014Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl had one reminder for citizens and Ohio University students: stay safe during Fest Season.Although it’s still relatively early, Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said during Wednesday’s press conference there haven’t been many reports of excessive rowdiness from last Saturday’s Mill Fest.“It’s the first of a series (of parties),” Wiehl said. “It’s still early in the season.”Police said the turnout for Mill Fest was a “big increase,” and arrests by Ohio University Police Department and Athens Police Department were up to 39 from 29 the year before, according to previous Post articles.Yet, some students still said they enjoyed Mill Fest because it did not get shut down until 6 p.m.“Well, my close girlfriends live at 117 Mill so they had our friend DJ and it was a lot of fun,” said Nora Lydon, a junior studying communication studies. “They had two kegs and that’s what I did.”Wiehl said he was relatively surprised by the number of attendees during Mill Fest, but didn’t find the festivities to be an extreme danger to anyone partying on the streets and doesn’t expect High Fest to be any more or less disruptive than the other planned fests, such as Palmer Fest, which will take place Saturday, Mar. 29.“High Fest has been pretty mellow in the past,” he said. “I think a lot will depend on the weather. It’s not (usually) as warm as last week, so I don’t know about Saturday.”Another OU student said she does not expect High Fest to be out of hand. “Depending on the weather, I’m sure if it’s nice it will be crazier,” said Gabriella Marrison, a junior studying communications. “High Fest to me is usually the tamest out of all of them.”Wiehl also touched on how there weren’t too many reports of vandalism. However, he did say he was concerned with the amount of the litter that accumulates. There were also concerns with the amount of money the city spends on safety during fest season.Wiehl said that Athens had spent an estimated $50,000 across various departments during the fests in spring 2013.“It’s a little disconcerting when that money could’ve been used elsewhere for the city. It’s always looked to be used elsewhere,” he added.Lydon said she is one of many students who are planning on attending High Fest on Saturday.“I don’t know anyone that lives on High Street this year, so I’m hoping to run into friends, which I always do,” she said. “(I) will still have a good time.”Marrison said she isn’t sure if she will be attending High Fest yet. However, she advises other students to know their rights and keep safe.“Make sure to bring water and to make sure you don’t get dehydrated,” she said. “Stay behind the sidewalks and ask before you pet the horses.”@hannahmyanghy135010@ohiou.edu
Federally-funded grants that help improve communities may find permanent home for Athens Farmers Market
By Olivia Bower | Mar. 18, 2014As Athens County prepares to apply for a series of federal grants, officials are picking their priorities for what they think the area needs.
Athens businesses offer birthday specials to customers
By Tiffany Touville | Mar. 17, 2014From free sandwiches to cake-flavored shots, many Uptown eateries and bars offer discounts on popular items for customers’ birthdays.With the popularity of bars in Athens, there are, of course, many birthday drinks that newly-turned 21-year-olds can enjoy legally.Lucky’s Sports Tavern, 11 N. Court St., is one bar where Bobcats celebrating a birthday can find a special libation.That drink is the chocolate cake shot, comprised of Ketel One Citroen vodka and Francesca’s Hazelnut liqueur. After newly-legal drinkers take the shot, they’re given a lemon covered in sugar for a chaser.“Somehow, it tastes like chocolate cake,” said Dan Stephens, a Lucky’s employee.Bailey O’Brien and Will Pachan, employees at The Pub, 39 N. Court St., mentioned the bar has a shot purely for revelers celebrating their 21st birthday. The shot, dubbed “Liquor Don’t Lie,” contains Sambuca, tequila and hot sauce.The Crystal, 34 N. Court St., offers birthday boys and girls the opportunity to take on the shot in an unconventional way.Nick Wood, a Crystal employee, said the shot-ski is a slightly more popular way patrons celebrate their birthday. Groups of four sit at the bar and simultaneously take the shots from glasses fixed to a single ski.Other local businesses’ birthday specials are of a more informal nature. Some restaurants have deals or special promotions they offer only when customers specifically say it’s their birthday.Although Court Street Coffee, 67 S. Court St., doesn’t have a birthday specials policy that is set in stone, Sam Adams, an employee, mentioned the coffee shop will sometimes provide a free medium drink to students who come in with proof that it’s their birthday.If birthday celebrators are looking to get a bite to eat, they need look no further than Habibi’s Restaurant, 19 S. Court Street. Danny Mercurio of Habibi’s said those coming in to celebrate their birthday can get a special combo with any sandwich and two free sides for a dollar less than the original sandwich price. Plus, they can get free baklava.Souvlaki’s Mediterranean Gardens, 9 W. State St., echoes this by giving regular customers a free baklava or another sweet.Some other local businesses have more established policies on celebrating birthdays of customers.The Pita Pit, 8 N. Court St., allows members to register for a free membership and earn rewards through that program — one of which is, of course, a birthday special.“If you register for the Pita Card online, you will be emailed a card redeemable for a free pita within seven days of your birthday,” said Adava Gerace, an employee at the Athens location.The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., also offers a membership perk for birthdays.At the most basic level — the “Scorsese level,” which costs $55 for adults and $50 for senior citizens — and all successive membership levels, moviegoers are given the gift of free admission to any movie of choice on their birthday, according to Jordan Froomkin, assistant manager at The Athena.In order to capitalize on all these birthday deals, of course, Bobcats should be sure to carry their IDs to prove it really is their birthday.@tiffanytouville tt315212@ohiou.eduThis article originally appeared in print under the headline "Businesses celebrate customers’ birthdays"
Athens restricts use of city-owned vehicles
By Suhyeon Park | Mar. 17, 2014Despite recent reports of public officials in the country abusing city-issued, take-home cars, the City of Athens sees only a third of the employees taking home cars as it did five years ago.
