Carol Graham of Elida won The Relaxation Package, a large gift basket with TV and movie collectibles from Alter Ego Comics, gourmet coffee and tea from The Meeting Place on Market, and a $50 gift certificate from downtown gift shoppe, David’s Finery.

Becky Mack of Lima won The Looking Good Package, made up of a $50 gift certificate from jeweler Don Jenkins, a $50 gift certificate from ladies’ boutique, Nitza’s, and a $50 gift certificate from men’s clothing retailer, Hofeller, Hiatt and Clark.

Kathy May of Elida won The  Pampered Artist Package, containing a 72” Zeikos Pro tripod from Mack Camera, a $50 gift certificate for an art class from ArtSpace Lima, and a $50 gift certificate from décor and gift shoppe, Pears Avenue Boutique.

The Downtown Holiday Shopping Pass was a first for downtown merchants, and is one of many ways they plan to educate consumers on the rich shopping environment available in downtown Lima.  “The Downtown Lima Shopping Pass brought more new faces into the store than almost any other promotion that we’ve participated in since opening in 2005,” said Marc Bowker, owner of Alter Ego Comics on Main Street. “The contest was a great way to promote locally owned businesses and show that Downtown Lima is an exciting place to be.”

For more information on future contests and events, visit Downtown Lima on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/downtownlima.

The Relaxation Package:

The Looking Good Package:

The Pampered Artist Package:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – December 10th, 2011

Download: 2011 Schedule of Events

10 am – 2 pm – Shopping at the ArtSpace/Lima Gallery Gift Shop

11 am – Live Music with Carl Rust at The Meeting Place on Market

1-3 pm – Art Exhibit Opening Reception with Toni Beener and June T. Bell, as well as Book Signing by Karen Bowden Cox at The Meeting Place on Market

3-3:30 pm – Lima Senior High Jazz Combo at the Civic Center

3-7 pm - Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Civic Center!
* Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus in Windows on the Square at the Civic Center (free photo and candy cane!)
* Horse Drawn Wagon Rides throughout the Town Square
* Santa’s Secret Workshop – Civic Center, Room 6
* ArtAbility Christmas Art Project (1 free project per child) – Civic Center, Room 5
* Christmas Cookie Decorating (1 free cookie per child – the WinGate Lobby
* The Literacy Council Holiday Home Tour, 563 W. Spring Street
* Christmas Caroling provided by the Shawnee Alliance Church Choir – throughout downtown Lima

7:00 pm – 1 Above Concert – free, at The Meeting Place on Market

7:30 pm – Lima Symphony Orchestra Presents “Bells, Brass & Bows” at the Civic Center, Tickets available at (419) 224-1552

Women in Business: December 1st 11:30 AM

Presented by The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce “Chamber’s Favorite Things” Join us at our December Women In Business luncheon and jump start your holiday shopping!! Venders will be showcasing their finest and will offer cash and carry items for you to purchase and take home with you that day. But wait… that’s not all!! As a bonus our vendors are giving the Chamber one of their “Favorite Things” to raffle off as door prizes!! Vendor booths are available for $50. To reserve your booth contact Tannie at tdervisevic@limachamber.com. December 1 11:30-1pm The City Club $10 for Chamber Members $20 for non-members

Wake, Rattle & Roll: December 2nd 7:30 AM South Hall

Presented by The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce Rise and shine with the Chamber of Commerce! Join us and over 100 other business leaders at this monthly breakfast meeting to learn about what is going on within the Lima/Allen County Community. Program starts at 7:30am – Arrive early for registation and networking – make sure to bring your business cards!! The cost of the event is $4 for members and $6 for non-members – includes continental breakfast. No advance registration is necessary for this program. Questions?? Please contact Cindy Tenwalde at 419.222.6045 or tenwalde@limachamber.com.

The Holiday Spectacular: 12/2 at 7:30 PM, 12/3 at 2 & 7:30 PM, 12/4 at 2 PM

ONU students will perform their Holiday Spectacular in the Crouse Performance Hall the first weekend in December. Experience one of the most beloved performances in the area during the Holiday season. Join the winter season festivities with carols, dancing and everyone’s favorite Snowman! Santa Claus is coming to town again, and you won’t want to miss the celebration! Tickets are available at local Kewpee locations.

Downtown Lima, Inc. Holiday Festival: December 10th 3:00-7:00 PM

Enjoy a day with your family in Downtown Lima! The Veterans Memorial Civic Center will host the following activites: Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Clause in Windows on the Square ArtAbility will host Kids Art Projects in Room 5 Visit Santa’s Secret Shop in Room 6 For more information, please contact Downtown Lima, Inc. at 419-222-2686.

