Episode 21 of Let's Talk Clermont. Batavia’s 668-home Baumann development clears a zoning hurdle, Milford Schools refinance bonds to save about $1.6M, downtown Milford weighs paid parking, Nestlé Purina funds public safety and more. Then a fun, chat with content creator Amy Donnelly aka Edith Schitt on going viral during the floods, New Richmond’s hidden gems, and small-town grit. Plus a packed Aug 22–30 events guide.
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We've been living in sin so long. All
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Welcome to episode 21 of Let's Talk Claremont. I am your host, Patrick, and thank you for tuning in and listening. According to my analytics, if they're to be trusted, we have, kind of an influx of new listeners last week. So welcome to everybody who's who's new. Let's talk a little bit about what we do. First off, we'll go over some news from around the county, then we'll get into our interview, and then we'll look at some events that are going on that you might be interested in. So with all of that, let's get into the news because there's quite a bit. We're gonna start with the village of Batavia. So the zoning board granted final approval for part of the 668 home Baumann Development, and this was on Tuesday. Now, the Baumann Development, I think we've talked about a little bit in the past, but that's up by the Clermont County Airport.
And if you've been driving through the village at all, you might have seen these signs about no more tax abatement development, something along those lines. This is what that's all about. So the fight over this, traces back all the way to a 2023 annexation attempt and a 2024 meeting, village meeting, council meeting, where a lot of people came and urged the council to reject the development. Some even tried to dissolve the village and if you remember from the last episode, that is something that you can do. The the other thing that I think kind of miffed people was they were trying to make this a referendum, meaning it would go on the ballot, but the council kind of at the last minute switched it to an emergency measure, meaning that it can't, it's not applicable. A referendum is not applicable.
So what are people worried about? Well, first, they're worried that it'll impact services. So the people moving into this new development are only gonna pay taxes on the unimproved value of the land for a set number of years. I wanna say it's something like twenty. It's it's a fair bit of time. The other thing that is concerning people, especially people at the Claremont County Airport, is its proximity to the airport. So I I think both of those are probably very valid concerns. There are still two lawsuits, open around this that alleged open meeting and procedural violations.
And this is preventing the second portion of this development from moving forward. If it does move forward after the suits are resolved, it would need another approval. And I believe the tax abatement still needs village council approval, although there hasn't been a timeline set for that. So, a little bit of controversy going on in the village of Batavia. Next up, we have Milford. Milford exempted village schools refined portions of its 2015 and 2017 bonds. So they were able to lock in lower interest rates of 3.78% while keeping the same final bond maturity date of 12/01/2036.
So what does that mean? Well, it should save taxpayers roughly 1,600,000.0 over the next eleven years. Now if you live in the district and you pay taxes in the district, you're probably not gonna notice the savings a whole lot since it's spread across eleven years. But this was all possible because Milford has a double a two Moody's rating, which is considered high quality, and that rating is shared by only 52 of the 298 school districts that Moody's rates. And you can kinda think of this as a credit score, and this rating is only below triple a and double a one and higher than all of the other Moody ratings. So, good job Milford Village Schools.
Another bit of news from Milford, city council is looking at charging for parking in two city owned downtown lots. Street parking would remain free, but there are some people worried that paid parking is going to push more cars onto the neighborhood streets. There hasn't been a decision made either way, but mayor Lisa Evans said the vote could happen at the next council meeting, which if I'm not mistaken is on Tuesday. So we might have an update for you on this next week. Moving on to Williamsburg and Union Township, the Nestle Purina plant is investing in both of those communities.
They recently announced $39,400, donations in local public safety. So 25,000 of that is going to Williamsburg Township emergency services to upgrade infrastructure and improve response operations. 14,400 is going to the Union Township Police Department for their k nine unit. Some more good news. Got some stuff happening in New Richmond. There's a historic building getting an upgrade. This is on 2383 And 2384 High Street. These are historic sites that once produced beer, liquor, hosiery, and wool. The developer, Michael Collins, he's looking to turn them into a regional event center with museum exhibits, a small brewery, some rentable space for public, private, and corporate functions. And he's already started work renovating it in hopes that parts of the project are gonna be operational within the next five years.
Another bit of news out of New Richmond, the New Richmond Exempted School District has a new cell phone policy. New Richmond High School students will no longer have access to their phones during the school day. Phones must remain off and away during all class periods, class changes, lunch periods, and field trips. Now there are gonna be medical and educational exceptions to this, but those are gonna be determined on a case by case basis. And this is all in response to the State of Ohio's cell phone ban in k through 12 public schools that went into effect on 07/01/2025. We have some stuff going on in Pierce Township.
They are conducting a community survey. The township is looking to understand resident preferences and support levels for various township services and funding methods. So if I was in Pierce Township, I would definitely take this survey because your input is going to help guide future decisions for things like levy proposals, services, the way they deliver services, stuff like that. So if you wanna take the survey, obviously, if you live in Pierce Township and wanna take the survey, you can do that on their website. The township also got an EPA grant. Their service department received $48,116 from the Ohio EPA as part of the h two Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant program.
That is a mouthful. So the grant is going to be used to upgrade a new snowplow truck, and the upgrades are gonna try to cut down on salt runoff. So reducing salt runoff will go a long way in protecting waterways and infrastructures because high chloride levels, which salt is sodium chloride, High chloride levels affect drinking water treatment plants. It corrodes pipes and roads, which, you know, that's why you get your car washed after after snow. And generally, it's just not good for the environment. So that's good news coming out of Pierce Township.
Kind of a light item from Amelia, and I really hope I pronounce her name right, Taylor Jonningman. She's an emergency vet, and she is training for the dry land dog mushing world championship, which will be held in The United States for the first time ever this year. So what is that? If you think about mushing, you think about Alaska. Right? The Iditarod dog sleds, huskies pulling these sleds across, you know, desolate snowscapes. Kind of the same idea, but instead of a sled and in the snow, use a bicycle and the dogs will pull you across dry ground. And she got into this about two years ago with her rescue Siberian husky husky. But she does need some help.
The trails at East Fork are a little too technical for safe dog pulling, so she's trying to clear a trail on her own property, needs a little help removing dense brush and debris. So if you wanna help her, get in touch with her and then go help her clear out some of that brush. And if you do get in touch with her or you know her or you happen to be her, get in touch with me because I'd like to interview her. I sent her an Instagram message. I haven't heard back yet, but that's a really cool thing that she's doing. I have no idea how you get into that, but I'd like or anything about it really, but I'd like to know more. So that is all the news we have for you today and that will lead us right into our value for value podcast. This is a value for value, podcast.
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It helps the show and it helps you because then you'll be alerted every time there's a new show. As always, you can you can get in touch with us, info let's talk claremont dot com. Just send us a note. I always like seeing that little, unread message, icon for my email, and I like getting notes from people. It's fun reading them and, yeah. That's it. That's it's just fun. So get in touch, you know. You know, you got nothing to lose. So let's talk about our interview today. We're talking with Amy Donnelly, a k a Edith Schitt. I actually saw a video of her as Edith during the New Richmond flooding. I thought it was hilarious, but I had no idea what it was all about. She just looked like some kind of crazy person, you know, knee high in water down there. Eventually, she got in touch with Facebook and we set this interview up and it was a wonderful interview. We talk about all kinds of stuff from how she started Edith, how things are going into Richmond, some, you know, hidden gems in New Richmond. Edith comes on for a little bit. We talk about what's going on in the streets, so that was kinda fun.
But overall, I thought it was a fun, funny interview, and I hope you think the same. So, with that said, I hope you enjoy. So, I will start this like I always start everything, and just tell me who you are and what you do. Okay.
[00:13:16] Unknown:
I'm Amy Donnelly. I am a content creator here in New Richmond, and I do play the trailer park goddess, Eat the Shit Mhmm. Given the best, I wanna say, the best comedy down here, but better than some, worse than others. But, I love playing Edith. Like, it's my, I guess, outlet where I get to goof off, kinda be myself, and bring smiles and laughs to others. So how did you start out doing this? Like, how did you even get the idea to do something like that? Okay. So this kinda started off about a year and a half ago when I was with my ex boyfriend. He had an ex his ex wife who was legit crazy. He's got a restraining order against her, and she would blow up his phone. And I saw somebody somewhere on, one of the social medias, someone Edith Schmidt. Yeah. And I was like, that is one of the funniest puns I've ever heard. And I it didn't even occur to me like Schitt's Creek at the time. Yeah. So I was just waiting. Like, she would blow up his phone, and I was just dying for her to call so I could, you know, be like Edith Schmidt and then just so then I came across like, the this wig. This is this is the newer wig. It's bougie now. You have a bougie wig now. This is my bougie wig now.
Anyways, my other wig is god awful, like rat's nest. Looks like it done swam up and down the Ohio River. And, basically, I came across that wig and a filter on Snapchat. It's called, ugly makeup or something. And I was like, oh my god. I've got to do something, like eat a shit as a character. And at the same time, we had the eclipse happening. And people were complaining about their kids being out of school, so I just came I just ran with it. My parents, their neighbor she's a lovely neighbor. She lives in a trailer. So I just kinda just went with it. And I was just going on like, I can't believe they canceled school. And no wonder why these kids think skeet skeet equals, you know, five or something like something like that. And then just kinda slowly grew from there. And then back in April, we had flooding from all the snow and rain and That's actually the first time I saw it. Yes. Yeah. So and I live right there on Front Street. Oh, okay. Up above Eastside Boutique. So if you guys are looking for handmade gifts, it's like a shameless plug. Go to Eastside Boutique.
But I live right above it. And basically, I came down one last time to check on my cats because I wasn't moving my cats because it had been, like, more traumatic for them than just to leave, like, several litter boxes and food and all that. And I was like, you know what? I'm gonna put this Bucky swimsuit on and do an update. And then it just I went yeah. It went viral in a way. But then I had other videos that went viral. I saw it. I I'm not on social media at all. So, it was it was fun. Like, I was like, yeah. I'll just be washing away, you know. Jim Bob, there was a trailer, not a trailer, but a a dumpster that, you know, floated away. And I was like, well, there went Jim Bob or, you know, our trailer's now a houseboat and he had to jump ship and then now he's but so and then once that went, you know, viral and stuff, I wanted to help, with the local information, like help, you know, the emergency services to get the information out. And I covered, you know, what the information people needed, you know, to get assistance. Yeah. Several organizations down here, Masters of Disaster, American Regulators, SITREP, Code three, Search and Rescue, and then Matthew twenty five Ministries.
I mean, all these organizations came down to help. And now not only to, you know, to push their platforms out there, but to show that, you know, there are people that are local. Team Rubicon also came down. But I wanted to show, hey, these resources are here to help, you know, you know, go to, the, Campbell not Campbell County. It's right across the river. A Clermont County, you know, EMA, and and they'll get you in touch with them. And then I kinda you know, I volunteer too with them, help getting, you know, things, you know, cleaned up and stuff. And and it was actually I I don't wanna say it was fun, but it was it was kinda like heartfelt and heartwarming being able to get my community back to where it was before the flood. And it was hard to believe within a month, we had like, a month later, we had the Appalachian Festival down here. You wouldn't even know when a flood had happened. I went, it was really soon after the flood had happened. I interviewed Tom Lemon at the, Artboard Boat Museum. Yes. I love them. I they're great. Yes. They are. Love them. That was an interesting I felt bad, but I I need to get back and interview him. You do need to because another shameless plug, they do the paddle for a cause, and that's coming up in a month, and all the proceeds go to the Clermont County d d, DAV.
[00:18:00] Unknown:
Okay. Well, I'll reach back out to him because I felt bad that I couldn't get him right before the cardboard Mhmm. Boat race. Mhmm. And he also we were sitting there and he just randomly goes, you know, I should call Bob, and Bob can tell you all about different kinds of And Bob, I don't know if you know Bob Lee's. Yes. Very, yeah, very, very close friend of mine. Yeah. And so he came down and and Bob kind of just I don't wanna say he took the interview over, but it was like Yeah. I'm kinda set over here, and then Bob's talking about history. So what he he made Bob do the work is what he did. He did. He made Bob do all the work.
[00:18:30] Unknown:
Like, he knew Bob was gonna do the work. Yeah. Yeah. We love you, Bob. Please. No. Bob is a super interesting guy. He is. He's very interesting. Yeah. Like, he's a he's a wealth of knowledge about New Richmond and and, of course, other things as well.
[00:18:45] Unknown:
So how long have have you lived in New Richmond your whole life? No. I actually have not. I grew up in Alexandria. Okay.
[00:18:51] Unknown:
And then, like, in 02/2006, I well, actually, 02/2004, I, met my ex husband. And in 02/2006, he he joined the army. And I, you know, did the army wife thing for until well, I moved back up here in 02/2019. I mean, we separated at that point in time. So, yeah, from 02/2006, 02/2019, I did the whole army wife thing. How was the army wife thing? You I I don't know anything about it. It's, you know, I enjoyed it. Mhmm. Like, I I know It's gotta be rough though because he's he's they ship him out, and then you're just kinda Yes and no. Like, it's what I love about New Richmond, they remind me of the community I had when I was an army wife, when we lived at the different duty stations.
Basically, like, it's that close knit, like, everybody it's like a village. I mean, literally, it's a village. It takes a village. And so we have that here in New Richmond. And it was kind of like one of those real reasons why I stayed in New Richmond. When I moved back in 2019, my parents, my mom and my stepdad, they live up, you know, just up the hill. And, basically, I did not know being gone for that long, like, what area was still a good area, what school district was still a cool school district. And so at the time, like, it was hard the only thing I was disappointed in about around here is people getting back to you about a rental. Yeah. It takes a while. Like, when you're near a duty station, they are on it, like, you know, flies. Like, shit on flies, I guess you could say. But around here, like, people, it it would take weeks to get back with you. And at the time, I'm like, okay. My kids gotta start school. Right. I gotta get going. Yeah. Like, I need a I need a house. I don't wanna live in my parents' basement forever. Like Yeah. So I finally, you know, rented a house up in Regatta Lights, and it was perfect because the kids, they were in middle school and high school. They could go, you know, walk to school. And then we just stayed. And then they actually went with their like, their dad retired, and I was like, go stay with your dad for a little bit before you become adults. Yeah. Because once you do, you're not gonna have time. And and, basically I mean, they they get to spend time with them while he was active duty.
But I was like, this is your moment. Right. And that's what they did. And I downsized because it's just me and my little guy. A lot of people know him as little man. He's known as Carl when I do Edith because Carl is just you know, don't do that, Carl.
[00:21:18] Unknown:
So so Edith is a family
[00:21:20] Unknown:
family operation. Yes. Well, they they're not a part of it. Okay. So I kinda gave them all nicknames. I need to come up with a new one for my daughter. I don't know why. I just came up with a tragedy because I guess I saw a Facebook group and it like, it's about names where people name Ashley, like, a weird way, like, a s h Yeah. L e I g h or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. And it's just new and Ashley like that in high school. He's I'm sorry. No. That's true. I'm Trisha. She's a very nice person. No. She was. She was really Okay. So there was this Facebook group that that name is a tragedy. And I was like, you know, tragedy just stuck for some reason. So I got Jimothy, tragedy, and Carl as my characters.
[00:22:03] Unknown:
And I like
[00:22:04] Unknown:
Jimothy. And, so and I just those, like, I just rant, like so my older kids are not much for the pictures and videos, so I respect that. Yeah. Carl, on the other hand, he is like the spotlight sometime. Like, he is the star of the show. So with that being said, it was just little man and I. I don't I didn't need a big house. I didn't wanna build a yard. You know, anymore. Yeah. I downsized to a two bedroom apartment here on Front Street. And I, I mean, I absolutely love New Richmond, the community. It's you know, like I said, it does take a village. We have a new chief. I don't know if you've seen that now. Oh, no. I actually on the episode came out today. Oh, did it? Really? That was part of the news in the beginning. Oh, okay. So I love how the fact he calls us the village people. Does he really? Yes. He calls us the village people. I love it because when you when you listen or you see the pictures that you have the different types of people, and that's literally how we all are down here. We're the village people, the different characters, the different, I think it's something about the river. It is. I think it's I think I've turned into a river. Edith is now a river rat.