Glouster man changes plea in stolen property case
By Kelly Fisher | Mar. 17, 2014One of the three Glouster residents connected to an October murder case appeared in the Athens County Common Pleas Court last week and changed his plea to guilty of two charges of receiving stolen property.
No hearing for bakery about liquor license
By Emma Ockerman | Mar. 17, 2014After weeks of both fierce opposition and support from Athens residents, the owners of Fluff Bakery & Catering might soon be able to have their cake and eat it too — perhaps with a glass of Chardonnay on the side.
Farmer selfies gain fame
By Kelly Fisher | Mar. 17, 2014When a team of journalists from The Irish Farmers Journal came up with a photo contest for their readers in Dublin, Ireland, they had no idea that the competition would be recognized internationally.
Fluff Bakery’s liquor license no longer faces city-imposed roadblocks
By Emma Ockerman | Mar. 17, 2014After weeks of both fierce opposition and support from Athens residents, the owners of Fluff Bakery & Catering might soon be able to have their cake and eat it too — perhaps with a glass of Chardonnay on the side.
Robert Degarmore, Glouster man connected to murder case, pleads guilty
By Kelly Fisher | Mar. 17, 2014One of the three Glouster residents connected to an October murder case appeared in the Athens County Common Pleas Court last week and changed his plea to guilty of two charges of receiving stolen property.
Athens restricts use of city-owned vehicles
By Suhyeon Park | Mar. 17, 2014Despite recent reports of public officials in the country abusing city-issued, take-home cars, the City of Athens sees only a third of the employees taking home cars as it did five years ago.
Drug-use awareness brings change in teen users
By Suhyeon Park | Mar. 17, 2014Ohio has been fighting the war of prescription painkiller abuse among teens for years. However, a recently published survey suggests those numbers are improving.
Hikers urged to take caution when going out during the newly warm weather
By Kelly Doran | Mar. 17, 2014As Ohio awkwardly begins the transition into spring, hikers face unique challenges to stay safe on historically dangerous trails in the area.
Irish newspaper contest makes farmer selfies go global
By Kelly Fisher | Mar. 17, 2014When a team of journalists from The Irish Farmers Journal came up with a photo contest for their readers in Dublin, Ireland, they had no idea that the competition would be recognized internationally.In order to honor Oxford Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year, “selfie,” Peter Young, reporter for the Journal, sat down with some colleagues to discuss the paper’s “selfie” competition — farmer style.“One thing that I do think you get from the ‘felfie’ photos is the passion farmers have for their industry and the food they produce,” said Maura Fay, online journalist for the Journal.Farmer P.J. Ryan won the newspaper’s contest, as determined by the number of Facebook likes.Since then, photos of farmers with their livestock have spread throughout online, with an entire website dedicated to them.“People have stereotypes about farmers, but when I discovered ‘felfies,’ I realized that farmers needed to be recognized and known for their hard work,” Greg Walbrecq of Felfies.com, a free website where farmers post their ‘felfies,’ said in an email. “They need to show they are young and full of motivation.”Walbrecq’s site has nothing to do with her publication, Fay said she appreciates the promotion of a positive image of farmers.Even though Athens prides itself on farming, Kip Parker, manager of the Athens Farmers Market, said he had not heard of local farmers posting felfies online.Fay’s and Walbrecq’s fathers both farm, so they both share an appreciation for farming, which is expressed in ‘felfies.’“Farmers need to show the world who they really are,” Walbrecq said in an email. “They need to finally be considered because they are the ones who feed the world.”kf398711@ohiou.edu@KellyPFisherThis article originally appeared in print under the headline "Farmer selfies gain fame"
Mill Fest sees record attendance while arrest rates remain high
By Allan Smith | Mar. 17, 2014While the Athens Police Department accumulated fewer arrests at this year’s Mill Fest than in 2013, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said the event saw a big increase in attendance.
Public meeting opens discussion on bike path spur
By William T. Perkins | Mar. 16, 2014The city of Athens held a public meeting Friday to discuss the development of a new bike path spur which will connect the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway to Columbus Road.
Search for local man is ongoing
By Joshua Jamerson | Mar. 16, 2014State and local authorities are still conducting a search for Samuel J. Wiater, the Athens man who was reported missing Thursday night by his mother.
Hikers urged to take caution
By Kelly Doran | Mar. 16, 2014As Ohio awkwardly begins the transition into spring, hikers face unique challenges to stay safe on historically dangerous trails in the area.
Drug-use awareness brings change
By Suhyeon Park | Mar. 16, 2014Ohio has been fighting the war of prescription painkiller abuse among teens for years. However, a recently published survey suggests those numbers are improving.