Bells, Brass & Bows: December 10th 7:30 PM

Experience the wonder of Lima Symphony Orchestra’s holiday pops concert as the Lima Symphony Chorus and special guest Shannon O’Neill join them with sacred carols, timeless classics and sentimental holiday favorites sure to add joy, magic and treasured memories to your family’s tradition. Performance in the Crouse Performance Hall Tickets are available at the Lima Symphony Office at 419-222-5701.

Holiday Havoc– Bruiser Wrestling: December 10th 7 PM

aturday December 10th, Bruiser Wrestling presents another night of family friendly sports entertainment, HOLIDAY HAVOC! Bruiser Wrestling returns to the VMCC for another fundraiser for Our Daily Bread soup kitchen. Doors open @ 6pm and bell time is 7 pm. Dick the Bruiser Jr, KC Thunder, Mickey Dahmer, Mr Fitness and “JODI” will be among the superstars that night. Advance tickets are $10 at the VMCC Box Office and $14 at the door night of the show! Show in the Exhibit Hall.

The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up! December 17th at 12 PM & 4 PM

Lyn’s Academy of Dance will be performing The Nutcracker – All Jazzed Up on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 in the Crouse Performance Hall. There will be two performances, 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.00 or at Lyn’ s Academy of Dance from November 28-December 13th . The dancers of Lyn’s Academy of Dance are thrilled to be performing this jazzed up Holiday classic. This version of the classic Nutcracker Ballet is filled with many surprises; tap dancing mice, jazzing icicles, adorable miniature angels and many other fun filled dances. We would love to have you join us for this one of a kind performance!

New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas: Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia: December 31st 7:30 PM

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas….unless its music. On New Year’s Eve, the Lima Symphony Orchestra joins “the Chairman of the Board” with Simply Sinatra. Acclaimed Sinatra interpreter Steve Lippia will fly you to the moon with his crooning styles and seductive singing. There’s no better way to pay tribute to the classically cool style of Old Blue Eyes than with the youthful charisma, swinging stage presence and sublime vocals of Steve Lippia as he performs Sinatra’s biggest hits from The Best Is Yet To Come and My Way to I’ve Got You Under My Skin and New York, New York. Don’t miss a beat. Performance in the Crouse Performance Hall Tickets are available at the Lima Symphony Office at 419-222-5701.

11/7/2011 

Lima, OH – A group of downtown shops has joined together to create the Holiday Shopping Pass, a shopping map that rewards downtown shopping with the chance to win prizes.

The Holiday Shopping Pass lists nine downtown shops that offer fun and unique holiday shopping experiences.  As customers visit the shops, they can present the pass and get a special sticker for each location.  Once a customer has filled the pass with stickers from at least seven retailers, it can be turned in for the prize drawing.  Winners will be drawn on December 22^nd.  Three prizes are available:

The Relaxation Package: Large gourmet coffee and tea gift basket from The Meeting Place on Market, with a variety of comic
books and graphic novels from Alter Ego Comics, & a $50 gift certificate from David’s Finery.

The Looking Good Package: A $50 gift certificate from each: Don Jenkins Jewelry, Nitza’s, and Hofeller, Hiatt and Clark.

The  Pampered Artist Package: 72” Zeikos Pro tripod from Mack Camera ($80 value), a $50 gift certificate for an art class from ArtSpace Lima, and a $50 gift certificate from Pears Avenue Boutique.

The shopping pass not only offers a fun way for people to find the perfect gift, it also benefits our community.  Based on the Civic Economics
Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, if every family in the country spent an extra $10 a month with a locally-owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $9.3 billion would be directly returned to local economies.^[i]

“We are excited to support the downtown merchants in this fun contest. Anything that builds up the strength of our downtown retailers
boosts the overall strength of downtown Lima,” says Aubree Kaye, Director of Downtown Lima, Inc.

Participating retailers are:

Alter Ego Comics, comic books
and movie and TV collectibles, 230 N. Main St., www.alteregocomics.com,
419-224-6700

ArtSpace/ Lima Gift Shoppe, hand-made art work and gifts,
65 Town Square, www.artspacelima.com, 419-222-1721

David’s Finery, gifts and decorative items, 115 N.
Elizabeth St., www.davidsfinery.com, 419-222-7089

Don Jenkins, fine jewelry, 117 N. Elizabeth St.,
419-224-3211

Hofeller, Hiatt, & Clark, quality men’s clothing, 237
N. Main St., www.hofellers.com, 419-228-5621

Mack Camera, cameras & photography, 119 N. Elizabeth
St., 419-225-5876

Nitza’s, ladies boutique and tailor shop, 300 N. Main St., www.facebook.com/nitzasinlima,
419-227-3877

Pears Avenue Boutique (Opening sometime in November), unique
furniture and décor, 300 N. Main St., www.pearsavenue.net

The Meeting Place on Market, gourmet coffee, tea and gift
baskets, 220 W. Market St., www.meetingplaceonmarket.com,
419-222-0985

Holiday Shopping Passes can be
picked up at any participating retailer, or downloaded from www.downtownlimaohio.com.  Completed passes must be turned in by
December 21^st, 2011, at the Civic Center Business Office, 7 Town
Square, open Monday – Friday, 12 – 5 pm.