[00:23:13] Unknown:
She is now river rat. I didn't I didn't wanna say river rat, but I don't know. I think there's something about the river that just draws
[00:23:20] Unknown:
all different kinds of characters. It does, and it's great, and I love it. And I think that's the other thing that reminds me of New Richmond is when you're, like, at the different duty stations, we all it was kinda like different characters. You got to meet so many different people, and I loved it. And that's what I that that's another reason why I love it down here Yeah. Is all the different characters. It just I don't know. I guess I kinda, you know, found my home Yeah. In a way. Yeah. Yeah. I feel the same way about Batavia and just the county in general because, like, I I think I told you earlier, I grew up in Middletown and bopped around the country
[00:23:54] Unknown:
doing different things. Yeah. I don't know if there's just something about the landscape and the people. Yes. Like, everybody I've interviewed is just very, very passionate about what they're doing in the county and trying to make it better. Yes. Everybody's nice to you. Mhmm. And it's not to say that that isn't true in Middletown, but
[00:24:14] Unknown:
and it was just different here. Yes. It is. I mean, there are people that don't like me, and I just you know? That's fine. You know, I just say Edith shit. Yeah. So and with that, I just like, you go on a different you know, I guess people might be insulted, but Edith calls Clermont County the Florida of Ohio. Because I always do believe that there's an every not Covington, though. Yes. That that's probably the Florida of Northern Kentucky. Kentucky. Like, I saw, you know, this joke how every state has that one county that's the Florida of that state. I could be wrong about Clermont County. It could be in a little bit further
[00:24:52] Unknown:
northeast. But Well no. Because I've heard the saying, anything South of Columbus is basically Kentucky. Yeah. So that kinda cuts everything north of Franklin County all Yeah. Those are just those are Northerners. And then I don't know. I I could I could make a case for Butler County coming from Middletown
[00:25:11] Unknown:
or, I think we all could. Yeah. Like, every I mean, then again, your county, like, each county has Southwest Ohio is like The Florida. Of Ohio. Yeah. Yeah. We'll put it that way. And I've always said Florida like, Ohio's Florida of the Midwest. Yeah. Yeah. I could see that. Because on the news, it's always a Florida man's story or an Ohio man's story. It was
[00:25:31] Unknown:
this was years ago, but it was it made national news somehow. It's a Middletown story. Mhmm. Some crazy lady dressed up in a cow outfit and was, like, mooing in Downtown
[00:25:44] Unknown:
Middletown. They had to arrest her. Oh my god. There was some big old lady dressed just It wasn't me, guys. It was not me. I I assure you it was not me, but it might be something I might do
[00:25:54] Unknown:
down here in New Richmond. Wait a minute. Wasn't like a character or Yeah. It was just some nutty lady, and it was all over the news. I'm like, yeah. I'm that's my hometown. That's where I grew up, where all the crazy ladies are. That's too funny. So you're you're pretty close to the river here. You were you affected by the flooding? Oh, yes. Yeah. We're, like, down here,
[00:26:17] Unknown:
I can't really tell you. I can't remember how like, at the Green Kayak, they got some water, Becca and Steve. They, I mean, they they busted their butts trying to, you know, reopen. They were, you know, down giving updates. So that was great because it kinda gave me an idea. Our building actually barely got any water in it Really? Compared to, like, the one on the corner right there. They got water in it. I think ours is the way the the flooring is. It's up a little higher. I know the VFW. I think they said they had, like, 12 to 18 inches of water in there. So a lot some of it some of them, you know, they did get a lot of water in them. Some of them, they did not. It's kinda interesting how the rip I mean, I guess, maybe how the land is settled or Yeah. How it's, you know Or just sheer dumb luck. That too. Yeah.
So but I from my my landlords told us, basically, we get flooded in. Yeah. And then, you know, when you're flooded in, you can't get in or out. Yeah. And some people like, oh, I'm staying. I'm staying. And they would ask me, are you staying? Like, no. No. Like, I don't I mean, Edith has done some dumb shit. I am not about to be the one on the news saying, you know, going on, you know, describing the flood without the teeth in my mouth and braless, and they had to come save me because I decided I was just gonna stay. Right. No. I I mean, I have my children, so I feel like I just could not I I and also as I was also a former former first responder.
I you know, out of respect for them, I did not want them to have to risk their lives to come rescue me Right. Which, you know, the people don't think about those things. Yeah. So but yeah. So, yeah, we were affected. It wasn't horrible. We were lucky. I am glad that it wasn't as worse as like it was in Texas. Yeah. That was Well, that's scary. I mean, that Devastation.
[00:28:15] Unknown:
Flash flooding. I saw a video of it, and it's just seconds. Yes. Seconds. And the water's up, and it's rushing. And people people don't realize about that flash flooding, the water Energy behind it. And It's not really water. It's like a mix of dirt and trees. Trees and concrete almost. It's Yes. Extremely dangerous. And, actually, I was we were we were one of our duty stations was Fort Hood,
[00:28:37] Unknown:
and that was not too far. And I've been to some of those areas. And it was just I mean, after going through this, like, I was in tears, like, crying. And and then my ex husband and I, we still have a house in, Kempner, Texas. And the river there was flash flooding. Like, it was, like, 30 some feet. Normally, it's only, like, four feet. Yeah. And not even that because in Texas, it's been such a drought. And I'm like, okay. Like, what's what is it with me and floods this year? Like, our house. But thankfully, our house was like a mile upriver, and we didn't have to worry about it. But, so, yeah, this year was not great for flooding in need of. So Where in Texas did you live? I worked in Karnes County, right South of Houston. Oh, so we lived actually, I lived in parts of San Antonio for a little bit. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And then, Fort Hood. Yeah. And then, like, Kempner, Texas. It's in, Coppers Cove. It was, like, probably, like, twenty minutes from Fort Hood, if that. I lived in El Paso at Fort Bliss, so we did a great time in Texas. Yeah. Yeah. I I miss it. I loved it too. The only thing I didn't like because I worked on, I studied geology in college.
[00:29:48] Unknown:
And for a while, I worked on oil rigs. It's like a geology tech down in Texas. I loved it. I loved it so much. The only thing I hated was the heat. Like, I just can't
[00:29:59] Unknown:
I can't do the heat. So there is people really think if you're in Texas that it's all dry heat, but it's not. So pretty much As soon as you get towards the coast. Right? Yeah. The closer you got to the coast, it's like humid like this. It'll be a 100 degrees and a 100% humidity, and you're just like, oh my god. It's humidities out here. Yeah. So, basically, I wanna say the further west you went, it got drier. Like, probably like, El Paso, it's dry. If you sat in the shade, it actually felt 30 degrees cooler. Yeah. And you really didn't have the humidity to just, like, make you feel like, oh, like, you know, like here. Because here, it's it's been hotter and and and and moister than a billy goat in a pepper patch. But, so, yeah, it's it's different.
[00:30:44] Unknown:
I feel like I'm in a pepper patch. So it it's been spicy this summer up here. Yeah. It has been. So my wife is, is pregnant. She's actually Oh, congratulations. Thank you. She's due Friday, next Friday. Oh, boy or girl do you know? A boy. Timothy is gonna be the name. Right? Vincent. Vincent. Oh. Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny. Oh, that is beautiful. Yeah. That is beautiful. And he's got a his brother is Dominic, so we're very happy. We're gonna have Dom and Vinny, the Vinny, the Vinny Oh, that is so cute. We went we went pretty Italian with it. I can't remember. Oh, no. So she said the one season she never wants to be pregnant is summer.
Oh, bless her heart. Does never wanted it. I've, yep. And it was she we found out in November. She was the best. And not on top of that. We yeah. I keep seeing weather reports and things. It's like the hottest summer in twenty years. Yeah. It's been, yeah, it's been pretty warm. So so thank you, Katie, for for all that you're
[00:31:43] Unknown:
Yes. All that you're doing. I I my heart goes out to you because I did a summer at Fort Hood, Texas with my middle daughter, and it was rough. Yeah. Like, I just stayed in front of the AC van the the entire time. Like, just come on. Come on. Just So how many how many kids do you have? I have three total. Okay. So it's we got Carl. That's actually Matthew. He's five. And my daughter, Audrey, she is, she'll be 18 next month Okay. On the third on, yeah, the thirtieth. And then my oldest boy is Nathan Okay. And he's 20. Okay. He's a he'll be 21 in February. Nice. Yes. How's the how's the five year old boy? We're dealing with a five year old girl right now, and
[00:32:25] Unknown:
Olive is
[00:32:27] Unknown:
an insane person. It's it's like she has all the emotions of a grown woman, but none of the restraint of a grown woman. Yes. I think it's because toddlers are they're not really toddlers, but at the age, they're learning how to regulate their emotions. Yeah. And they don't know how. And it's sometimes you're pulling your hair out, and then sometimes all you can do is just laugh. Yeah. Just laugh because you're just like, okay. Yeah. This is what we're gonna do. Okay. He is actually very chill. He's I mean, he is, like, my little, I guess, mini me in a way, like, when it comes to personality.
But, like, he the way he he'll talk to you, like, he's a 30 year old man. And some of the sayings he comes up with, and he's just like, that came out of your mouth? And, so I I posted it on Facebook, and and I do sometimes post what he says. And he's like, mom, what's 1 mil what comes after two million? I was like, two million and one. And he goes, well, that's a pretty good answer, but that's wrong. And I'm like, okay, buddy. You're you're you're going places. It might not be college, but you're going places. It'll be somewhere. You'll wind up somewhere.
[00:33:40] Unknown:
It might not be Yale.
[00:33:42] Unknown:
Yeah. It just might be. I don't know.
[00:33:44] Unknown:
Olive looked at this was, a couple months ago. She looked at my wife, Katie, and she said, mom, I already know everything because I know about the weather. Oh, boy. Yeah. So we don't have to send her to school anymore. She knows about the weather.
[00:34:01] Unknown:
You're gonna save money. Yeah.
[00:34:03] Unknown:
So much like, much like your boy. Olive's going places. I'm not sure where. There. I'm just going I'm terrified she's gonna show up one day on the back of some guy's Harley. I'm just oh, no. Oh, no. I mean, a Harley a Harley can be fun. There's gentlemen that ride with their I'm hey. I'm not saying that that's bad. I just Hopefully, you know, he's got a good job. Motorcycle.
[00:34:25] Unknown:
Yeah. You're right. Yeah. I I get it. You know? Because, unfortunately, people do not pay attention to motorcycles, which by the way, another shameless plug. Watch out for motorcycles. Yeah. Are you big into motorcycles? Not really big, but I enjoy, you know, riding, you know, on a motorcycle. I don't I don't drive one. No. But riding was fun. It's fun. It's kinda like you're carefree. Like, it's just and it's beautiful, especially when it's not so hot, like, in the spring Yeah. Or the fall. It's a great time to get on the bike and just go. It's like an open road, and you just, you know, you're not distracted by your cell phones or anything. You just you just go. Yeah. You just get on and go, and then wherever you end up, you end up. Yeah. So I get the I'd I've never driven or ridden on a motorcycle because it terrifies me.
Yeah. I'm I'm a bit It is it can be scary because you're always you're always kinda like Especially on the highway. Like, I Yeah. Did you get on the highway? Occasionally. We hardly did. We mainly did the back roads, but you still I mean, you would keep your your head on a swivel, like, you know, three sixty just constantly. You have to pay attention when you're on the bike because, yeah, people just others are not paying attention. Do you ever get on those,
[00:35:35] Unknown:
like, sportier bikes? No. No. Okay. That's not like that. Seem Yeah. Death traps. They do. A friend that has one. Yeah. And I'll shout out to Logan if he's listening.
[00:35:45] Unknown:
Hi, Logan. Hi. Be careful on your sports bike. Watch out for others.
[00:35:51] Unknown:
No. But you're right. Motorcycle I and I'm guilty of it. Like, sometimes I'll just won't be paying attention, and then, like, a split second, I don't know there's a motorcycle out there. It is. I mean, even a car, just, you know, pay attention to people. So that not to disparage people with motorcycles. That that was not what I meant. I just she's my little girl. I don't want her on a motorcycle. I I want her in a big SUV wrapped in bubble wrap Yes. And
[00:36:17] Unknown:
preferably going less than 20 miles an hour. Well, good luck. Yeah. Because with my older children, no. No? No. No. Did it work out? No. No.
[00:36:27] Unknown:
So what else do you do around here besides, besides Edith? Uh-huh. It seems like you got your fingers in a couple different pies. I do. Like, it's probably too many slices of pies.
[00:36:36] Unknown:
I've been trying, which I haven't done, is do a spotlight on a business, which I gotta do one next week. I, like a month ago, I actually broke my foot. Oh, yeah. So I've been kinda dealing with that. I I like promoting the different things that go on in New Richmond to help bring people down. So that's what I love doing. I love social media. I have fun on it. You could follow me on Facebook. It's Amy Donway. Or you could put an Edith Schitt, and it's spelled s c h I t t. You could probably follow, you know, follow me, but I will say my Facebook, I am a menace to society on Facebook.
But I do I do like, you know, getting information out, you know, that people might need, that might help them. I gotta, oh, get with a girl with OhioMeansJobs and kinda, you know, I wanna do something with them. I also, you know, I just started doing the social media for the new restaurant, Landy Casa del Rio. That's been fun. What else do I do? Like, I also I'm the executive assistant of WTF Nation Radio, a veteran's podcast. We are the voice of US Army WTF moments. So, I mean, I kinda you know, like you said, I've got several different things going on. It keeps me pretty busy, actually. So what are
[00:37:54] Unknown:
like, if I'm gonna come to New Richmond and, you know Yes. Whether you wanna pro like, whether you're paid to promote it or not. What are some kind of, like, the hidden gems that people don't really know about?
[00:38:06] Unknown:
That is a there's so many things here that are hidden gems from the restaurants to the stores to the. I do have to say the biggest thing is if you come down here, do the tour of the Underground Railroad Museum. Okay. You can there's, at Eastside Boutique, there's a map of it. You can go to the oh, I'm drawing a blank right now. The the house that's the museum, Brainfart. They're open on the weekends. They have a they're part of the tour. You can get a map there. Bob Leeds actually, does the maps. Renaissance Stew. Richmond? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So he like, I they do that. So and with that, I highly if you're a history buff, I would definitely do that tour.
If if food wise, they're all so good down here. Like, Bucks, I love their burgers. I love a good burger. So, I love going there, and they make everything fresh. The Green Kayak, they have awesome bar food. I love their potato skins and their chicken quesadillas. I also love, their pizza. Yeah. Yeah. We just like, she's got a patio space. She's got like, her pizzas are they're very, very reasonably priced. We had my son's birthday party there in the back patio. We had a great time. The yeah. So we did that. I would go there for like, if you're having a, you know, a a big family party, that would be a great place to go, especially if you want pizza or, even just bar food, finger food. And they always have, they have trivia tonight. Like, I won't be at trivia. I I'm horrible at trivia. I love trivia, but I'll never win.
And then, of course, shopping wise, there's the Eastside Boutique, like I mentioned earlier. They've got handmade gifts in there, and some vintage items. There's also mister Grimm's that's right here. Like, you you can easily miss it, but it's right in the Springer House. He's got, like, your retro vintage, like, toys and and stuff like yes. I did I didn't know any of these places existed, to be honest with you. Yes. And then, of course, there's the river River Village Shops. They've got the antiques. There's some in, vintage and handmade items in there as well. And then, of course, Landing Casa del Rio, they just opened up. If you're wanting in an outdoor dining experience, that would be the place to go. It sound it sounds like Mexican food. I'm assuming that's what it is. There there's some Mexican. It's like Tex Mex. It's a bar and grill pretty much. Yeah. Yeah.
And then their sister restaurant is El Burrell. That that's all Mexican food. Both of them have great margaritas. Front Street Cafe, they're currently closed because they're doing renovations. So, if you're wanting, you know, a great, like, upscale type of dinner and experience, that would be a great place to go. Their projected date to, do a re grand opening is this October. I'm trying to think. There's New Richmond Distilleries. There's actually I don't know if you knew that or not. Like a distillery distillery? Yes. Really? So After we're off of here, you're gonna have to give me some of these contacts because I would like to talk to a distiller. Yes. So, they've got the Grant,
[00:41:15] Unknown:
whiskey. I didn't know. Really? Yes. And it's very good. Are you a whiskey girl? Do you like whiskey? I do like
[00:41:21] Unknown:
bourbons. Yeah. It's it's actually up there, like, with Woodford, I think. Really? Close to Woodford. Yeah. Woodford's a good It is. Pretty good whiskey. Yes. So, and they have the vodka too. So Okay. And, they're vodka. I tell you what, you put it in your stuff, you will not know it's there. And you go to stand up, and you're you're staying the night if you sit down. And and, but so they're only open on the weekends right now. They right. They have their bottling room, which is right across the street from Houseman Park. Okay. So but they're getting ready to open up here in the front, like, a bar. And I I believe it's gonna be, like, a bar slash restaurant.
So and then, of course, I don't I think they're projected this fall. Okay. Hopefully, they'll get that up and going. And Edith is gonna probably make her rounds, you know, and and get her drink on there when she's got money. When her monthly draw comes in, miss Rushdie. So but there's so many different, like, little things here that people don't know about. There's Holy Beans Coffee, which is great because I you know, I got a suggestion on Facebook to interview them. Yes. You should. And I think I think I emailed them.
[00:42:31] Unknown:
I don't know. I'll I'll talk to you about all that Okay. After the episode. So with that,
[00:42:36] Unknown:
I love what I love living right on Front Street is I can literally walk to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich. They have great breakfast sandwiches. You know, people talk about
[00:42:45] Unknown:
big cities like that. You know, it's like, oh, I can wake up and I walk here and I walk there. I don't know if a lot of people realize you can get that same experience Just coming here. In towns like this for
[00:42:56] Unknown:
probably a quarter the price. Yes. So, basically, there's Actually, don't come here. Stay. No. No. Please do. Please come. Please come visit us. We have Visit. Visit. So basically, there's a lot of Airbnbs and what a lot of people do Are there really? Yes. At the Springer House, there's one. There's one above Holy Beans. I'm trying to remember the other ones. So if there's a big event in Cincinnati, they'll get an Airbnb here Yeah. Yeah. For, like, a quarter of the price of the hotels. Yeah. And they they discover and they come back to New Richmond to visit because they loved it so much. Because, yes, they can get the Airbnb, and they can walk to these little restaurants and bars and shops. And and, and they have the river view, which I was gonna say, it's also like we're sitting here in the park, and it's beautiful. Like, it's a beautiful river view. You can't beat this view at all. Like, you can't. Like, I mean, yeah, you get the view in Cincinnati, but it's also you got the
[00:43:52] Unknown:
But you also got everybody else in Cincinnati. Yes. Yes. You got you got cars and noise. Yes. And here it is. That's somebody who loves Cincinnati. I mean, I lived in Cincinnati for years. Yeah. I love Cincinnati.
