Tag: Dolly Parton

  • First Lady announces first year progress on Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library Program

    First Lady announces first year progress on Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library Program

    Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren are three of 78 Ohio Counties Offering this Free Book Program for Children

    First Lady Fran DeWine
    Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine (Provided Photo)

    Columbus, Ohio – Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine has announced what she describes as amazing progress in reaching young Ohio readers in the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library (OGIL) Program’s first year.

    Now, 206,463 Ohio children from birth to age 5 are enrolled to receive a free Imagination Library book in the mail every single month. The program is currently offered countywide to children in 78 of Ohio’s counties, with an additional three – Crawford, Van Wert, and Mercer – launching the OGIL Program in September.

    Updated August Map

    “Thanks to dedicated Ohio lawmakers, who are investing in our kids with matching funding, and our wonderful local partners, the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library has made outstanding progress in its first year,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “But we still have more work to do. Mike and I look forward to the day that every young child in Ohio– no matter what city, county, village or township that child lives in — has access to the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library books.”

    Last summer, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program was available in pockets of Ohio when the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library partnered with the Dolly Parton program. 93,483 children were enrolled in August 2019. In September 2020 enrollment will more than double to 206,463.

    Mrs. DeWine in Lawrence County

    First Lady DeWine in Lawrence County on February 3, 2020 (Provided Photo)

    “I really enjoyed visiting with our local partners and families in 16 Ohio counties between January and March of this year,” said Mrs. DeWine. “Of course, that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. But we’ve continued working to find county partners during these recent months, because we know this program works. Young children are excited to receive the book each month in the mail, which is addressed to them. And just having these books in the home promotes a love of learning and family bonding that we know adds up to preparing children for kindergarten. I encourage all Ohio children to sign up for these free books!”

    Only seven Ohio counties — Ashland, Columbiana, Lake, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, and Seneca – remain without a countywide program.

    Ohio Governor's Imagination Library Logo

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    Parents and caregivers can sign up children at www.OhioImaginationLibrary.org.

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    First Lady DeWine in Cuyahoga County

    First Lady DeWine in Cuyahoga County on January 13, 2020 (Provided Photo)

    First Lady DeWine in Pike County

    First Lady DeWine in Pike County on January 24, 2020 (Provided Photo)

    First Lady DeWine in Scioto County

    First Lady DeWine in Scioto County on January 24, 2020 (Provided Photo)

  • Sign up and receive a free book from Dolly Parton every month for your Clermont County preschooler

    Sign up and receive a free book from Dolly Parton every month for your Clermont County preschooler

    To sign up and receive a free book every month mailed to your child, visit the Clermont County Public Library’s website, www.Clermontlibrary.org.

    Clermont County, Ohio – A program connected to County-singing superstar Dolly Parton launches today in Clermont County with a goal of providing free books to more than 2,000 local preschoolers.

    The Clermont County Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library will soon mail age-appropriate books to 2,400 children age 0-5 before the 2020-2021 school year begins.

    To sign up and receive a free book mailed to your child, visit the Clermont County Public Library’s website, www.Clermontlibrary.org.

    United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Clermont County Public Library formed the partnership to bring the program to Clermont County.

    It is an extension of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program started in 1995 to mail free, high-quality books to preschool children. The first books were distributed in Sevier County, TN, where Parton grew up, but word spread, the program went national, and by 2003, had distributed more than 1 million books. It is now a world-wide program.

    United Way’s Eastern Area Center brought together the Dollywood Foundation, Clermont County Public Library, the Ohio Governor’s Office and others to initiate the program to Clermont County.

    “This program aligns well with our focus on quality education and our Success by Six initiatives of promoting early literacy and kindergarten readiness as well as encouraging parent-child interaction,” said Moira Weir, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Cincinnati. “We know early reading is a foundation for a lifetime of academic success and we’re happy to bring this program to Clermont County. United is the way to quality education.”

    Parents who sign their children up will receive a free book delivered to their home every month. If the program hits its goal of 2,400, it will serve about 12 percent of the eligible population in Clermont County.

    “That would be a great start to reaching all children in Clermont County by the end of 2021,” said Erika Yingling, director of United Way’s Eastern Area Center. “We hope others will join together to support this expansion and ensure children start off with the reading material they need to super-charge their imagination.”

    Making the public library the focal point of the program will spur increased reading engagement, Yingling said. She added that the program was supported by more than $8,500 in funds, including grants from Duke Energy Foundation and Connect Clermont.

    About United Way

    For more than 100 years, United Way of Greater Cincinnati has developed, supported and strengthened social systems that improve lives in Greater Cincinnati communities. UWGC provides relief for families in crisis, supports families as they establish stronger foundations, and revitalizes systems of support for long-term economic resiliency. United Way is uniquely positioned to bring together and harness the collective power of social service agencies, governments, businesses, donors and more to tackle ingrained, persistent, community-wide problems in a coordinated, comprehensive way that maximizes donor dollars. The generosity of our community, combined with our more than 100 years of experience bringing people together, enables us to support families in a 10-county area across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Additional information about our community impact is available at UWGC.org #LiveUnited

  • 9 to 5 The Musical coming to Loveland Stage Company

    9 to 5 The Musical coming to Loveland Stage Company

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    We’ve all had a bad boss or two, so come see 9 to 5 the Musical at Loveland Stage Company and live vicariously as we get revenge on one of the worst of them.

    Loveland Stage Company (LSC) is proud to present 9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick. 9 to 5 is based on the 1980 hit movie, of the same name, starring Dolly Parton. Set in the late 1970s, this is the story of an unexpected friendship, revenge, and a little romance.

    This production is headed by first time LSC Director, Denise Schnieders and Producer Kate Arnold. With the help of Marjory Clegg (Choreographer), Tara Bridge (Vocal Direction) and Jeanne Bilyeu (Orchestral Director).

    The cast of 27, including several new faces to LSC as well as a number of Orchid Award winners, take the audience back to the 1970’s with the story of three coworkers who’ve had enough of being overlooked and chased around their boss’s desk because they are women. They hatch a plan to get even with their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss, Mr. Hart. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company and making it the best place to work inside or outside of Consolidated Industries.

    In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot!

    The cast includes: Mary Vosseberg* (Violet), Megan Archibald (Doralee), Jodi Zerbe* (Judy), T. Edison Morris III (Mr. Hart), Stephanie Sams* (Roz), Brett Parr* (Joe), Zac Holman* (Dwayne), Adam Peters (Josh), Missy Fram (Missy Hart), Davi Hutchins (Maria), Jonathan Eckman (Dick), Tonya Oslak (Kathy), Terry Neack (Margaret), Charlie Rader (Bob Enright), John Masterson (Mr. Tinsworthy), Gary Bracknell (Detective/Ensemble), David Cord* (Doctor/Ensemble), Natalie Beaulieu* (Candy Striper/Ensemble), Amber Browning (Ensemble), Carolyn Finn (Ensemble), Norm Lewis (Ensemble), Liz Olekas (Ensemble), Alex Rader* (Ensemble), Pia Rader (Ensemble), Lori Reichling (Ensemble), and Greg Stevens (Ensemble).

    We’ve all had a bad boss or two, so come see 9 to 5 the Musical at Loveland Stage Company and live vicariously as we get revenge on one of the worst of them.

    Tickets are available online at www.LovelandStageCompany.org/Tickets.

    Performance dates and times are:

    March 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 7:30 pm

    March 4, 11, and 18 at 3:00 pm

    • Denotes new to Loveland Stage Company.