The Great Duck Race '04 takes place!
The finish line
Three hundred and nineteen rubber ducks vied for the distinction of being the winner of the first Great Duck Race, going down in the annals of Greenfield
tomfoolery. But, oh, we do have such fun. At the end of the 47 minute race, with spectators anxiously awaiting the results, the winner was Vicki Duff's duck. The DUFF Duck. Second place went to Trace Everhart; 3rd to Greenfield Research CS Dept.; 4th to Bob Everhart; 5th to Mary Ann Larkin; 6th to Bobbie Savage; 7th to Kaye York-Longworth; 8th to Jim Pearce; 9th to Kaylee Arwood and last place to Brooke Beatty.
Ducks on the go!
Jerry and Earlene Scott's 657 S. Washington Street home is one of four residences featured on the Greenfield Historical Society's Tour of Homes set for 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. Pictured is the formal living room in the home, which is more than 120 years old and was built out of stone from Rucker's Quarry. Mr. Rucker built the house for his oldest daughter Jenny, when she married.
Another beautiful home featured on the 2007 Tour of Homes
Pence home also featured on the Dec. 2 Tour of Homes
Nina is pictured with her 21-pound Maine Coon Cat, Traveler
Nina in her charming living room
Nina Pence's 651 Lafayette Street house is one of four homes featured on the Greenfield Historical Society's Dec. 2 Tour of Homes. Nina's house, formerly known as the Faye Murphy residence, is a gem. It sits atop a hill and brings to mind a fairy tale cottage. Nina thinks her kitchen and cellar were originally the summer kitchen for the Mains home, which used to be located next door. The house features such quirks as a mattress door and ... a 21-pound cat that resembles a bobcat, if bobcats were white.
Nina has done a lot of work to the home since she purchased it a few years ago. It had fallen into a state of disrepair and she and her mother, Ann Gessner Pence, had their work cut out for them. She's enclosed a porch which extended the size of her kitchen and created an upstairs bathroom complete with skylights. Closets were installed, walls painted and the sloping front yard was beautifully landscaped.
A collector of antiques, Nina describes her taste as eclectic.
The sturdy and stately 14-room brick home owned by Ollie and Rhonda Sponcil is the fourth residence on the Greenfield Historical Society’s Tour of Homes set for 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.
The Sponcil house was built in 1840 by David Lee Bonner.
According to Rhonda, the Bonner family owned the house and farmland until 1949 at which time Ray Creachbaum purchased the property.
Originally, the structure was a story and one-half but in the late 1800’s it was transformed into a two-story house.
In 1922, a log cabin, situated at the rear of the house, was raised about twelve inches and connected to the existing structure. At that time, the home was given its brick façade.
The Sponcils purchased the home in 1990 and during the remodeling process Ollie discovered the log cabin. He restored the cabin to its original state and that space functions as the Sponcils’ family room.
“We think the log cabin was covered with wallboard and a stone chimney was built in the log section during the 1950’s,” Rhonda noted.
She describes her 11168 Bonner Road residence as “Very country. The house isn’t fancy or sophisticated and it’s not Victorian. It’s a country house; there’s nothing elaborate. It’s where the farmhands eat lunch every day. It’s comfortable and inviting.”
Tickets to the Tour of Homes can be purchased at Robbins’ Village Florist, Freda Maxine’s, Castle Hallmark, Merchants Bank, Leesburg Federal, and Fifth/Third as well as from any historical society member (937-981-7890).



Sponcils' farmhouse is on tour
The log cabin portion of the Sponcil home serves as the family room
On his last day in office, Mayor John Baal is pictured with Auditor Karen Daniels; Treasurer Marguerite Penn, who has the distinction of being ninety-years-old and still coming to work every day, and the Auditor's Assistant Bev Giffin.
Out-going Mayor Baal poses with Roberta Karnes, his secretary, and Margaret Mobley, the income tax administrator.
Calendar of events for 2008
Courtesy of the Highland County Convention and Visitors' Bureau
Sara Lukens, Director
1575 N. High St., Suite 400
P.O. Box 638
Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
www.highlandcounty.com
937-393-4883