[00:44:03] Unknown:
And it's the only place where you can have a three way with your mom and it not be weird, or a three way with your boss at lunchtime and not get fired. But so with that, like, down here, you can actually take a nice quiet stroll along the river when the sun's setting or when the sun's rising. And you don't like you said, you don't have that noise pollution. Yeah. And, and sometimes it's just I don't know. It's just so peaceful and I love it. We're getting right they're getting ready to redo our riverfront here. I was wanting to ask you about that. Yes. Because they just unveiled the the plans for it. Right? Yes. That's been years in the making, hasn't it? It has been. So we've got the grants. They're fixing the start. So it's not gonna cost the city anything to do this. Right? No. Okay. It will, I believe. I'm not sure on that. Don't quote me on it. The best person to ask if anybody has questions is reach out to Catherine Bailey. She's the village administrator and she'll be able to answer questions. So they're gonna I believe the whole project is that it's grant money Yeah. That we have gotten.
[00:45:02] Unknown:
And it I I think it's going to be a great project. I think are they trying to do that with a bunch of different city? Because I know Ripley's got something similar going on. And I believe
[00:45:13] Unknown:
Manchester did, and I can't remember the other cities that, you know, were awarded the grant. But they're trying to revitalize these river towns. There's they're just rich in history and and it like, a lot of them, they've died or they're they're dying, and they're trying to bring back. It's part of Appalachia.
[00:45:30] Unknown:
Yeah. And That's what Bob was saying when when he was on the podcast that it that a lot of people don't realize that this is classified. It was either Bob or Greg Roberts, but this is
[00:45:39] Unknown:
Appalachia. It is. And we're, like, at the, you know, very foothills of Appalachia. But there's like I said, there's so much rich history in it. And, like, these towns like, when the river traffic, that's the main thing we're doing because of you know, that's what they use was the river for their traffic. But now, I guess, since, like, flooding and and economics and now these towns has kind of died off. But the same thing happened,
[00:46:05] Unknown:
I mean, all across the Rust Belt. But coming from Middletown, that's kinda what happened. I mean, AKA well, I guess it's Cleveland Cliffs now. But, you know, when the mill was doing good, things were great. Mhmm. When the mill wasn't doing good, things weren't so great. Yeah. And then just over the years, you know, they moved all their executives out of Middletown. Mhmm. And so it just it wasn't what it was. The downtown dried up. And then Middletown is not gonna it's not going anywhere. Yeah. It It's not gonna be like how it was in its heyday. No. No. No. No. And that's I think I talked a lot about this. One of the things, so we'll wait for that.
[00:46:41] Unknown:
Speaking of bikes Speaking of bikes
[00:46:44] Unknown:
It's actually a pretty Harley. Is it really I didn't see it. A little bit yellow. Yeah. But I was told one of the things I love about not just oh, hang on. We'll wait till he's okay. One of the things I love about not just this part of Ohio, but Ohio in general, is the Rust Belt. Yeah. There's so many of these small towns that are forced to reinvent themselves. And so and everybody's kinda doing it in different ways. Mhmm. So you get you get to see great successes. Like, I would probably say New Richmond is. It's getting there. It's getting there. And but but, I mean, it's doing better than some and then I don't know. I just I really like how people are trying to reinvent Mhmm. These towns. And I and it's great because, like I said, it's the village. It's takes a peep it takes a village. And
[00:47:30] Unknown:
even if you look at Milford and Loveland and how they've
[00:47:33] Unknown:
revamped it Yeah. I mean, they're they've been working on their stuff for a long time. Well, even the like, you look at Old Milford and Mhmm. I mean, that place is, granted, it has the luxury of being in Milford, which is very close to the city and Yeah. Other affluent places, I guess you'd say. But,
[00:47:48] Unknown:
I mean, it's still like a charming downtown. It is. You know? And so, I mean, Old Lavalin is. I haven't been there in a while. But people don't realize as New Richmond, you're literally fifteen minutes to twenty minutes from Downtown Cincinnati. Yeah. It's that short of a drive. Yeah.
[00:48:04] Unknown:
And that's most of these places out in Clermont. Like, that's what we love about because we were in well, I guess not Felicity. Once you get out towards Felicity It's a drive. It's a little more country out there. But, I mean, it's thirty minutes from Batavia to downtown Mhmm. Cincinnati. It's, you know, ten, fifteen minutes to the grocery store. But where we live, it feels like we're in the middle of nowhere. Yeah. And it's great. And that's one thing I love about New Richmond. I get the, you know,
[00:48:30] Unknown:
country atmosphere feel and not live in, you know, in a big city. Because, I mean, I've lived in a big city. I mean, El Paso. It's probably maybe a little bit bigger. Well, it's not a huge in Texas too. Yeah. I don't know if El Paso is anything like Houston, but I was blown away. Yeah. Just
[00:48:46] Unknown:
but, like, the strip malls, you take a strip mall that you think about in Ohio,
[00:48:50] Unknown:
and the Texas strip malls were like that times a 100. Yeah. They're just everything is gigantic. Yeah. Down there, they really they they have your regular indoor malls that are dying, but they've literally turned them into giant, like it's a mall, but it's, like, just outdoor mall. Yeah. Yeah. Like, a big strip mall. I mean, I think they have a different term for it or not down there, but,
[00:49:10] Unknown:
but it's kinda crazy how they do it. And they're beautiful. I mean Oh, yeah. No. I mean, Houston and I was in Dallas for a little bit. I mean, they're both beautiful cities. The highways were terrifying
[00:49:19] Unknown:
because everybody's got the Texas Cadillacs Yeah. Going, like, 80 miles an hour. Yes. And it it's like the minimum speed limit in the majority of Texas is 70 miles an hour. Yeah. Like, that's just here when it was a transition from driving up here down there to up here because I'm like, oh my god. This is so slow. And then, like, they're they're toll roads. Yeah. So the minimum speedway I mean, speedway speed limit, it is a speedway pretty much, on on the toll roads is 80 to 90 miles an hour. Yeah. Like, you're in like, I'm not saying you're in NASCAR mode when you get on there, but, like, you're going pretty fast. No. I'd yeah. But that was one of the things that and I think in Houston, there's, like, six eight lane highway they're, like, six to eight lane highways. Oh, yeah. It's just And if you get on the highway and your exit's, like, literally the next exit, just don't even try. Yeah. You're just you're you're you're you're gonna go down the next exit and then just, you know, whip a UE and then and then come back up.
[00:50:23] Unknown:
So I think I'm I'm running out of questions a little bit. Is there anything else about New Richmond that people don't know about that they should know about?
[00:50:30] Unknown:
Oh, that's a good question. So there's a Houseman Park. Like, you know, you can That's where we're at right now. Yes. Beautiful little park. I guess what's nice is we have Dora down here. I didn't know you guys had a Dora. Maybe I didn't know. Yeah. We are a Dora Those Dora's, I think, are really helping these downtown. They are because, I mean, and, like, what was crazy is when they started Dora here in Ohio, they acted like it's all this big thing. I mean, yeah, it is a big thing. I'm like, we were doing this in Texas for a long time. Yeah. Honestly, in the college, I was doing it in Ohio. Yeah. So, I mean, not in the legal matter, but legal, but Yeah. I was still doing it. So what's nice is you don't like, when you're down here, you don't wanna be stuck in a bar to drink your drink. Yeah. Like, it's great that you get a Dora cup. You have your beer or your cocktail or your wine, and you could just stroll up and down and enjoy the view.
So, yes, we are a Dora District. There's always so many festivals, you know, throughout the year down here. The app we're the home of the Appalachian Festival now. Then we have What was that? I missed that this year. It was awesome. I loved it. There was a lot of, you know, history behind it. Yeah. The theatrics behind it. There was, often, a great bands and music. There was, you know, different you know, I love how the reenactments, like, my little, you know, Carl or Matthew or whatever you little man, whatever you wanna call him. He, like, loved the reenactments of of stuff, like, being hands on.
There were so many different vendors that were at you know, it's like neat like handmade unique items. And it it was a it was a several day festival, Mother's Day weekend. So people it it was a very nice weekend. And then also on top of that, like, there was River Days. They changed the date on that. They bumped it up to Memorial Day weekend because everybody wanted the rides. Yeah. And that was the only weekend we could get the rides was that. And and it was they they actually did pretty well this year. And the the it was like it's kinda like they just kicked off summer with with that festival. Yeah. And then, fourth of July weekend, we always have FreedomFest. Yeah.
So with FreedomFest, we have the fireworks that come down. Next year, it's gonna be a big one. It's gonna be the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of America. So just, you know, pay attention to, you know, social media and stuff with new merchandise. Getting a mural? That I are we? That's news to me. Well, I know I I don't know how many people are doing. Bethel's got one. Well, that would be awesome if we did. I don't know where they would put it. I mean, Edith if they want a mural, Edith can paint it. It ain't gonna be, you know, the greatest, but, you know, just show They could do a mural of Edith. Yeah. Like, in my bucky swimsuit and a mullet, you know, holding a Busch Light can.
Another thing oh, so the next festival, there is the River Arts Festival, which is the October. Nat's here in Hauserman Park along and they're partnering up with oh, another thing is it's called Second Saturday. Okay. And that Eastside Boutique does that. And every second Saturday from June until October, there's vendors here in Hauserman Park. And, usually, it's vendors either from the boutique or vendors that she knows. So on October, I believe it's eleventh, the second Saturday in October. Normally, there's Taste of New Richmond, but I don't know what's going on with that because of the renovations. But I know that part of that event is still going on. Yeah. October 11 is the River Roots Art Festival and the, East Side Boutique second Saturday. They're they're still gonna do their thing.
What else? And then Fall Bash is October 25. It's more kid friendly where we'll have trunk or treat where they do the moonlit witches dance Okay. Or they choreograph a dance and dance together down the street. And it it we haven't put out a whole lot information out because we're not too sure how the construction of the riverfront is going to affect that. Start that? It's supposed to be end of this month. Soon. Soon. I'm waiting from you know, to hear from Catherine to do you know, to be a part of the groundbreaking, actually. And then what else? So those and then there's a Christmas walk in December that they always do.
So those are the big main events that are down here. But if you either I have a Facebook page called New Richmond events and activities. It's actually a group people can join. Yeah. If you join that group, you can get on there and you can see the majority of the new local events that are happening. And then also speaking of gems, a hidden gem, it's the River Roots, plant. Oh, I I always it's River Roots. It's down across from the Landing, Casa Del Rio. It's the cutest. If you are a indoor plants type of person, if Oh, so it's like an actual like a plant store? Yes. My wife wants indoor plants. They have all sorts of, like, different indoor plants that you can get. I know some people are, I guess, if if if if if if if if if if she if she if she or what how do you say? If shenado. That's it. There it is. Yeah. See, that's that's my Kentucky education coming through.
So they have art in there and they have their plants. It's River Roots Plant Shop and Gallery, and they are fixing to have their one year anniversary. And that is this Saturday. So if you're not doing anything this Saturday, join them at eleven. And they will, my son, my five year old loves that store. He loves plants. So that is yeah. Out of all so weird the things kids just Yeah. They they just hone in on, and that was one of them. It's kinda weird, but I'll give you another quick Olive story.
[00:56:26] Unknown:
Since she's basically been able to walk and talk, my wife and I have been trying, like, we put her in dance, we put her in in jiu jitsu, we've done, like, swim all these different things to try to find something that she'd be interested in. Randomly, last Saturday, my wife took an embroidery class to, like, sew embroidery stuff.
[00:56:43] Unknown:
Olive loves it. That's awesome. You can't get enough of it. And lot like It's like of all the things in the world Like sewing. Embroidery. Embroidery. Sewing. I mean, like, my I sew and stuff, and my mom taught me how to sew. So it it I mean, it's to me, it's kinda like my my I don't know. Mostly getaway, but my my art type thing. Yeah. My my creative like, crocheting, cross stitching, all those kind of things. I think it's, you know, just kinda that nice, repetitive, relaxing Mhmm. You can sit zen type thing. Zen. Yeah. You can sit and watch TV, which Yeah. You know, I don't have time to do anymore stuff again, which I need to because people, like, ask me about shows and that. I'm like, I don't know.
[00:57:24] Unknown:
Like, don't watch it. Sorry. I don't know how people find the time for it, so I guess they might not have kids or something. But I don't know. I mean, I get to the end of my day. And I've been working, and I've been dealing with a five year old and a Yeah. Two year old, and it's just like, I'm done. Yeah. I'm it's time for bed. And then, usually, they have patrol the TV, so I don't get to sit and watch. I can't tell you how many times I've watched Sing. I liked a good movie, but I could probably quote it to you verbatim.
[00:57:49] Unknown:
Oh. Oh, it was like that with, Trolls. Trolls was one of his favorite. Frozen Olive had a big frozen kick. Did she? Oh, yeah. He his was dinosaurs and Blippi. Oh my god. What is why does Blippi sound familiar? Don't look it up. I've okay. Don't don't introduce your kids. I mean, it's it's it's a very it's a good kids programming, but Blippi, like, just Does it drive you a little batty? Yeah. It's kinda like their version of our Pee Wee Herman. Oh, okay. Okay. So I'm I guess, this is, like, our, karma for making our parents Pee wee Herman. Pee wee Herman. It blippy.
[00:58:28] Unknown:
Boy, that's an odd movie too, the Pee wee Herman movie. Yes. And he passed away not too many ago. You know, I've actually heard there's a really good documentary. Really? About him. Like, and he's in it. And he's I think he notoriously he's very, very private. Yes. And so and I think he was also uncomfortable with fame when he also had that Yeah. Run of bad luck. I guess it wasn't bad luck. But, I've just heard it's a really good documentary. Okay. I interviewed him and so if you're a big Pee wee Herman fan I wish I could remember the name of it. Okay. I I'm pretty sure if you I Google Petey Petey.
[00:59:02] Unknown:
Petey Herman? Oh, boy. We're going down that road. I'm just kidding. Are you sure that Bushlight can is it recently empty? Or It was last night empty. I'm just it's leftovers now.
[00:59:16] Unknown:
You know what I do like about Bushlight is you can really taste the value. Yes.
[00:59:20] Unknown:
You can. You can. When you're broke, it's
[00:59:24] Unknown:
it's Busch Light. I mean, there's Keystone and there's I was always a Pabst guy. Yes. I loved Pabst. You know what? Actually since I've had Pabst. And so I've been when I was in college, everybody drank that. Mhmm. And then we discovered Natti ice, and it was That's it. Exact same price with, like, double the alcohol. So as, like, an 18 year old guy, it's like, this is perfect. Yeah. But I discovered Pabst in college, and to this day, it is, in my mind, the best cheap beer you can you can get on the at least one of them. And then all the hipsters started drinking it. And the price went up. And it not only did the price go up, but then everybody would look at you like you're a hipster. And then I would tell them, like, no. I liked Pabst before it was cool. And then everybody would look at me like I'm an Uber hipster because I'm trying to make it sound like I was into this before everybody else.
It was Bushlight it is now. Well, yeah, I'm just gonna go to Bushlight or Keystone or something.
[01:00:21] Unknown:
Remember the Keystone commercials? I don't. Oh, they were hilarious. Like, he acted like he was a superhero, and he had, like, a his whatever, like, 15 pack of Keystone, which is, like, actually it is cheaper than the 12 pack of Pushlight or yeah. Yeah. But they're like, Google them. It's yeah. They're pretty good, actually.
[01:00:38] Unknown:
I will have to Google those. I didn't know that they ever I didn't know that they had to. I I've never seen a netty. Oh, I think they did have some netty, like, commercials. I think so. It's been a while, probably. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely not during the Super Bowl. No. Nobody. Street. No. I mean, they might be. I don't know. Well, I think so unless there's anything else you wanna plug.
[01:01:00] Unknown:
And if Edith would like to to come on for a minute and Yeah. We we can do Edith. Okay. Alright. Just, I guess, let me get into character. Okay. Well, Edith, how are you? I'm it's like I said, it's hotter than a and moister than a billy goat in a pepper patch today. Yeah. You where did you live in a trailer park? Yeah. Right here down on the river. Do you have AC there? Is it No. No? No. Jim Bob, he he won't fix it. He said that, you know, open the windows is God's AC. Yeah. And I don't agree. No. Then when it's real hot in there, how do you because your makeup looks pretty good. Well, thank you. I mean, I'm sweating. It's I'm surprised it's still on. I guess I just I don't actually, it's it's really good. I splurge at Ulta sometimes. Yeah. And I get some primer in that because, you know, the blue eye shadow, I'm trying to get it to come back. Like, Mimi from that one show with Drew Carey. Hot not not hot in Cleveland.