MARCH 5  Annual Women’s Tea, Southern State Community College, South Campus, Fincastle, Ohio, for more information call 1-800-628-7722
MARCH 19 “A One Act Play: TBA”, Southern State Community College, Central Campus, Edward K. Daniels Auditorium, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, SSCC students take part in performing a one act play, for more information call 937-393-3431
Saturday, March 22 @ 2 p.m. an Easter egg hunt will be held at Pamida, located at 1300 Jefferson St. in Greenfield. According to Jason Faul, fire, police and life squad personnel will be on hand to participate in the fun. For more information, contact Faul at 981-1558. This is the third year that Pamida has hosted an Easter egg hunt.
MARCH Highland House Museum, 151 E. Main St., Hillsboro, opens for the season, the c. 1842 federal style house has extensive collections relating to the cultural, historical, farming, arts, pioneer and manufacturing history of Highland County, special displays and monthly historical society meetings, for more information call 937-393-3392
MARCH Women’s History Speaker, date to be announced, Southern State Community College, Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, for more information call 937-393-3431
APRIL
APRIL 1- JUNE 15  Candee Basford Art Showcase, Southern State Community College, South Campus, Fincastle, mixed media, for more information call 1-800-628-7722
APRIL 5 Trout Derby, Rocky Fork State Park Campground Docks, 9800 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio, for more information call 937-393-4284
APRIL 5 Peter Cottontail Campout, Paint Creek State Park, U.S. Route 50, between Hillsboro and Bainbridge, fun with the bunny, for more information call the park at 937-365-1401
APRIL 15-MAY 30 Area Artist Exhibition, Southern State Community College, South Campus, Fincastle, exhibition open house on April 24, for more information call 1-800-628-7722
APRIL 17, 18, 19 and 20  Third Annual Southern Ohio Wildflower Pilgrimage, presented by the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, few sites rival the beauty of the arrival of the first wildflowers of spring, join our local friends from the Highlands Nature Sanctuary for field trips led by experienced naturalists and botanists, optional meals provided, evening presentations, for more information visit www.highlandssanctuary.org or call 937-365-0101

MAY 18-25 AMVETS Post 61 Bluegrass Festival, AMVETS Park, 10539 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio, Bluegrass music, camping, picking all night, for more information call 937-393-2900 or 937-466-9674
MAY 30, 31 AND JUNE 1 “The Curious Savage”, by John Patrick, Southern State Community College, Central Campus, Edward K. Daniels Auditorium, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, theatre performance, for more information call 937-393-3431

JUNE 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29  “The Wizard of Oz”, Magic Waters Theatre, Cave Road, Bainbridge, Ohio, opens the season and will play for three weekends, rustic outdoor theatre, cost of admission: adult-$7.00, child-$3.50 and seniors-$4.00, group discounts can be arranged, to make reservations, order season tickets or reserve pre-show dinners call 937-365-1388 or email www.highland-ohio.com/magicwaters

JUNE 14 The fifth Annual Father of All Duck Races, Paint Creek, Greenfield, Ohio;  for more information call Cindi Pearce, Community Development Director, at 937-981-3500 or email cpearce@greenfieldohio.net

JUNE 21  Lavender Field Day at Springbrook Meadows, 11821 US 50 E., Hillsboro, Ohio, walk through a field filled with lavender in full bloom, see artists at work incorporating lavender into their unique designs, lavender available for cutting, admission is free, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., call 937-365-1632 or email SpringbrookMeadows@hotmail.com for more information or visit their website at www.ohiolavender.com.
JUNE 21-22  Brush and Palette Art Guild Show, Southern State Community College, Central Campus, Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio, regional artists display their work, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. both days, for more information email bhodge@cinci.rr.com

JULY 3-6  Festival of the Bells, downtown Hillsboro, Ohio, festival celebrates the C. S. Bell Company and the bells heard round the world, food booths, crafts, rides, historical displays and high quality entertainment, Hillsboro Uptown Business Association Customer Appreciation Days, for more information call 937-393-9957 or visit their website at www.festivalofthebells.com
JULY 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 “It Happened To Me”, Magic Waters Theatre, Cave Road, Bainbridge, Ohio, comedy about the life of a lottery winner, second in the summer theatre series, the production will run for three weekends, for more information on tickets, times, reservations and dinner call 937-365-1388 or visit their website at www.highland-ohio.com/magicwaters 

JULY 18-20  Wheels of Progress Summer Fest, downtown Greenfield, Ohio, sponsored by the Greenfield Rotary Club; displays, food booths, crafts, entertainment; historical society buildings are open for the festival; cruise-in; fun for the whole family.

AUGUST 8-9  Huckleberry Finn Fest, Paint Creek State Park, U.S. Rt. 50, Bainbridge, Ohio, old-fashioned fun in a beautiful park setting, call the park for more information at 937-365-1401
AUGUST 9, 10 “hiswords-His Word”, Magic Waters Theatre, 7757 Cave Road, Bainbridge, rustic outdoor theatre, religious drama, for more information on tickets, times, reservations and dinner call 937-365-1388 or visit their website at www.highland-ohio.com/magicwaters
AUGUST 16 Duck Blind Drawing, Rocky Fork State Park, 9800 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio, call the park at 937-393-4284 for more information
AUGUST 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 ‘The Trappings of Murder”, Magic Waters Theatre, Cave Road, Bainbridge, Ohio, closing the 2008 season, an original play by a local playwright, for information on tickets, times, reservations and dinner call 937-365-1388 or visit their website at www.highland-ohio.com/magicwaters 
AUGUST 22-24  “Assassins”, Southern State Community College, Central Campus, Edward K. Daniels Auditorium, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro, theatre production, for more information call 937-393-3431
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6  Highland County Fair, fairgrounds, St. Rt. 73 N., Hillsboro, Ohio, agricultural displays, crafts, livestock shows and sales, floral displays, rides, food, midway, admission fee, free parking, call 937-393-9975 for more information

SEPTEMBER  Step Into Hillsboro, special programming sponsored by the Hillsboro Uptown Business Association, get out and about uptown and meet your neighbors, for more information and dates for specific events call 937-840-0701
SEPTEMBER 13-14 Thunder In The Hills Hydroplane Races, Rocky Fork State Park, East Shore Drive and Marina, McCoppin Mill Road, Hillsboro, Ohio, record setting speed hydroplane races, for more information contact 937-393-4284 or 937-365-0046
SEPTEMBER 19-21  Draft Horse Show and Field Days, Highland County Fairgrounds, St. Rt. 73, Hillsboro, see these magnificent animals doing the work they were bred to do in the show ring and in the field, camping available, Sunday morning church service, for more information call 937-393-3525

OCTOBER Haunted Hills, Halloween fun in the Magic Waters Woods,7757 Cave Road, Bainbridge, Ohio, call 937-365-1388 or visit their website at www.highland-ohio.com/magicwaters
OCTOBER 10-11  Halloween Campout, Paint Creek State Park, Halloween fun abounds! Regular camping fees apply, call the park at 937-365-1401 for more information
OCTOBER 17-18  Halloween Campout, Rocky Fork State Park Campgrounds, 9800 North Shore Drive, Hillsboro, Ohio, trick or treat, costume contest, pumpkin carving, regular camping fees apply, one of the most popular lake activities of the year, for more information call 937-393-4284

NOVEMBER 1-2  Artisan Folk Fair, Fairfield Local School Complex, 11611 SR 771, Leesburg, Ohio, established in 1982, the Artisan Folk Fair offers period artisans demonstrating and selling traditional folk arts and crafts, the juried event offers free stage and strolling performers throughout the two days, the event facility is entirely handicapped accessible with ample free parking, food will be available, Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun 12 noon – 5 p.m., for more information call 937-780-9884 or email artisanfolkfair@yahoo.com

NOVEMBER 1  Jingle Bell Bazaar, Hills and Dales Training Center, 8919 US Rt. 50 E., Hillsboro, Ohio, a craft bazaar featuring local artists as well as artists from surrounding areas, come enjoy home made cookies, handmade quilts, aprons, and other clothing as well as seasonal ornaments and wood products, homemade fudge and honey from local beekeepers, a great place to start your Christmas shopping, lunch served by Hills and Dales PTO, plan to come and enjoy the fun! 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., no admission fee, for more information call 937-393-4237
NOVEMBER 14, 15 and 16 Uptown Hillsboro Business Association Holiday Open House, loads of great prizes, special sales and promotions, new Hillsboro-opoly Game begins, shop and do business locally, for more information call 937-840-0701
NOVEMBER 29 Hillsboro Holiday Parade, uptown Hillsboro, Ohio, lighting of the Courthouse Lawn at dusk, for more information call 937-840-0701

DECEMBER  Highland House Museum, 151 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Ohio, the museum is beautifully decorated throughout for the holiday season, children’s tea party, excellent selection of unique items in the gift shop, for more information call 937-393-3392