I think it was called the Drew Carey Show. The Drew Carey Show. That's it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the hot in Cleveland Show, that's a pretty good one with that, you know, bless her heart, you know, the late, Betty White. But, anyhow, I'm trying to bring the, you know, blue eyeshadow back in style. Well, I think it's working. You think so? I do. Do you have any,
[01:02:15] Unknown:
I guess, tips?
[01:02:17] Unknown:
Makeup tips? Makeup tips? Because, I mean, you Honey, if you got it, flaunt it. Don't don't you know what? Just do your makeup how you wanna do it. That's all I gotta say. Like, my my eyebrows are on point today. I just draw them back on. You know, I've kind of shaved them off a few times. So now or plucked them way too many times and they just grow and whatever. So I gotta draw them back on. But anyway, so just basically go with what you wanna wear. And then, you know, the primer eye primer is very good for your to get the blue eyeshadow to stick. Yeah. Yeah.
[01:02:50] Unknown:
So I've noticed
[01:02:52] Unknown:
I mean, I guess I don't wanna say you're out here in the streets. Yeah. I'm on the streets. Living that life. Living that life with my bush light and my cigarettes. I forgot my cigarettes. I'm kinda feening right now, but I'll go get me some Paul Malls when we're done. Paul Malls? Yeah. Oh, man. They're you know? My grandmother smoked Paul Malls. Well, Albert, I think sounds like we should be friends. See, oh, there there comes my ride. There comes your ride.
[01:03:16] Unknown:
So I wanna ask you before we, before we end everything.
[01:03:20] Unknown:
Like I said, you're out here in the streets, you're living that life. What have what's going on in New Richmond? What what's the word on the street? What's what are people up to? What are people up to? They're up to no good. It's been a shit show. No. I'm just kidding. It hasn't. It's been it's been it New Richmond's been great. Yeah. Every I mean, not everybody loves me, but, I mean, I try to, you know, keep everybody laughing down here. The biggest thing is is I'm gonna miss it is this wall. This wall made me famous. They're about to tear it down. Yeah. The wall. The red one.
Made you how did it make you famous? Oh, when I, when it flooded and I put a Buc ee swimsuit on. It made me famous. And you shop at Buc ee's a lot. Oh, I love Buc ee's. Yeah? Yep. He's he's my beaver boy.
[01:04:06] Unknown:
What's your favorite part about Buc ee's?
[01:04:08] Unknown:
It's the whole experience down there. It is like a vacation without having to really go to Florida. Like, you just go there to shop and experience. You get to meet the beaver. You know, him and I are just one of a kind. It's the food. It's, you know, it's just an all out experience in the bathrooms. They're a lot cleaner than my bathroom in the take on trailer. I don't know how they do it. I mean, I can't keep the get the kids or Jim Bob to clean up after themselves. And and I I don't know how many times I've threatened them all if they keep peeing on the toilet seat. I brush, you know, clean it with their toothbrushes, and they they still just do it. Jim Bob do? Yeah. Jim Bob do. Especially after two, like, cases of bush light at the night, and he can't find a d gone toilet.
[01:05:00] Unknown:
Well, I think I am out of questions now.
[01:05:02] Unknown:
If you wanna plug anything or let people know about anything. So everybody, you could follow me on Facebook as Amy Donnelly, or you could just, you know, type in Edith Schmidt, and you could follow me on Facebook. Instagram, I'm on there as your not so classy mom and same as TikTok. And then my I'm also on threads, which if you don't know what that is, it's kinda like Facebook's version of Twitter. That's why. Yeah. It's kinda weird, isn't it? It's interesting. So I'm on there too. Don't mean to interrupt you. Is that working for you very well? It's it's okay. It's kind of a newer platform. I'm trying to learn it. I I mainly mnemonic because of Wendy's.
Okay. They're whoever does their social media marketing is savage. They're geniuses.
[01:05:44] Unknown:
Yeah. They're geniuses.
[01:05:46] Unknown:
Like, my cousin actually works. They troll every Everyone. And I love it. My cousin was
[01:05:52] Unknown:
he was like a vice president of marketing for Wendy's. Yeah. He was very, very high up in their marketing department. I can't remember. I need to ask him about that because whoever does that. I don't know. First off, I don't know how Wendy's how they how they, like, got that through the Wendy's corporate. Like Yeah. We're just gonna be crazy trolls. Yeah. We're just gonna be a menace to all the restaurants out there.
[01:06:16] Unknown:
Yeah. No. I mean, there's they're savage. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. No. No. You're fine. But is that they're That's one of the reasons why I have threads so I can look at Wendy's every day. I mean, they're even savage on Twitter and Facebook. All of it. Like, all of it. Yeah. But yes. So, but yeah, like, if you're wanting to learn more about New Richmond, follow, Renaissance New Richmond, follow the Village of New Richmond, their Facebook page. You can, like, join my Facebook group, the events New Richmond activities and events group.
I'm trying to think other great places to find information about New Richmond. I think that's really it. And then, of course, if you follow all the restaurants and businesses down here, they like to post about what's coming up and stuff. Becca at the Kayak's very good at posting events. And so is Landing Casa del Rio. They're good about posting events. So is Eastside Boutique and Bucks. So, yeah, if you follow all of their, you know, their Facebooks, they'll they'll, you know, you'll be able to, you know, kinda get the what's what, what's going on down here. And, of course, me, I'm always trying to post what's going on down here as well.
[01:07:23] Unknown:
Cool. Well, Amy slash Edith,
[01:07:26] Unknown:
it's been a pleasure. Same. And I'm gonna call it a successful podcast. I I say it was too. Just winging it. Just winging it. Winging it.
[01:07:45] Unknown:
Well, thank you again to Amy and to Edith, for coming on the show and for doing the interview. Like I said in the intro, I really enjoyed the conversation. I thought it was fun and funny and informative. I mean, she talks a lot about what's going on in New Richmond and some of the places that are, you know, fun to go to, good to eat at, stuff like that. So and we're definitely gonna get her back on for, I suppose, what you could take what you could call a a shit take and just, you know, hear what's going on. She seems pretty plugged into that, New Richmond community and she loves it, as most people do from New Richmond. It seems like they've got a really good good little town down there.
So with all that said, let's talk about some events. We've got Hooten and Hollerin' night hike. This is gonna be on August 22 from 09:30PM to 10:30PM at the Keeley Nature Preserve and I hope I'm pronouncing that right. If I'm not, somebody let me know. If it's Keeley Nature Preserve, you know, please let me know. I don't wanna sound like an idiot. But this, the Hooten and Holler night hike is gonna be a guided after dark nature hike. There'll be a naturalist there and they'll help you listen to and identify the sounds of nocturnal wildlife like bats and owls and toads and things like that.
It is family friendly and free. Next up, we have a Loveland community rummage sale, August from 9AM to 3PM at 201 Riverside Drive in Loveland. Pretty straightforward. It's a community rummage sale. So there's gonna be tons of sellers. They're gonna offer a wide variety of secondhand items and treasures. So if you like, you know, garage sales and yard sales, stuff like that, head over there on the twenty second and twenty third. Bean and Brew Friday social, August 22 and August, and that will be from 4PM to 8PM on both dates. This will be at the Bean and Brew in Batavia, and it's just an informal gathering. It is hosted by the Claremont County Democratic Party, so there is a slight political slant to it. But that said, if you go, you can just enjoy coffee and conversations.
You can drop in any time. It's free. It's open to everybody, and no RSVPs are required. Next up, we have natural clay outdoor pottery on August 23 from 11AM to 1PM at Sycamore Park. You'll take a short cry hike to a creek bed, dig in the bed, collect some natural clay, and then you'll go back to the shelter area to build your very own piece of pottery. All the materials are provided and whatever you make will be kiln fired off-site after the event, so you probably have to come back and pick pick up your pottery. It's all free, but you do have to register and you can do that on the Claremont Parks website.
Next up, we have the East Fork Ultra Trail Races. This is gonna be August. So it starts Friday early morning and it'll run all the way into early Sunday. That's right. It's like a twenty four to thirty hour race. It's gonna be at East Fork State Park. It's the third annual multi distance ultra marathon that that they've got there. So there are four different distances that you can run. You can do 100 miles. That's 100 miles, which seems insane. You can also do a 100 k, which is kilometers. And then freedom units, I'm pretty sure that's about 50 miles. There's a 50 k, which, again, in freedom units, I think is around 25 miles, and a 15 mile race.
As a kind of an aside, I actually did a 25 k kinda ultra marathon trail race type thing this last Sunday. I don't know if I'd say it was fun. It was painful, exhausting. I did it with a friend. Shout out to Jeff who roped me into that disaster. But I've heard it described as type two fun. Type two fun is the kind of thing where it is pretty awful when you're doing it, but when it's all done, you look back on it very fondly. So and even if you know you're not trained or anything like that, give it a shot. You know, it's always good to get yourself outside your comfort zone and and do something challenging, and it's rewarding afterwards. So if you're into that, I would check that out.
Next up, there's a public stargaze at Stone Lake State Park on August 23. It'll start around dusk, which is about 08:30PM, and it'll be at the beach parking area of the state park, and it's free. It's hosted by the Cincinnati Observatory's volunteer astronomers. There's gonna be tons of telescopes, and they're all available for public use. They'll be you can see star clusters, nebula, galaxies, and other cool space stuff. All ages are welcome. Don't need any equipment or any experience, but do check the weather because obviously, if it's cloudy or raining, you can't really see the stars and they'll cancel it. So next up, we have Kiwanis Club of East Fork region is holding an open house on August 26 from 6PM to 8PM at the Batavia Village Hall. It's free. And like I said in the beginning of this, it's an open house, but hosted by the newly formed Kiwanis Club serving Eastern Clermont County.
And, if you know anybody in the Kiwanis Club that has just been formed or I guess any Kiwanis Club, let me know because I think they'd be a cool interview. With that aside out of the way, residents of Batavia, Williamsburg, Bethel, New Richmond, all the surrounding areas, you can come and learn about the Kiwanis, all their service projects, you can meet their club members, you can hear about upcoming initiatives, and they're gonna have some light refreshments. So that's that's nice. There is an RF RSVP requested by August 24 and you can do that at the Claremont Chamber of Commerce website, But they also say the walk ins are welcome. But, you know, it's always polite to RSVP.
Next up, we have a trash blitz volunteer cleanup on August 27, 5PM to 7PM at Sycamore Park in Batavia. This is a community science and park cleanup event. So you'll get to use the trash blitz mobile app, and you'll log litter and cleanup progress across the park. All the supplies are provided, so stuff like bags and gloves, you don't need to bring those. And they say it's free, which I should hope it'd be free if you're volunteering to pick up trash. I don't know who charged you to do that. I suppose it's possible. But you do need to register and you can do that at parks, the Claremont Parks website.
Creek Days at the Park on August 29 at 1PM, Sycamore Park. This is a free program and you can just drop in whenever, bring your kids, and you can play in a creek, you know, with some unstructured supervised play in the creek. It is, great to get out in nature especially for your kids and you can explore aquatic life and it'll help you cool off on what has been a unusually warm summer. You do not need to register, but bring some water shoes, something like Crocs or rain boots, something like that. Oh, I'm sorry. Crocs or rain boots are not recommended, but just wear some shoes that you can get wet. You don't wanna walk around with soggin wet shoes all day.
Next up, we have dog days of summer dog hike on August 29 from 6PM to 07:30PM at the Keeley Nature Preserve. And please, somebody tell me if I'm pronouncing that right. This is a guided evening hike with your dog. There'll be a scavenger hunt with some small prizes, and then after that, you can let your dog go play around in the creek. It is free. You do not need to pre register. Just bring your dog on a leash and, enjoy nature filled fun. We have some live music at Harmony Hill Winery on August 29 with Anita and the Daves. It's gonna be from 5PM to 9PM, obviously, at the Harmony Hill Vineyard and Estate Winery.
Admission is free. You can obviously buy some wine and food if you go there. And it's just an evening of music with Anita and the Daves, and they perform an eclectic mix of folk and classic rock, and it's gonna be at Harmony Hills Outdoor Amphitheater. They also tell you to bring lawn chairs or a blanket. There'll be some wine tastings, which sounds kinda tasty, and you can bring your own picnic snacks, which I think is kinda nice. It is family friendly and small leash dogs are allowed, so leave your Rottweilers and Great Danes at home for this one. Shape of Nature morning walk on August 30 from 9AM to 10AM at East Fork State Park. This is a free program led by a naturalist from the Ohio State Parks, and you'll just discover shapes, colors, and textures in nature on a gentle morning walk. It's good for families and amateur nature photographers.
And they say, you'll never look at leaves, rocks, and clouds the same way again, which I suppose could be a good or a bad thing. I guess it just depends. You do not need to register and all ages are welcome. Last but certainly not least, Leafprints at East Fork on August 30 from 10:15AM to 11AM. This is gonna be at East Fork State Park Nature Center. It's a free event. You'll go on a nature walk, gather up some leaves, and then make your own leaf print to take home. All the materials are provided and you can bring your kids and they can learn about tree identification and I like this bit of copy here, while making a messy masterpiece.
I feel like a lot of kids are good at making messy mass my house is a messy masterpiece, made by my kids. In any event, you don't need to sign up. And if you're a parent, you do need to accompany your young children because, hopefully, it goes without saying, you can't just, you know, drop your five year old off at East Fork and tell him to go pick up leaves. And if you can do that, also let me know because I'll have a fun new activity for Olive. So those are all the events that we have. Hopefully, something there, you know, peaked your interest and you'll get out there and and take advantage of some of these great events. But with all of that, it is time for another value for value pitch because we are a value for value podcast.
And what that means is if you find value in what we're doing, we just ask for a little value in return in the form of time, talent, and treasure. For time and talent, let us know what's going on in your community. What should we be talking about? Let us know who you wanna hear interviewed. Who should we be talking to? And like I said in the intro, in particular, if you know anyone or you yourself are a candidate for public office this November, Come on the show. We'd love to talk to you. We'll give you, you know, honestly, as long as you want for the interview, and you can just tell people who you are and why you're doing it and make your pitch. I'm happy to provide a platform for local candidates to do that because I feel like there aren't a whole lot of platforms for them to do that.
As far as treasure goes, we live on donations. They're gonna kinda make or break us. So if you go to the website, let's talk clairmont.com, hit the donations tab, You can donate via PayPal or Stripe. Either one's fine. Either both take multiple forms of payment, and any dollar amount is great. If it's $5, wonderful. If it's $10, great. If it's $10,000 well, if it's $10,000, I don't know. We'll do something very special for you. But we really appreciate any support that you can show us. It helps us do what we do. It helps us keep finding new stories for you. Helps us find helps us keep finding fun people to interview, you know, find events that we we can inform you about. It's important. It'll it'll help us keep us going, and we greatly appreciate it. But for donations, $50 and above, you will get a special mention on the show. And for donations, $200 and above, you will become an executive producer for that show. And that is a valid credit that is that you can use and I will vouch for, and you you use it on LinkedIn, you can use it on IMDB, your resume, whatever you wanna do. Like I said, I'll vouch for you. We'll also read a note from you live on air. I guess not live, but on air.
And a note about the note, like I said in the beginning, if you do donate $200 or above, please email info@let'stalkClaremont.com with your name, donation amount, and note so I can link that up on the back end. And the notes can be anything. It could be a funny story. It could be you just getting something off your chest. It could be an ad read for your business. I don't know why I'm pushing this so much. I think I kinda wanna read a nasty gram from somebody on air. But if you just wanna if you wanna donate $200 to the show and then write a note about how awful it is, what we're doing, you know what? I will read that too.
And you can connect with us on Facebook, Let's Talk Claremont podcast on Instagram at Let's Talk Claremont, and we have a newsletter. Please sign up to it. I'd I'm kinda proud of what we put together with this newsletter. Go to the website, let'stalkclairemont.com, click newsletter, and you just put your email in, and you're good to go. We're we're only gonna email you once a week when the show comes out, let you know that there's a new show, and we'll go into the news items a little bit more. We'll link out to the specific news article so you can read a little bit, you know, if applicable, if there is an actual article. If if not, that obviously won't happen. But it'll give you a chance to, you know, to read a little bit more about some of the news, that you're interested in.
And please follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or whatever it is you happen to use for podcasts. It helps the show and helps you because you'll be notified when a new show comes out. And oh, as always, if you just wanna send a note about anything at all, info@let'stalkclairmont.com. I always love seeing, that little unread icon, and I just you know, it's like getting mail. It's fun to get mail. It's fun to hear from people, and, I always enjoy it. So I, unfortunately, don't have any ollivisms to end the show with today. The little the newest edition, Vinny, has been, not necessarily a handful, but, you know, he's a baby. There's we're kinda trying to figure out our new routines and so that's been busy. And Olive's at kindergarten all day. So we don't really, she's not around as much as she used to be. But I'm gonna have my head on a swivel for more holovisms because I like doing those.
So that is the end of today's show. I appreciate you listening. I appreciate everybody's support, and we will see you next time.
We've been living in sin so long. All
[00:00:21] Unknown:
Welcome to episode 21 of Let's Talk Claremont. I am your host, Patrick, and thank you for tuning in and listening. According to my analytics, if they're to be trusted, we have, kind of an influx of new listeners last week. So welcome to everybody who's who's new. Let's talk a little bit about what we do. First off, we'll go over some news from around the county, then we'll get into our interview, and then we'll look at some events that are going on that you might be interested in. So with all of that, let's get into the news because there's quite a bit. We're gonna start with the village of Batavia. So the zoning board granted final approval for part of the 668 home Baumann Development, and this was on Tuesday. Now, the Baumann Development, I think we've talked about a little bit in the past, but that's up by the Clermont County Airport.
And if you've been driving through the village at all, you might have seen these signs about no more tax abatement development, something along those lines. This is what that's all about. So the fight over this, traces back all the way to a 2023 annexation attempt and a 2024 meeting, village meeting, council meeting, where a lot of people came and urged the council to reject the development. Some even tried to dissolve the village and if you remember from the last episode, that is something that you can do. The the other thing that I think kind of miffed people was they were trying to make this a referendum, meaning it would go on the ballot, but the council kind of at the last minute switched it to an emergency measure, meaning that it can't, it's not applicable. A referendum is not applicable.
So what are people worried about? Well, first, they're worried that it'll impact services. So the people moving into this new development are only gonna pay taxes on the unimproved value of the land for a set number of years. I wanna say it's something like twenty. It's it's a fair bit of time. The other thing that is concerning people, especially people at the Claremont County Airport, is its proximity to the airport. So I I think both of those are probably very valid concerns. There are still two lawsuits, open around this that alleged open meeting and procedural violations.
And this is preventing the second portion of this development from moving forward. If it does move forward after the suits are resolved, it would need another approval. And I believe the tax abatement still needs village council approval, although there hasn't been a timeline set for that. So, a little bit of controversy going on in the village of Batavia. Next up, we have Milford. Milford exempted village schools refined portions of its 2015 and 2017 bonds. So they were able to lock in lower interest rates of 3.78% while keeping the same final bond maturity date of 12/01/2036.
So what does that mean? Well, it should save taxpayers roughly 1,600,000.0 over the next eleven years. Now if you live in the district and you pay taxes in the district, you're probably not gonna notice the savings a whole lot since it's spread across eleven years. But this was all possible because Milford has a double a two Moody's rating, which is considered high quality, and that rating is shared by only 52 of the 298 school districts that Moody's rates. And you can kinda think of this as a credit score, and this rating is only below triple a and double a one and higher than all of the other Moody ratings. So, good job Milford Village Schools.
Another bit of news from Milford, city council is looking at charging for parking in two city owned downtown lots. Street parking would remain free, but there are some people worried that paid parking is going to push more cars onto the neighborhood streets. There hasn't been a decision made either way, but mayor Lisa Evans said the vote could happen at the next council meeting, which if I'm not mistaken is on Tuesday. So we might have an update for you on this next week. Moving on to Williamsburg and Union Township, the Nestle Purina plant is investing in both of those communities.
They recently announced $39,400, donations in local public safety. So 25,000 of that is going to Williamsburg Township emergency services to upgrade infrastructure and improve response operations. 14,400 is going to the Union Township Police Department for their k nine unit. Some more good news. Got some stuff happening in New Richmond. There's a historic building getting an upgrade. This is on 2383 And 2384 High Street. These are historic sites that once produced beer, liquor, hosiery, and wool. The developer, Michael Collins, he's looking to turn them into a regional event center with museum exhibits, a small brewery, some rentable space for public, private, and corporate functions. And he's already started work renovating it in hopes that parts of the project are gonna be operational within the next five years.
Another bit of news out of New Richmond, the New Richmond Exempted School District has a new cell phone policy. New Richmond High School students will no longer have access to their phones during the school day. Phones must remain off and away during all class periods, class changes, lunch periods, and field trips. Now there are gonna be medical and educational exceptions to this, but those are gonna be determined on a case by case basis. And this is all in response to the State of Ohio's cell phone ban in k through 12 public schools that went into effect on 07/01/2025. We have some stuff going on in Pierce Township.
They are conducting a community survey. The township is looking to understand resident preferences and support levels for various township services and funding methods. So if I was in Pierce Township, I would definitely take this survey because your input is going to help guide future decisions for things like levy proposals, services, the way they deliver services, stuff like that. So if you wanna take the survey, obviously, if you live in Pierce Township and wanna take the survey, you can do that on their website. The township also got an EPA grant. Their service department received $48,116 from the Ohio EPA as part of the h two Ohio Rivers Chloride Reduction Grant program.
That is a mouthful. So the grant is going to be used to upgrade a new snowplow truck, and the upgrades are gonna try to cut down on salt runoff. So reducing salt runoff will go a long way in protecting waterways and infrastructures because high chloride levels, which salt is sodium chloride, High chloride levels affect drinking water treatment plants. It corrodes pipes and roads, which, you know, that's why you get your car washed after after snow. And generally, it's just not good for the environment. So that's good news coming out of Pierce Township.
Kind of a light item from Amelia, and I really hope I pronounce her name right, Taylor Jonningman. She's an emergency vet, and she is training for the dry land dog mushing world championship, which will be held in The United States for the first time ever this year. So what is that? If you think about mushing, you think about Alaska. Right? The Iditarod dog sleds, huskies pulling these sleds across, you know, desolate snowscapes. Kind of the same idea, but instead of a sled and in the snow, use a bicycle and the dogs will pull you across dry ground. And she got into this about two years ago with her rescue Siberian husky husky. But she does need some help.
The trails at East Fork are a little too technical for safe dog pulling, so she's trying to clear a trail on her own property, needs a little help removing dense brush and debris. So if you wanna help her, get in touch with her and then go help her clear out some of that brush. And if you do get in touch with her or you know her or you happen to be her, get in touch with me because I'd like to interview her. I sent her an Instagram message. I haven't heard back yet, but that's a really cool thing that she's doing. I have no idea how you get into that, but I'd like or anything about it really, but I'd like to know more. So that is all the news we have for you today and that will lead us right into our value for value podcast. This is a value for value, podcast.
What that means is that if you find value in what we're doing, all we ask is for a little value in return. That can be in the form of time, talent or treasure. For time and talent, get in touch. Let us know what's going on in your community. Let us know who we should be talking to. And I made a Facebook post about this, but in particular, if you or anybody you know is running for political office in the county, I wanna talk to them. It's a nice long form interview. You can talk about who you are, why you're running, what your platform is, and it'll let people, you know, get to know you better, which I think is is hard for local candidates to do in in a in a long form format, so we wanna provide that platform for them.
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It helps the show and it helps you because then you'll be alerted every time there's a new show. As always, you can you can get in touch with us, info let's talk claremont dot com. Just send us a note. I always like seeing that little, unread message, icon for my email, and I like getting notes from people. It's fun reading them and, yeah. That's it. That's it's just fun. So get in touch, you know. You know, you got nothing to lose. So let's talk about our interview today. We're talking with Amy Donnelly, a k a Edith Schitt. I actually saw a video of her as Edith during the New Richmond flooding. I thought it was hilarious, but I had no idea what it was all about. She just looked like some kind of crazy person, you know, knee high in water down there. Eventually, she got in touch with Facebook and we set this interview up and it was a wonderful interview. We talk about all kinds of stuff from how she started Edith, how things are going into Richmond, some, you know, hidden gems in New Richmond. Edith comes on for a little bit. We talk about what's going on in the streets, so that was kinda fun.
But overall, I thought it was a fun, funny interview, and I hope you think the same. So, with that said, I hope you enjoy. So, I will start this like I always start everything, and just tell me who you are and what you do. Okay.
[00:13:16] Unknown:
I'm Amy Donnelly. I am a content creator here in New Richmond, and I do play the trailer park goddess, Eat the Shit Mhmm. Given the best, I wanna say, the best comedy down here, but better than some, worse than others. But, I love playing Edith. Like, it's my, I guess, outlet where I get to goof off, kinda be myself, and bring smiles and laughs to others. So how did you start out doing this? Like, how did you even get the idea to do something like that? Okay. So this kinda started off about a year and a half ago when I was with my ex boyfriend. He had an ex his ex wife who was legit crazy. He's got a restraining order against her, and she would blow up his phone. And I saw somebody somewhere on, one of the social medias, someone Edith Schmidt. Yeah. And I was like, that is one of the funniest puns I've ever heard. And I it didn't even occur to me like Schitt's Creek at the time. Yeah. So I was just waiting. Like, she would blow up his phone, and I was just dying for her to call so I could, you know, be like Edith Schmidt and then just so then I came across like, the this wig. This is this is the newer wig. It's bougie now. You have a bougie wig now. This is my bougie wig now.
Anyways, my other wig is god awful, like rat's nest. Looks like it done swam up and down the Ohio River. And, basically, I came across that wig and a filter on Snapchat. It's called, ugly makeup or something. And I was like, oh my god. I've got to do something, like eat a shit as a character. And at the same time, we had the eclipse happening. And people were complaining about their kids being out of school, so I just came I just ran with it. My parents, their neighbor she's a lovely neighbor. She lives in a trailer. So I just kinda just went with it. And I was just going on like, I can't believe they canceled school. And no wonder why these kids think skeet skeet equals, you know, five or something like something like that. And then just kinda slowly grew from there. And then back in April, we had flooding from all the snow and rain and That's actually the first time I saw it. Yes. Yeah. So and I live right there on Front Street. Oh, okay. Up above Eastside Boutique. So if you guys are looking for handmade gifts, it's like a shameless plug. Go to Eastside Boutique.
But I live right above it. And basically, I came down one last time to check on my cats because I wasn't moving my cats because it had been, like, more traumatic for them than just to leave, like, several litter boxes and food and all that. And I was like, you know what? I'm gonna put this Bucky swimsuit on and do an update. And then it just I went yeah. It went viral in a way. But then I had other videos that went viral. I saw it. I I'm not on social media at all. So, it was it was fun. Like, I was like, yeah. I'll just be washing away, you know. Jim Bob, there was a trailer, not a trailer, but a a dumpster that, you know, floated away. And I was like, well, there went Jim Bob or, you know, our trailer's now a houseboat and he had to jump ship and then now he's but so and then once that went, you know, viral and stuff, I wanted to help, with the local information, like help, you know, the emergency services to get the information out. And I covered, you know, what the information people needed, you know, to get assistance. Yeah. Several organizations down here, Masters of Disaster, American Regulators, SITREP, Code three, Search and Rescue, and then Matthew twenty five Ministries.
I mean, all these organizations came down to help. And now not only to, you know, to push their platforms out there, but to show that, you know, there are people that are local. Team Rubicon also came down. But I wanted to show, hey, these resources are here to help, you know, you know, go to, the, Campbell not Campbell County. It's right across the river. A Clermont County, you know, EMA, and and they'll get you in touch with them. And then I kinda you know, I volunteer too with them, help getting, you know, things, you know, cleaned up and stuff. And and it was actually I I don't wanna say it was fun, but it was it was kinda like heartfelt and heartwarming being able to get my community back to where it was before the flood. And it was hard to believe within a month, we had like, a month later, we had the Appalachian Festival down here. You wouldn't even know when a flood had happened. I went, it was really soon after the flood had happened. I interviewed Tom Lemon at the, Artboard Boat Museum. Yes. I love them. I they're great. Yes. They are. Love them. That was an interesting I felt bad, but I I need to get back and interview him. You do need to because another shameless plug, they do the paddle for a cause, and that's coming up in a month, and all the proceeds go to the Clermont County d d, DAV.
[00:18:00] Unknown:
Okay. Well, I'll reach back out to him because I felt bad that I couldn't get him right before the cardboard Mhmm. Boat race. Mhmm. And he also we were sitting there and he just randomly goes, you know, I should call Bob, and Bob can tell you all about different kinds of And Bob, I don't know if you know Bob Lee's. Yes. Very, yeah, very, very close friend of mine. Yeah. And so he came down and and Bob kind of just I don't wanna say he took the interview over, but it was like Yeah. I'm kinda set over here, and then Bob's talking about history. So what he he made Bob do the work is what he did. He did. He made Bob do all the work.
[00:18:30] Unknown:
Like, he knew Bob was gonna do the work. Yeah. Yeah. We love you, Bob. Please. No. Bob is a super interesting guy. He is. He's very interesting. Yeah. Like, he's a he's a wealth of knowledge about New Richmond and and, of course, other things as well.
[00:18:45] Unknown:
So how long have have you lived in New Richmond your whole life? No. I actually have not. I grew up in Alexandria. Okay.
[00:18:51] Unknown:
And then, like, in 02/2006, I well, actually, 02/2004, I, met my ex husband. And in 02/2006, he he joined the army. And I, you know, did the army wife thing for until well, I moved back up here in 02/2019. I mean, we separated at that point in time. So, yeah, from 02/2006, 02/2019, I did the whole army wife thing. How was the army wife thing? You I I don't know anything about it. It's, you know, I enjoyed it. Mhmm. Like, I I know It's gotta be rough though because he's he's they ship him out, and then you're just kinda Yes and no. Like, it's what I love about New Richmond, they remind me of the community I had when I was an army wife, when we lived at the different duty stations.
Basically, like, it's that close knit, like, everybody it's like a village. I mean, literally, it's a village. It takes a village. And so we have that here in New Richmond. And it was kind of like one of those real reasons why I stayed in New Richmond. When I moved back in 2019, my parents, my mom and my stepdad, they live up, you know, just up the hill. And, basically, I did not know being gone for that long, like, what area was still a good area, what school district was still a cool school district. And so at the time, like, it was hard the only thing I was disappointed in about around here is people getting back to you about a rental. Yeah. It takes a while. Like, when you're near a duty station, they are on it, like, you know, flies. Like, shit on flies, I guess you could say. But around here, like, people, it it would take weeks to get back with you. And at the time, I'm like, okay. My kids gotta start school. Right. I gotta get going. Yeah. Like, I need a I need a house. I don't wanna live in my parents' basement forever. Like Yeah. So I finally, you know, rented a house up in Regatta Lights, and it was perfect because the kids, they were in middle school and high school. They could go, you know, walk to school. And then we just stayed. And then they actually went with their like, their dad retired, and I was like, go stay with your dad for a little bit before you become adults. Yeah. Because once you do, you're not gonna have time. And and, basically I mean, they they get to spend time with them while he was active duty.
But I was like, this is your moment. Right. And that's what they did. And I downsized because it's just me and my little guy. A lot of people know him as little man. He's known as Carl when I do Edith because Carl is just you know, don't do that, Carl.
[00:21:18] Unknown:
So so Edith is a family
[00:21:20] Unknown:
family operation. Yes. Well, they they're not a part of it. Okay. So I kinda gave them all nicknames. I need to come up with a new one for my daughter. I don't know why. I just came up with a tragedy because I guess I saw a Facebook group and it like, it's about names where people name Ashley, like, a weird way, like, a s h Yeah. L e I g h or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. And it's just new and Ashley like that in high school. He's I'm sorry. No. That's true. I'm Trisha. She's a very nice person. No. She was. She was really Okay. So there was this Facebook group that that name is a tragedy. And I was like, you know, tragedy just stuck for some reason. So I got Jimothy, tragedy, and Carl as my characters.
[00:22:03] Unknown:
And I like
[00:22:04] Unknown:
Jimothy. And, so and I just those, like, I just rant, like so my older kids are not much for the pictures and videos, so I respect that. Yeah. Carl, on the other hand, he is like the spotlight sometime. Like, he is the star of the show. So with that being said, it was just little man and I. I don't I didn't need a big house. I didn't wanna build a yard. You know, anymore. Yeah. I downsized to a two bedroom apartment here on Front Street. And I, I mean, I absolutely love New Richmond, the community. It's you know, like I said, it does take a village. We have a new chief. I don't know if you've seen that now. Oh, no. I actually on the episode came out today. Oh, did it? Really? That was part of the news in the beginning. Oh, okay. So I love how the fact he calls us the village people. Does he really? Yes. He calls us the village people. I love it because when you when you listen or you see the pictures that you have the different types of people, and that's literally how we all are down here. We're the village people, the different characters, the different, I think it's something about the river. It is. I think it's I think I've turned into a river. Edith is now a river rat.
[00:23:13] Unknown:
She is now river rat. I didn't I didn't wanna say river rat, but I don't know. I think there's something about the river that just draws
[00:23:20] Unknown:
all different kinds of characters. It does, and it's great, and I love it. And I think that's the other thing that reminds me of New Richmond is when you're, like, at the different duty stations, we all it was kinda like different characters. You got to meet so many different people, and I loved it. And that's what I that that's another reason why I love it down here Yeah. Is all the different characters. It just I don't know. I guess I kinda, you know, found my home Yeah. In a way. Yeah. Yeah. I feel the same way about Batavia and just the county in general because, like, I I think I told you earlier, I grew up in Middletown and bopped around the country
[00:23:54] Unknown:
doing different things. Yeah. I don't know if there's just something about the landscape and the people. Yes. Like, everybody I've interviewed is just very, very passionate about what they're doing in the county and trying to make it better. Yes. Everybody's nice to you. Mhmm. And it's not to say that that isn't true in Middletown, but
[00:24:14] Unknown:
and it was just different here. Yes. It is. I mean, there are people that don't like me, and I just you know? That's fine. You know, I just say Edith shit. Yeah. So and with that, I just like, you go on a different you know, I guess people might be insulted, but Edith calls Clermont County the Florida of Ohio. Because I always do believe that there's an every not Covington, though. Yes. That that's probably the Florida of Northern Kentucky. Kentucky. Like, I saw, you know, this joke how every state has that one county that's the Florida of that state. I could be wrong about Clermont County. It could be in a little bit further
[00:24:52] Unknown:
northeast. But Well no. Because I've heard the saying, anything South of Columbus is basically Kentucky. Yeah. So that kinda cuts everything north of Franklin County all Yeah. Those are just those are Northerners. And then I don't know. I I could I could make a case for Butler County coming from Middletown
[00:25:11] Unknown:
or, I think we all could. Yeah. Like, every I mean, then again, your county, like, each county has Southwest Ohio is like The Florida. Of Ohio. Yeah. Yeah. We'll put it that way. And I've always said Florida like, Ohio's Florida of the Midwest. Yeah. Yeah. I could see that. Because on the news, it's always a Florida man's story or an Ohio man's story. It was
[00:25:31] Unknown:
this was years ago, but it was it made national news somehow. It's a Middletown story. Mhmm. Some crazy lady dressed up in a cow outfit and was, like, mooing in Downtown
[00:25:44] Unknown:
Middletown. They had to arrest her. Oh my god. There was some big old lady dressed just It wasn't me, guys. It was not me. I I assure you it was not me, but it might be something I might do
[00:25:54] Unknown:
down here in New Richmond. Wait a minute. Wasn't like a character or Yeah. It was just some nutty lady, and it was all over the news. I'm like, yeah. I'm that's my hometown. That's where I grew up, where all the crazy ladies are. That's too funny. So you're you're pretty close to the river here. You were you affected by the flooding? Oh, yes. Yeah. We're, like, down here,
[00:26:17] Unknown:
I can't really tell you. I can't remember how like, at the Green Kayak, they got some water, Becca and Steve. They, I mean, they they busted their butts trying to, you know, reopen. They were, you know, down giving updates. So that was great because it kinda gave me an idea. Our building actually barely got any water in it Really? Compared to, like, the one on the corner right there. They got water in it. I think ours is the way the the flooring is. It's up a little higher. I know the VFW. I think they said they had, like, 12 to 18 inches of water in there. So a lot some of it some of them, you know, they did get a lot of water in them. Some of them, they did not. It's kinda interesting how the rip I mean, I guess, maybe how the land is settled or Yeah. How it's, you know Or just sheer dumb luck. That too. Yeah.
So but I from my my landlords told us, basically, we get flooded in. Yeah. And then, you know, when you're flooded in, you can't get in or out. Yeah. And some people like, oh, I'm staying. I'm staying. And they would ask me, are you staying? Like, no. No. Like, I don't I mean, Edith has done some dumb shit. I am not about to be the one on the news saying, you know, going on, you know, describing the flood without the teeth in my mouth and braless, and they had to come save me because I decided I was just gonna stay. Right. No. I I mean, I have my children, so I feel like I just could not I I and also as I was also a former former first responder.
I you know, out of respect for them, I did not want them to have to risk their lives to come rescue me Right. Which, you know, the people don't think about those things. Yeah. So but yeah. So, yeah, we were affected. It wasn't horrible. We were lucky. I am glad that it wasn't as worse as like it was in Texas. Yeah. That was Well, that's scary. I mean, that Devastation.
[00:28:15] Unknown:
Flash flooding. I saw a video of it, and it's just seconds. Yes. Seconds. And the water's up, and it's rushing. And people people don't realize about that flash flooding, the water Energy behind it. And It's not really water. It's like a mix of dirt and trees. Trees and concrete almost. It's Yes. Extremely dangerous. And, actually, I was we were we were one of our duty stations was Fort Hood,
[00:28:37] Unknown:
and that was not too far. And I've been to some of those areas. And it was just I mean, after going through this, like, I was in tears, like, crying. And and then my ex husband and I, we still have a house in, Kempner, Texas. And the river there was flash flooding. Like, it was, like, 30 some feet. Normally, it's only, like, four feet. Yeah. And not even that because in Texas, it's been such a drought. And I'm like, okay. Like, what's what is it with me and floods this year? Like, our house. But thankfully, our house was like a mile upriver, and we didn't have to worry about it. But, so, yeah, this year was not great for flooding in need of. So Where in Texas did you live? I worked in Karnes County, right South of Houston. Oh, so we lived actually, I lived in parts of San Antonio for a little bit. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And then, Fort Hood. Yeah. And then, like, Kempner, Texas. It's in, Coppers Cove. It was, like, probably, like, twenty minutes from Fort Hood, if that. I lived in El Paso at Fort Bliss, so we did a great time in Texas. Yeah. Yeah. I I miss it. I loved it too. The only thing I didn't like because I worked on, I studied geology in college.
[00:29:48] Unknown:
And for a while, I worked on oil rigs. It's like a geology tech down in Texas. I loved it. I loved it so much. The only thing I hated was the heat. Like, I just can't
[00:29:59] Unknown:
I can't do the heat. So there is people really think if you're in Texas that it's all dry heat, but it's not. So pretty much As soon as you get towards the coast. Right? Yeah. The closer you got to the coast, it's like humid like this. It'll be a 100 degrees and a 100% humidity, and you're just like, oh my god. It's humidities out here. Yeah. So, basically, I wanna say the further west you went, it got drier. Like, probably like, El Paso, it's dry. If you sat in the shade, it actually felt 30 degrees cooler. Yeah. And you really didn't have the humidity to just, like, make you feel like, oh, like, you know, like here. Because here, it's it's been hotter and and and and moister than a billy goat in a pepper patch. But, so, yeah, it's it's different.
[00:30:44] Unknown:
I feel like I'm in a pepper patch. So it it's been spicy this summer up here. Yeah. It has been. So my wife is, is pregnant. She's actually Oh, congratulations. Thank you. She's due Friday, next Friday. Oh, boy or girl do you know? A boy. Timothy is gonna be the name. Right? Vincent. Vincent. Oh. Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny Vinny. Oh, that is beautiful. Yeah. That is beautiful. And he's got a his brother is Dominic, so we're very happy. We're gonna have Dom and Vinny, the Vinny, the Vinny Oh, that is so cute. We went we went pretty Italian with it. I can't remember. Oh, no. So she said the one season she never wants to be pregnant is summer.
Oh, bless her heart. Does never wanted it. I've, yep. And it was she we found out in November. She was the best. And not on top of that. We yeah. I keep seeing weather reports and things. It's like the hottest summer in twenty years. Yeah. It's been, yeah, it's been pretty warm. So so thank you, Katie, for for all that you're
[00:31:43] Unknown:
Yes. All that you're doing. I I my heart goes out to you because I did a summer at Fort Hood, Texas with my middle daughter, and it was rough. Yeah. Like, I just stayed in front of the AC van the the entire time. Like, just come on. Come on. Just So how many how many kids do you have? I have three total. Okay. So it's we got Carl. That's actually Matthew. He's five. And my daughter, Audrey, she is, she'll be 18 next month Okay. On the third on, yeah, the thirtieth. And then my oldest boy is Nathan Okay. And he's 20. Okay. He's a he'll be 21 in February. Nice. Yes. How's the how's the five year old boy? We're dealing with a five year old girl right now, and
[00:32:25] Unknown:
Olive is
[00:32:27] Unknown:
an insane person. It's it's like she has all the emotions of a grown woman, but none of the restraint of a grown woman. Yes. I think it's because toddlers are they're not really toddlers, but at the age, they're learning how to regulate their emotions. Yeah. And they don't know how. And it's sometimes you're pulling your hair out, and then sometimes all you can do is just laugh. Yeah. Just laugh because you're just like, okay. Yeah. This is what we're gonna do. Okay. He is actually very chill. He's I mean, he is, like, my little, I guess, mini me in a way, like, when it comes to personality.
But, like, he the way he he'll talk to you, like, he's a 30 year old man. And some of the sayings he comes up with, and he's just like, that came out of your mouth? And, so I I posted it on Facebook, and and I do sometimes post what he says. And he's like, mom, what's 1 mil what comes after two million? I was like, two million and one. And he goes, well, that's a pretty good answer, but that's wrong. And I'm like, okay, buddy. You're you're you're going places. It might not be college, but you're going places. It'll be somewhere. You'll wind up somewhere.
[00:33:40] Unknown:
It might not be Yale.
[00:33:42] Unknown:
Yeah. It just might be. I don't know.
[00:33:44] Unknown:
Olive looked at this was, a couple months ago. She looked at my wife, Katie, and she said, mom, I already know everything because I know about the weather. Oh, boy. Yeah. So we don't have to send her to school anymore. She knows about the weather.
[00:34:01] Unknown:
You're gonna save money. Yeah.
[00:34:03] Unknown:
So much like, much like your boy. Olive's going places. I'm not sure where. There. I'm just going I'm terrified she's gonna show up one day on the back of some guy's Harley. I'm just oh, no. Oh, no. I mean, a Harley a Harley can be fun. There's gentlemen that ride with their I'm hey. I'm not saying that that's bad. I just Hopefully, you know, he's got a good job. Motorcycle.
[00:34:25] Unknown:
Yeah. You're right. Yeah. I I get it. You know? Because, unfortunately, people do not pay attention to motorcycles, which by the way, another shameless plug. Watch out for motorcycles. Yeah. Are you big into motorcycles? Not really big, but I enjoy, you know, riding, you know, on a motorcycle. I don't I don't drive one. No. But riding was fun. It's fun. It's kinda like you're carefree. Like, it's just and it's beautiful, especially when it's not so hot, like, in the spring Yeah. Or the fall. It's a great time to get on the bike and just go. It's like an open road, and you just, you know, you're not distracted by your cell phones or anything. You just you just go. Yeah. You just get on and go, and then wherever you end up, you end up. Yeah. So I get the I'd I've never driven or ridden on a motorcycle because it terrifies me.
Yeah. I'm I'm a bit It is it can be scary because you're always you're always kinda like Especially on the highway. Like, I Yeah. Did you get on the highway? Occasionally. We hardly did. We mainly did the back roads, but you still I mean, you would keep your your head on a swivel, like, you know, three sixty just constantly. You have to pay attention when you're on the bike because, yeah, people just others are not paying attention. Do you ever get on those,
[00:35:35] Unknown:
like, sportier bikes? No. No. Okay. That's not like that. Seem Yeah. Death traps. They do. A friend that has one. Yeah. And I'll shout out to Logan if he's listening.
[00:35:45] Unknown:
Hi, Logan. Hi. Be careful on your sports bike. Watch out for others.
[00:35:51] Unknown:
No. But you're right. Motorcycle I and I'm guilty of it. Like, sometimes I'll just won't be paying attention, and then, like, a split second, I don't know there's a motorcycle out there. It is. I mean, even a car, just, you know, pay attention to people. So that not to disparage people with motorcycles. That that was not what I meant. I just she's my little girl. I don't want her on a motorcycle. I I want her in a big SUV wrapped in bubble wrap Yes. And
[00:36:17] Unknown:
preferably going less than 20 miles an hour. Well, good luck. Yeah. Because with my older children, no. No? No. No. Did it work out? No. No.
[00:36:27] Unknown:
So what else do you do around here besides, besides Edith? Uh-huh. It seems like you got your fingers in a couple different pies. I do. Like, it's probably too many slices of pies.
[00:36:36] Unknown:
I've been trying, which I haven't done, is do a spotlight on a business, which I gotta do one next week. I, like a month ago, I actually broke my foot. Oh, yeah. So I've been kinda dealing with that. I I like promoting the different things that go on in New Richmond to help bring people down. So that's what I love doing. I love social media. I have fun on it. You could follow me on Facebook. It's Amy Donway. Or you could put an Edith Schitt, and it's spelled s c h I t t. You could probably follow, you know, follow me, but I will say my Facebook, I am a menace to society on Facebook.
But I do I do like, you know, getting information out, you know, that people might need, that might help them. I gotta, oh, get with a girl with OhioMeansJobs and kinda, you know, I wanna do something with them. I also, you know, I just started doing the social media for the new restaurant, Landy Casa del Rio. That's been fun. What else do I do? Like, I also I'm the executive assistant of WTF Nation Radio, a veteran's podcast. We are the voice of US Army WTF moments. So, I mean, I kinda you know, like you said, I've got several different things going on. It keeps me pretty busy, actually. So what are
[00:37:54] Unknown:
like, if I'm gonna come to New Richmond and, you know Yes. Whether you wanna pro like, whether you're paid to promote it or not. What are some kind of, like, the hidden gems that people don't really know about?
[00:38:06] Unknown:
That is a there's so many things here that are hidden gems from the restaurants to the stores to the. I do have to say the biggest thing is if you come down here, do the tour of the Underground Railroad Museum. Okay. You can there's, at Eastside Boutique, there's a map of it. You can go to the oh, I'm drawing a blank right now. The the house that's the museum, Brainfart. They're open on the weekends. They have a they're part of the tour. You can get a map there. Bob Leeds actually, does the maps. Renaissance Stew. Richmond? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So he like, I they do that. So and with that, I highly if you're a history buff, I would definitely do that tour.
If if food wise, they're all so good down here. Like, Bucks, I love their burgers. I love a good burger. So, I love going there, and they make everything fresh. The Green Kayak, they have awesome bar food. I love their potato skins and their chicken quesadillas. I also love, their pizza. Yeah. Yeah. We just like, she's got a patio space. She's got like, her pizzas are they're very, very reasonably priced. We had my son's birthday party there in the back patio. We had a great time. The yeah. So we did that. I would go there for like, if you're having a, you know, a a big family party, that would be a great place to go, especially if you want pizza or, even just bar food, finger food. And they always have, they have trivia tonight. Like, I won't be at trivia. I I'm horrible at trivia. I love trivia, but I'll never win.
And then, of course, shopping wise, there's the Eastside Boutique, like I mentioned earlier. They've got handmade gifts in there, and some vintage items. There's also mister Grimm's that's right here. Like, you you can easily miss it, but it's right in the Springer House. He's got, like, your retro vintage, like, toys and and stuff like yes. I did I didn't know any of these places existed, to be honest with you. Yes. And then, of course, there's the river River Village Shops. They've got the antiques. There's some in, vintage and handmade items in there as well. And then, of course, Landing Casa del Rio, they just opened up. If you're wanting in an outdoor dining experience, that would be the place to go. It sound it sounds like Mexican food. I'm assuming that's what it is. There there's some Mexican. It's like Tex Mex. It's a bar and grill pretty much. Yeah. Yeah.
And then their sister restaurant is El Burrell. That that's all Mexican food. Both of them have great margaritas. Front Street Cafe, they're currently closed because they're doing renovations. So, if you're wanting, you know, a great, like, upscale type of dinner and experience, that would be a great place to go. Their projected date to, do a re grand opening is this October. I'm trying to think. There's New Richmond Distilleries. There's actually I don't know if you knew that or not. Like a distillery distillery? Yes. Really? So After we're off of here, you're gonna have to give me some of these contacts because I would like to talk to a distiller. Yes. So, they've got the Grant,
[00:41:15] Unknown:
whiskey. I didn't know. Really? Yes. And it's very good. Are you a whiskey girl? Do you like whiskey? I do like
[00:41:21] Unknown:
bourbons. Yeah. It's it's actually up there, like, with Woodford, I think. Really? Close to Woodford. Yeah. Woodford's a good It is. Pretty good whiskey. Yes. So, and they have the vodka too. So Okay. And, they're vodka. I tell you what, you put it in your stuff, you will not know it's there. And you go to stand up, and you're you're staying the night if you sit down. And and, but so they're only open on the weekends right now. They right. They have their bottling room, which is right across the street from Houseman Park. Okay. So but they're getting ready to open up here in the front, like, a bar. And I I believe it's gonna be, like, a bar slash restaurant.
So and then, of course, I don't I think they're projected this fall. Okay. Hopefully, they'll get that up and going. And Edith is gonna probably make her rounds, you know, and and get her drink on there when she's got money. When her monthly draw comes in, miss Rushdie. So but there's so many different, like, little things here that people don't know about. There's Holy Beans Coffee, which is great because I you know, I got a suggestion on Facebook to interview them. Yes. You should. And I think I think I emailed them.
[00:42:31] Unknown:
I don't know. I'll I'll talk to you about all that Okay. After the episode. So with that,
[00:42:36] Unknown:
I love what I love living right on Front Street is I can literally walk to get coffee and a breakfast sandwich. They have great breakfast sandwiches. You know, people talk about
[00:42:45] Unknown:
big cities like that. You know, it's like, oh, I can wake up and I walk here and I walk there. I don't know if a lot of people realize you can get that same experience Just coming here. In towns like this for
[00:42:56] Unknown:
probably a quarter the price. Yes. So, basically, there's Actually, don't come here. Stay. No. No. Please do. Please come. Please come visit us. We have Visit. Visit. So basically, there's a lot of Airbnbs and what a lot of people do Are there really? Yes. At the Springer House, there's one. There's one above Holy Beans. I'm trying to remember the other ones. So if there's a big event in Cincinnati, they'll get an Airbnb here Yeah. Yeah. For, like, a quarter of the price of the hotels. Yeah. And they they discover and they come back to New Richmond to visit because they loved it so much. Because, yes, they can get the Airbnb, and they can walk to these little restaurants and bars and shops. And and, and they have the river view, which I was gonna say, it's also like we're sitting here in the park, and it's beautiful. Like, it's a beautiful river view. You can't beat this view at all. Like, you can't. Like, I mean, yeah, you get the view in Cincinnati, but it's also you got the
[00:43:52] Unknown:
But you also got everybody else in Cincinnati. Yes. Yes. You got you got cars and noise. Yes. And here it is. That's somebody who loves Cincinnati. I mean, I lived in Cincinnati for years. Yeah. I love Cincinnati.
[00:44:03] Unknown:
And it's the only place where you can have a three way with your mom and it not be weird, or a three way with your boss at lunchtime and not get fired. But so with that, like, down here, you can actually take a nice quiet stroll along the river when the sun's setting or when the sun's rising. And you don't like you said, you don't have that noise pollution. Yeah. And, and sometimes it's just I don't know. It's just so peaceful and I love it. We're getting right they're getting ready to redo our riverfront here. I was wanting to ask you about that. Yes. Because they just unveiled the the plans for it. Right? Yes. That's been years in the making, hasn't it? It has been. So we've got the grants. They're fixing the start. So it's not gonna cost the city anything to do this. Right? No. Okay. It will, I believe. I'm not sure on that. Don't quote me on it. The best person to ask if anybody has questions is reach out to Catherine Bailey. She's the village administrator and she'll be able to answer questions. So they're gonna I believe the whole project is that it's grant money Yeah. That we have gotten.
[00:45:02] Unknown:
And it I I think it's going to be a great project. I think are they trying to do that with a bunch of different city? Because I know Ripley's got something similar going on. And I believe
[00:45:13] Unknown:
Manchester did, and I can't remember the other cities that, you know, were awarded the grant. But they're trying to revitalize these river towns. There's they're just rich in history and and it like, a lot of them, they've died or they're they're dying, and they're trying to bring back. It's part of Appalachia.
[00:45:30] Unknown:
Yeah. And That's what Bob was saying when when he was on the podcast that it that a lot of people don't realize that this is classified. It was either Bob or Greg Roberts, but this is
[00:45:39] Unknown:
Appalachia. It is. And we're, like, at the, you know, very foothills of Appalachia. But there's like I said, there's so much rich history in it. And, like, these towns like, when the river traffic, that's the main thing we're doing because of you know, that's what they use was the river for their traffic. But now, I guess, since, like, flooding and and economics and now these towns has kind of died off. But the same thing happened,
[00:46:05] Unknown:
I mean, all across the Rust Belt. But coming from Middletown, that's kinda what happened. I mean, AKA well, I guess it's Cleveland Cliffs now. But, you know, when the mill was doing good, things were great. Mhmm. When the mill wasn't doing good, things weren't so great. Yeah. And then just over the years, you know, they moved all their executives out of Middletown. Mhmm. And so it just it wasn't what it was. The downtown dried up. And then Middletown is not gonna it's not going anywhere. Yeah. It It's not gonna be like how it was in its heyday. No. No. No. No. And that's I think I talked a lot about this. One of the things, so we'll wait for that.
[00:46:41] Unknown:
Speaking of bikes Speaking of bikes
[00:46:44] Unknown:
It's actually a pretty Harley. Is it really I didn't see it. A little bit yellow. Yeah. But I was told one of the things I love about not just oh, hang on. We'll wait till he's okay. One of the things I love about not just this part of Ohio, but Ohio in general, is the Rust Belt. Yeah. There's so many of these small towns that are forced to reinvent themselves. And so and everybody's kinda doing it in different ways. Mhmm. So you get you get to see great successes. Like, I would probably say New Richmond is. It's getting there. It's getting there. And but but, I mean, it's doing better than some and then I don't know. I just I really like how people are trying to reinvent Mhmm. These towns. And I and it's great because, like I said, it's the village. It's takes a peep it takes a village. And
[00:47:30] Unknown:
even if you look at Milford and Loveland and how they've
[00:47:33] Unknown:
revamped it Yeah. I mean, they're they've been working on their stuff for a long time. Well, even the like, you look at Old Milford and Mhmm. I mean, that place is, granted, it has the luxury of being in Milford, which is very close to the city and Yeah. Other affluent places, I guess you'd say. But,
[00:47:48] Unknown:
I mean, it's still like a charming downtown. It is. You know? And so, I mean, Old Lavalin is. I haven't been there in a while. But people don't realize as New Richmond, you're literally fifteen minutes to twenty minutes from Downtown Cincinnati. Yeah. It's that short of a drive. Yeah.
[00:48:04] Unknown:
And that's most of these places out in Clermont. Like, that's what we love about because we were in well, I guess not Felicity. Once you get out towards Felicity It's a drive. It's a little more country out there. But, I mean, it's thirty minutes from Batavia to downtown Mhmm. Cincinnati. It's, you know, ten, fifteen minutes to the grocery store. But where we live, it feels like we're in the middle of nowhere. Yeah. And it's great. And that's one thing I love about New Richmond. I get the, you know,
[00:48:30] Unknown:
country atmosphere feel and not live in, you know, in a big city. Because, I mean, I've lived in a big city. I mean, El Paso. It's probably maybe a little bit bigger. Well, it's not a huge in Texas too. Yeah. I don't know if El Paso is anything like Houston, but I was blown away. Yeah. Just
[00:48:46] Unknown:
but, like, the strip malls, you take a strip mall that you think about in Ohio,
[00:48:50] Unknown:
and the Texas strip malls were like that times a 100. Yeah. They're just everything is gigantic. Yeah. Down there, they really they they have your regular indoor malls that are dying, but they've literally turned them into giant, like it's a mall, but it's, like, just outdoor mall. Yeah. Yeah. Like, a big strip mall. I mean, I think they have a different term for it or not down there, but,
[00:49:10] Unknown:
but it's kinda crazy how they do it. And they're beautiful. I mean Oh, yeah. No. I mean, Houston and I was in Dallas for a little bit. I mean, they're both beautiful cities. The highways were terrifying
[00:49:19] Unknown:
because everybody's got the Texas Cadillacs Yeah. Going, like, 80 miles an hour. Yes. And it it's like the minimum speed limit in the majority of Texas is 70 miles an hour. Yeah. Like, that's just here when it was a transition from driving up here down there to up here because I'm like, oh my god. This is so slow. And then, like, they're they're toll roads. Yeah. So the minimum speedway I mean, speedway speed limit, it is a speedway pretty much, on on the toll roads is 80 to 90 miles an hour. Yeah. Like, you're in like, I'm not saying you're in NASCAR mode when you get on there, but, like, you're going pretty fast. No. I'd yeah. But that was one of the things that and I think in Houston, there's, like, six eight lane highway they're, like, six to eight lane highways. Oh, yeah. It's just And if you get on the highway and your exit's, like, literally the next exit, just don't even try. Yeah. You're just you're you're you're you're gonna go down the next exit and then just, you know, whip a UE and then and then come back up.
[00:50:23] Unknown:
So I think I'm I'm running out of questions a little bit. Is there anything else about New Richmond that people don't know about that they should know about?
[00:50:30] Unknown:
Oh, that's a good question. So there's a Houseman Park. Like, you know, you can That's where we're at right now. Yes. Beautiful little park. I guess what's nice is we have Dora down here. I didn't know you guys had a Dora. Maybe I didn't know. Yeah. We are a Dora Those Dora's, I think, are really helping these downtown. They are because, I mean, and, like, what was crazy is when they started Dora here in Ohio, they acted like it's all this big thing. I mean, yeah, it is a big thing. I'm like, we were doing this in Texas for a long time. Yeah. Honestly, in the college, I was doing it in Ohio. Yeah. So, I mean, not in the legal matter, but legal, but Yeah. I was still doing it. So what's nice is you don't like, when you're down here, you don't wanna be stuck in a bar to drink your drink. Yeah. Like, it's great that you get a Dora cup. You have your beer or your cocktail or your wine, and you could just stroll up and down and enjoy the view.
So, yes, we are a Dora District. There's always so many festivals, you know, throughout the year down here. The app we're the home of the Appalachian Festival now. Then we have What was that? I missed that this year. It was awesome. I loved it. There was a lot of, you know, history behind it. Yeah. The theatrics behind it. There was, often, a great bands and music. There was, you know, different you know, I love how the reenactments, like, my little, you know, Carl or Matthew or whatever you little man, whatever you wanna call him. He, like, loved the reenactments of of stuff, like, being hands on.
There were so many different vendors that were at you know, it's like neat like handmade unique items. And it it was a it was a several day festival, Mother's Day weekend. So people it it was a very nice weekend. And then also on top of that, like, there was River Days. They changed the date on that. They bumped it up to Memorial Day weekend because everybody wanted the rides. Yeah. And that was the only weekend we could get the rides was that. And and it was they they actually did pretty well this year. And the the it was like it's kinda like they just kicked off summer with with that festival. Yeah. And then, fourth of July weekend, we always have FreedomFest. Yeah.
So with FreedomFest, we have the fireworks that come down. Next year, it's gonna be a big one. It's gonna be the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of America. So just, you know, pay attention to, you know, social media and stuff with new merchandise. Getting a mural? That I are we? That's news to me. Well, I know I I don't know how many people are doing. Bethel's got one. Well, that would be awesome if we did. I don't know where they would put it. I mean, Edith if they want a mural, Edith can paint it. It ain't gonna be, you know, the greatest, but, you know, just show They could do a mural of Edith. Yeah. Like, in my bucky swimsuit and a mullet, you know, holding a Busch Light can.
Another thing oh, so the next festival, there is the River Arts Festival, which is the October. Nat's here in Hauserman Park along and they're partnering up with oh, another thing is it's called Second Saturday. Okay. And that Eastside Boutique does that. And every second Saturday from June until October, there's vendors here in Hauserman Park. And, usually, it's vendors either from the boutique or vendors that she knows. So on October, I believe it's eleventh, the second Saturday in October. Normally, there's Taste of New Richmond, but I don't know what's going on with that because of the renovations. But I know that part of that event is still going on. Yeah. October 11 is the River Roots Art Festival and the, East Side Boutique second Saturday. They're they're still gonna do their thing.
What else? And then Fall Bash is October 25. It's more kid friendly where we'll have trunk or treat where they do the moonlit witches dance Okay. Or they choreograph a dance and dance together down the street. And it it we haven't put out a whole lot information out because we're not too sure how the construction of the riverfront is going to affect that. Start that? It's supposed to be end of this month. Soon. Soon. I'm waiting from you know, to hear from Catherine to do you know, to be a part of the groundbreaking, actually. And then what else? So those and then there's a Christmas walk in December that they always do.
So those are the big main events that are down here. But if you either I have a Facebook page called New Richmond events and activities. It's actually a group people can join. Yeah. If you join that group, you can get on there and you can see the majority of the new local events that are happening. And then also speaking of gems, a hidden gem, it's the River Roots, plant. Oh, I I always it's River Roots. It's down across from the Landing, Casa Del Rio. It's the cutest. If you are a indoor plants type of person, if Oh, so it's like an actual like a plant store? Yes. My wife wants indoor plants. They have all sorts of, like, different indoor plants that you can get. I know some people are, I guess, if if if if if if if if if if she if she if she or what how do you say? If shenado. That's it. There it is. Yeah. See, that's that's my Kentucky education coming through.
So they have art in there and they have their plants. It's River Roots Plant Shop and Gallery, and they are fixing to have their one year anniversary. And that is this Saturday. So if you're not doing anything this Saturday, join them at eleven. And they will, my son, my five year old loves that store. He loves plants. So that is yeah. Out of all so weird the things kids just Yeah. They they just hone in on, and that was one of them. It's kinda weird, but I'll give you another quick Olive story.
[00:56:26] Unknown:
Since she's basically been able to walk and talk, my wife and I have been trying, like, we put her in dance, we put her in in jiu jitsu, we've done, like, swim all these different things to try to find something that she'd be interested in. Randomly, last Saturday, my wife took an embroidery class to, like, sew embroidery stuff.
[00:56:43] Unknown:
Olive loves it. That's awesome. You can't get enough of it. And lot like It's like of all the things in the world Like sewing. Embroidery. Embroidery. Sewing. I mean, like, my I sew and stuff, and my mom taught me how to sew. So it it I mean, it's to me, it's kinda like my my I don't know. Mostly getaway, but my my art type thing. Yeah. My my creative like, crocheting, cross stitching, all those kind of things. I think it's, you know, just kinda that nice, repetitive, relaxing Mhmm. You can sit zen type thing. Zen. Yeah. You can sit and watch TV, which Yeah. You know, I don't have time to do anymore stuff again, which I need to because people, like, ask me about shows and that. I'm like, I don't know.
[00:57:24] Unknown:
Like, don't watch it. Sorry. I don't know how people find the time for it, so I guess they might not have kids or something. But I don't know. I mean, I get to the end of my day. And I've been working, and I've been dealing with a five year old and a Yeah. Two year old, and it's just like, I'm done. Yeah. I'm it's time for bed. And then, usually, they have patrol the TV, so I don't get to sit and watch. I can't tell you how many times I've watched Sing. I liked a good movie, but I could probably quote it to you verbatim.
[00:57:49] Unknown:
Oh. Oh, it was like that with, Trolls. Trolls was one of his favorite. Frozen Olive had a big frozen kick. Did she? Oh, yeah. He his was dinosaurs and Blippi. Oh my god. What is why does Blippi sound familiar? Don't look it up. I've okay. Don't don't introduce your kids. I mean, it's it's it's a very it's a good kids programming, but Blippi, like, just Does it drive you a little batty? Yeah. It's kinda like their version of our Pee Wee Herman. Oh, okay. Okay. So I'm I guess, this is, like, our, karma for making our parents Pee wee Herman. Pee wee Herman. It blippy.
[00:58:28] Unknown:
Boy, that's an odd movie too, the Pee wee Herman movie. Yes. And he passed away not too many ago. You know, I've actually heard there's a really good documentary. Really? About him. Like, and he's in it. And he's I think he notoriously he's very, very private. Yes. And so and I think he was also uncomfortable with fame when he also had that Yeah. Run of bad luck. I guess it wasn't bad luck. But, I've just heard it's a really good documentary. Okay. I interviewed him and so if you're a big Pee wee Herman fan I wish I could remember the name of it. Okay. I I'm pretty sure if you I Google Petey Petey.
[00:59:02] Unknown:
Petey Herman? Oh, boy. We're going down that road. I'm just kidding. Are you sure that Bushlight can is it recently empty? Or It was last night empty. I'm just it's leftovers now.
[00:59:16] Unknown:
You know what I do like about Bushlight is you can really taste the value. Yes.
[00:59:20] Unknown:
You can. You can. When you're broke, it's
[00:59:24] Unknown:
it's Busch Light. I mean, there's Keystone and there's I was always a Pabst guy. Yes. I loved Pabst. You know what? Actually since I've had Pabst. And so I've been when I was in college, everybody drank that. Mhmm. And then we discovered Natti ice, and it was That's it. Exact same price with, like, double the alcohol. So as, like, an 18 year old guy, it's like, this is perfect. Yeah. But I discovered Pabst in college, and to this day, it is, in my mind, the best cheap beer you can you can get on the at least one of them. And then all the hipsters started drinking it. And the price went up. And it not only did the price go up, but then everybody would look at you like you're a hipster. And then I would tell them, like, no. I liked Pabst before it was cool. And then everybody would look at me like I'm an Uber hipster because I'm trying to make it sound like I was into this before everybody else.
It was Bushlight it is now. Well, yeah, I'm just gonna go to Bushlight or Keystone or something.
[01:00:21] Unknown:
Remember the Keystone commercials? I don't. Oh, they were hilarious. Like, he acted like he was a superhero, and he had, like, a his whatever, like, 15 pack of Keystone, which is, like, actually it is cheaper than the 12 pack of Pushlight or yeah. Yeah. But they're like, Google them. It's yeah. They're pretty good, actually.
[01:00:38] Unknown:
I will have to Google those. I didn't know that they ever I didn't know that they had to. I I've never seen a netty. Oh, I think they did have some netty, like, commercials. I think so. It's been a while, probably. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely not during the Super Bowl. No. Nobody. Street. No. I mean, they might be. I don't know. Well, I think so unless there's anything else you wanna plug.
[01:01:00] Unknown:
And if Edith would like to to come on for a minute and Yeah. We we can do Edith. Okay. Alright. Just, I guess, let me get into character. Okay. Well, Edith, how are you? I'm it's like I said, it's hotter than a and moister than a billy goat in a pepper patch today. Yeah. You where did you live in a trailer park? Yeah. Right here down on the river. Do you have AC there? Is it No. No? No. Jim Bob, he he won't fix it. He said that, you know, open the windows is God's AC. Yeah. And I don't agree. No. Then when it's real hot in there, how do you because your makeup looks pretty good. Well, thank you. I mean, I'm sweating. It's I'm surprised it's still on. I guess I just I don't actually, it's it's really good. I splurge at Ulta sometimes. Yeah. And I get some primer in that because, you know, the blue eye shadow, I'm trying to get it to come back. Like, Mimi from that one show with Drew Carey. Hot not not hot in Cleveland.
I think it was called the Drew Carey Show. The Drew Carey Show. That's it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the hot in Cleveland Show, that's a pretty good one with that, you know, bless her heart, you know, the late, Betty White. But, anyhow, I'm trying to bring the, you know, blue eyeshadow back in style. Well, I think it's working. You think so? I do. Do you have any,
[01:02:15] Unknown:
I guess, tips?
[01:02:17] Unknown:
Makeup tips? Makeup tips? Because, I mean, you Honey, if you got it, flaunt it. Don't don't you know what? Just do your makeup how you wanna do it. That's all I gotta say. Like, my my eyebrows are on point today. I just draw them back on. You know, I've kind of shaved them off a few times. So now or plucked them way too many times and they just grow and whatever. So I gotta draw them back on. But anyway, so just basically go with what you wanna wear. And then, you know, the primer eye primer is very good for your to get the blue eyeshadow to stick. Yeah. Yeah.
[01:02:50] Unknown:
So I've noticed
[01:02:52] Unknown:
I mean, I guess I don't wanna say you're out here in the streets. Yeah. I'm on the streets. Living that life. Living that life with my bush light and my cigarettes. I forgot my cigarettes. I'm kinda feening right now, but I'll go get me some Paul Malls when we're done. Paul Malls? Yeah. Oh, man. They're you know? My grandmother smoked Paul Malls. Well, Albert, I think sounds like we should be friends. See, oh, there there comes my ride. There comes your ride.
[01:03:16] Unknown:
So I wanna ask you before we, before we end everything.
[01:03:20] Unknown:
Like I said, you're out here in the streets, you're living that life. What have what's going on in New Richmond? What what's the word on the street? What's what are people up to? What are people up to? They're up to no good. It's been a shit show. No. I'm just kidding. It hasn't. It's been it's been it New Richmond's been great. Yeah. Every I mean, not everybody loves me, but, I mean, I try to, you know, keep everybody laughing down here. The biggest thing is is I'm gonna miss it is this wall. This wall made me famous. They're about to tear it down. Yeah. The wall. The red one.
Made you how did it make you famous? Oh, when I, when it flooded and I put a Buc ee swimsuit on. It made me famous. And you shop at Buc ee's a lot. Oh, I love Buc ee's. Yeah? Yep. He's he's my beaver boy.
[01:04:06] Unknown:
What's your favorite part about Buc ee's?
[01:04:08] Unknown:
It's the whole experience down there. It is like a vacation without having to really go to Florida. Like, you just go there to shop and experience. You get to meet the beaver. You know, him and I are just one of a kind. It's the food. It's, you know, it's just an all out experience in the bathrooms. They're a lot cleaner than my bathroom in the take on trailer. I don't know how they do it. I mean, I can't keep the get the kids or Jim Bob to clean up after themselves. And and I I don't know how many times I've threatened them all if they keep peeing on the toilet seat. I brush, you know, clean it with their toothbrushes, and they they still just do it. Jim Bob do? Yeah. Jim Bob do. Especially after two, like, cases of bush light at the night, and he can't find a d gone toilet.
[01:05:00] Unknown:
Well, I think I am out of questions now.
[01:05:02] Unknown:
If you wanna plug anything or let people know about anything. So everybody, you could follow me on Facebook as Amy Donnelly, or you could just, you know, type in Edith Schmidt, and you could follow me on Facebook. Instagram, I'm on there as your not so classy mom and same as TikTok. And then my I'm also on threads, which if you don't know what that is, it's kinda like Facebook's version of Twitter. That's why. Yeah. It's kinda weird, isn't it? It's interesting. So I'm on there too. Don't mean to interrupt you. Is that working for you very well? It's it's okay. It's kind of a newer platform. I'm trying to learn it. I I mainly mnemonic because of Wendy's.
Okay. They're whoever does their social media marketing is savage. They're geniuses.
[01:05:44] Unknown:
Yeah. They're geniuses.
[01:05:46] Unknown:
Like, my cousin actually works. They troll every Everyone. And I love it. My cousin was
[01:05:52] Unknown:
he was like a vice president of marketing for Wendy's. Yeah. He was very, very high up in their marketing department. I can't remember. I need to ask him about that because whoever does that. I don't know. First off, I don't know how Wendy's how they how they, like, got that through the Wendy's corporate. Like Yeah. We're just gonna be crazy trolls. Yeah. We're just gonna be a menace to all the restaurants out there.
[01:06:16] Unknown:
Yeah. No. I mean, there's they're savage. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. No. No. You're fine. But is that they're That's one of the reasons why I have threads so I can look at Wendy's every day. I mean, they're even savage on Twitter and Facebook. All of it. Like, all of it. Yeah. But yes. So, but yeah, like, if you're wanting to learn more about New Richmond, follow, Renaissance New Richmond, follow the Village of New Richmond, their Facebook page. You can, like, join my Facebook group, the events New Richmond activities and events group.
I'm trying to think other great places to find information about New Richmond. I think that's really it. And then, of course, if you follow all the restaurants and businesses down here, they like to post about what's coming up and stuff. Becca at the Kayak's very good at posting events. And so is Landing Casa del Rio. They're good about posting events. So is Eastside Boutique and Bucks. So, yeah, if you follow all of their, you know, their Facebooks, they'll they'll, you know, you'll be able to, you know, kinda get the what's what, what's going on down here. And, of course, me, I'm always trying to post what's going on down here as well.
[01:07:23] Unknown:
Cool. Well, Amy slash Edith,
[01:07:26] Unknown:
it's been a pleasure. Same. And I'm gonna call it a successful podcast. I I say it was too. Just winging it. Just winging it. Winging it.
[01:07:45] Unknown:
Well, thank you again to Amy and to Edith, for coming on the show and for doing the interview. Like I said in the intro, I really enjoyed the conversation. I thought it was fun and funny and informative. I mean, she talks a lot about what's going on in New Richmond and some of the places that are, you know, fun to go to, good to eat at, stuff like that. So and we're definitely gonna get her back on for, I suppose, what you could take what you could call a a shit take and just, you know, hear what's going on. She seems pretty plugged into that, New Richmond community and she loves it, as most people do from New Richmond. It seems like they've got a really good good little town down there.
So with all that said, let's talk about some events. We've got Hooten and Hollerin' night hike. This is gonna be on August 22 from 09:30PM to 10:30PM at the Keeley Nature Preserve and I hope I'm pronouncing that right. If I'm not, somebody let me know. If it's Keeley Nature Preserve, you know, please let me know. I don't wanna sound like an idiot. But this, the Hooten and Holler night hike is gonna be a guided after dark nature hike. There'll be a naturalist there and they'll help you listen to and identify the sounds of nocturnal wildlife like bats and owls and toads and things like that.
It is family friendly and free. Next up, we have a Loveland community rummage sale, August from 9AM to 3PM at 201 Riverside Drive in Loveland. Pretty straightforward. It's a community rummage sale. So there's gonna be tons of sellers. They're gonna offer a wide variety of secondhand items and treasures. So if you like, you know, garage sales and yard sales, stuff like that, head over there on the twenty second and twenty third. Bean and Brew Friday social, August 22 and August, and that will be from 4PM to 8PM on both dates. This will be at the Bean and Brew in Batavia, and it's just an informal gathering. It is hosted by the Claremont County Democratic Party, so there is a slight political slant to it. But that said, if you go, you can just enjoy coffee and conversations.
You can drop in any time. It's free. It's open to everybody, and no RSVPs are required. Next up, we have natural clay outdoor pottery on August 23 from 11AM to 1PM at Sycamore Park. You'll take a short cry hike to a creek bed, dig in the bed, collect some natural clay, and then you'll go back to the shelter area to build your very own piece of pottery. All the materials are provided and whatever you make will be kiln fired off-site after the event, so you probably have to come back and pick pick up your pottery. It's all free, but you do have to register and you can do that on the Claremont Parks website.
Next up, we have the East Fork Ultra Trail Races. This is gonna be August. So it starts Friday early morning and it'll run all the way into early Sunday. That's right. It's like a twenty four to thirty hour race. It's gonna be at East Fork State Park. It's the third annual multi distance ultra marathon that that they've got there. So there are four different distances that you can run. You can do 100 miles. That's 100 miles, which seems insane. You can also do a 100 k, which is kilometers. And then freedom units, I'm pretty sure that's about 50 miles. There's a 50 k, which, again, in freedom units, I think is around 25 miles, and a 15 mile race.
As a kind of an aside, I actually did a 25 k kinda ultra marathon trail race type thing this last Sunday. I don't know if I'd say it was fun. It was painful, exhausting. I did it with a friend. Shout out to Jeff who roped me into that disaster. But I've heard it described as type two fun. Type two fun is the kind of thing where it is pretty awful when you're doing it, but when it's all done, you look back on it very fondly. So and even if you know you're not trained or anything like that, give it a shot. You know, it's always good to get yourself outside your comfort zone and and do something challenging, and it's rewarding afterwards. So if you're into that, I would check that out.
Next up, there's a public stargaze at Stone Lake State Park on August 23. It'll start around dusk, which is about 08:30PM, and it'll be at the beach parking area of the state park, and it's free. It's hosted by the Cincinnati Observatory's volunteer astronomers. There's gonna be tons of telescopes, and they're all available for public use. They'll be you can see star clusters, nebula, galaxies, and other cool space stuff. All ages are welcome. Don't need any equipment or any experience, but do check the weather because obviously, if it's cloudy or raining, you can't really see the stars and they'll cancel it. So next up, we have Kiwanis Club of East Fork region is holding an open house on August 26 from 6PM to 8PM at the Batavia Village Hall. It's free. And like I said in the beginning of this, it's an open house, but hosted by the newly formed Kiwanis Club serving Eastern Clermont County.
And, if you know anybody in the Kiwanis Club that has just been formed or I guess any Kiwanis Club, let me know because I think they'd be a cool interview. With that aside out of the way, residents of Batavia, Williamsburg, Bethel, New Richmond, all the surrounding areas, you can come and learn about the Kiwanis, all their service projects, you can meet their club members, you can hear about upcoming initiatives, and they're gonna have some light refreshments. So that's that's nice. There is an RF RSVP requested by August 24 and you can do that at the Claremont Chamber of Commerce website, But they also say the walk ins are welcome. But, you know, it's always polite to RSVP.
Next up, we have a trash blitz volunteer cleanup on August 27, 5PM to 7PM at Sycamore Park in Batavia. This is a community science and park cleanup event. So you'll get to use the trash blitz mobile app, and you'll log litter and cleanup progress across the park. All the supplies are provided, so stuff like bags and gloves, you don't need to bring those. And they say it's free, which I should hope it'd be free if you're volunteering to pick up trash. I don't know who charged you to do that. I suppose it's possible. But you do need to register and you can do that at parks, the Claremont Parks website.
Creek Days at the Park on August 29 at 1PM, Sycamore Park. This is a free program and you can just drop in whenever, bring your kids, and you can play in a creek, you know, with some unstructured supervised play in the creek. It is, great to get out in nature especially for your kids and you can explore aquatic life and it'll help you cool off on what has been a unusually warm summer. You do not need to register, but bring some water shoes, something like Crocs or rain boots, something like that. Oh, I'm sorry. Crocs or rain boots are not recommended, but just wear some shoes that you can get wet. You don't wanna walk around with soggin wet shoes all day.
Next up, we have dog days of summer dog hike on August 29 from 6PM to 07:30PM at the Keeley Nature Preserve. And please, somebody tell me if I'm pronouncing that right. This is a guided evening hike with your dog. There'll be a scavenger hunt with some small prizes, and then after that, you can let your dog go play around in the creek. It is free. You do not need to pre register. Just bring your dog on a leash and, enjoy nature filled fun. We have some live music at Harmony Hill Winery on August 29 with Anita and the Daves. It's gonna be from 5PM to 9PM, obviously, at the Harmony Hill Vineyard and Estate Winery.
Admission is free. You can obviously buy some wine and food if you go there. And it's just an evening of music with Anita and the Daves, and they perform an eclectic mix of folk and classic rock, and it's gonna be at Harmony Hills Outdoor Amphitheater. They also tell you to bring lawn chairs or a blanket. There'll be some wine tastings, which sounds kinda tasty, and you can bring your own picnic snacks, which I think is kinda nice. It is family friendly and small leash dogs are allowed, so leave your Rottweilers and Great Danes at home for this one. Shape of Nature morning walk on August 30 from 9AM to 10AM at East Fork State Park. This is a free program led by a naturalist from the Ohio State Parks, and you'll just discover shapes, colors, and textures in nature on a gentle morning walk. It's good for families and amateur nature photographers.
And they say, you'll never look at leaves, rocks, and clouds the same way again, which I suppose could be a good or a bad thing. I guess it just depends. You do not need to register and all ages are welcome. Last but certainly not least, Leafprints at East Fork on August 30 from 10:15AM to 11AM. This is gonna be at East Fork State Park Nature Center. It's a free event. You'll go on a nature walk, gather up some leaves, and then make your own leaf print to take home. All the materials are provided and you can bring your kids and they can learn about tree identification and I like this bit of copy here, while making a messy masterpiece.
I feel like a lot of kids are good at making messy mass my house is a messy masterpiece, made by my kids. In any event, you don't need to sign up. And if you're a parent, you do need to accompany your young children because, hopefully, it goes without saying, you can't just, you know, drop your five year old off at East Fork and tell him to go pick up leaves. And if you can do that, also let me know because I'll have a fun new activity for Olive. So those are all the events that we have. Hopefully, something there, you know, peaked your interest and you'll get out there and and take advantage of some of these great events. But with all of that, it is time for another value for value pitch because we are a value for value podcast.
And what that means is if you find value in what we're doing, we just ask for a little value in return in the form of time, talent, and treasure. For time and talent, let us know what's going on in your community. What should we be talking about? Let us know who you wanna hear interviewed. Who should we be talking to? And like I said in the intro, in particular, if you know anyone or you yourself are a candidate for public office this November, Come on the show. We'd love to talk to you. We'll give you, you know, honestly, as long as you want for the interview, and you can just tell people who you are and why you're doing it and make your pitch. I'm happy to provide a platform for local candidates to do that because I feel like there aren't a whole lot of platforms for them to do that.
As far as treasure goes, we live on donations. They're gonna kinda make or break us. So if you go to the website, let's talk clairmont.com, hit the donations tab, You can donate via PayPal or Stripe. Either one's fine. Either both take multiple forms of payment, and any dollar amount is great. If it's $5, wonderful. If it's $10, great. If it's $10,000 well, if it's $10,000, I don't know. We'll do something very special for you. But we really appreciate any support that you can show us. It helps us do what we do. It helps us keep finding new stories for you. Helps us find helps us keep finding fun people to interview, you know, find events that we we can inform you about. It's important. It'll it'll help us keep us going, and we greatly appreciate it. But for donations, $50 and above, you will get a special mention on the show. And for donations, $200 and above, you will become an executive producer for that show. And that is a valid credit that is that you can use and I will vouch for, and you you use it on LinkedIn, you can use it on IMDB, your resume, whatever you wanna do. Like I said, I'll vouch for you. We'll also read a note from you live on air. I guess not live, but on air.
And a note about the note, like I said in the beginning, if you do donate $200 or above, please email info@let'stalkClaremont.com with your name, donation amount, and note so I can link that up on the back end. And the notes can be anything. It could be a funny story. It could be you just getting something off your chest. It could be an ad read for your business. I don't know why I'm pushing this so much. I think I kinda wanna read a nasty gram from somebody on air. But if you just wanna if you wanna donate $200 to the show and then write a note about how awful it is, what we're doing, you know what? I will read that too.
And you can connect with us on Facebook, Let's Talk Claremont podcast on Instagram at Let's Talk Claremont, and we have a newsletter. Please sign up to it. I'd I'm kinda proud of what we put together with this newsletter. Go to the website, let'stalkclairemont.com, click newsletter, and you just put your email in, and you're good to go. We're we're only gonna email you once a week when the show comes out, let you know that there's a new show, and we'll go into the news items a little bit more. We'll link out to the specific news article so you can read a little bit, you know, if applicable, if there is an actual article. If if not, that obviously won't happen. But it'll give you a chance to, you know, to read a little bit more about some of the news, that you're interested in.
And please follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or whatever it is you happen to use for podcasts. It helps the show and helps you because you'll be notified when a new show comes out. And oh, as always, if you just wanna send a note about anything at all, info@let'stalkclairmont.com. I always love seeing, that little unread icon, and I just you know, it's like getting mail. It's fun to get mail. It's fun to hear from people, and, I always enjoy it. So I, unfortunately, don't have any ollivisms to end the show with today. The little the newest edition, Vinny, has been, not necessarily a handful, but, you know, he's a baby. There's we're kinda trying to figure out our new routines and so that's been busy. And Olive's at kindergarten all day. So we don't really, she's not around as much as she used to be. But I'm gonna have my head on a swivel for more holovisms because I like doing those.
So that is the end of today's show. I appreciate you listening. I appreciate everybody's support, and we will see you next time.
Introduction and Episode Overview
News from Batavia: Baumann Development Controversy
Milford's Financial Moves and Parking Debate
Community Investments by Nestle Purina
Historic Building Renovation in New Richmond
New Richmond's School Cell Phone Policy
Pierce Township Community Survey and EPA Grant
Dry Land Dog Mushing Championship
Value for Value Podcast Model
Interview with Amy Donnelly aka Edith Schitt
Life in New Richmond and Community Spirit
Comparing Ohio and Texas Living
Family and Parenting Stories
Exploring New Richmond's Hidden Gems
Revitalizing River Towns and Community Events
Edith Schitt's Perspective on New Richmond
Upcoming Community Events
Closing Remarks and Value for Value Pitch