Contact Person:

Jennifer Brogee, Downtown Lima Marketing Committee Chair

419-236-5711, Jennifer@kaffeescape.com

WIN FABULOUS DESIGNER PURSES

AND SUPPORT DOWNTOWN LIMA INC!

WHEN: Friday, November 11, 2011

Doors Open at 5:00PM

Games Begin at 6:00PM

WHERE: Memorial Hall, Lima

TICKETS: $25.00 per person

PURCHASE: www.limaciviccenter.com

TICKET INCLUDES: Admission and one bingo card to be used for 20 games

20 Games of Bingo

≈20 Designer Purses

Lucky Number Auction with Purses and Accessories

Beverages and other refreshments will be available

Download Designer Purse Bingo Flier

The event will begin at 5:30 pm at the Veteran’s Memorial Civic Center with a short awards ceremony. Wine and light appetizers will also be served. Attendees will then be invited to browse the round-robin photo exhibit, located at various business in downtown Lima. Locations include the Civic Center, Alter Ego Comics, Nitza’s, David’s Finery, Don Jenkins, Mack Camera and The Meeting Place on Market. The Heart of Lima Neighborhood Association’s safety patrol will be on hand to guide attendees to the various locations. Appetizers and drinks will be served at various locations.

The event is free and open to the public. The photographs will also be on exhibit at all the various locations throughout the month of October. For more information, visit www.downtownlimaohio.com.

Major Sponsors:

Entries are accepted at the offices of Downtown Lima Inc, in the Chamber building at 144 S. Main Street, or at The Meeting Place on Market, 220 West Market Street.  Each photographer may submit up to 5 entries with their entry fee of $5.  Photos must be mounted on 8×10 white photo board, which can be purchased at Mack Camera on Elizabeth Street, among other places.  For complete rules, please visit Downtown Lima’s web site:  http://www.downtownlimaohio.com.

Both amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit photographs taken within downtown Lima during 2011.  A grand prize of $200 will be awarded to the Best of Show winner.  Additional winners in each people, places and things category, and each age division, will be awarded at $50 each.  Selected photographs will be on display at various locations in downtown Lima throughout October.   Winners will be announced at the exhibit’s opening night on Thursday, September 29th, 5:30 – 8:30 pm.  The public is invited to browse the round robin exhibit, while enjoying appetizers and drinks, during the opening reception.

“We’ve seen a lot of interested in our Photo Shoot Nights with photography Jason Bowers over the summer, so we’re excited to see the results,” says planning committee member, Jennifer Brogee.

About Downtown Lima, Inc:
Downtown Lima, Inc. is a non-profit, membership organization whose mission is to stimulate economic development, improve the appearance and create a positive image of the downtown as a desirable place to work, live, shop and invest.
Contact Person:
Jennifer Brogee
Planning Committee Member
419-236-5711
Jennifer@kaffeescape.com

Press Release: Downtown Lima Shoot Night Offers Inside Look at Historical Buildings

Lima, OH – As part of our Downtown Lima “More Than You Know” Photography Competition, professional
photographer Jason Bowers is leading a series of 3 free photography workshops over the summer.  Our next shoot night, on August 9th, will feature an inside look at two historical buildings in downtown Lima – The Met Block, or Metropolitan Building, as it is sometimes known, and the Ohio Theatre.  Previous shoot nights have been held in the Town Square, at Trinity United Methodist Church, and Memorial Hall.

On Tuesday, August 9th, 6 pm, attendees should meet on the sidewalk in front of Nitza’s (300 North Main Street), across the street
from the Allen County Courthouse.  Participants will then be able to take some shots inside and outside the building.  After some time there, the
group will move to the Ohio Theatre, where photos can also be taken.

The workshops are not required to participate in the competition, but they offer anyone, regardless of skill level, training in photography techniques.  To join the workshops, no registration is required.  Just bring your camera and your questions.  All workshops are free and open to the public.   Junior high age and older welcome!

Jason Bowers graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1998 with a BS in Journalism and concentration in Photojournalism. He worked as a photographer for several newspapers and transitioned into freelance work, discovering that he truly enjoyed working for himself. Jason says, “Over the years, because I’ve had opportunities to photograph so many interesting people, places, and events it’s hard for me to imagine doing anything else. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to do what I enjoy for a living.”

The first annual Downtown Lima More Than You Know Photography Competition will accept photographs from both amateurs and professionals throughout the month of August.  Photographs must be taken within downtown Lima during 2011.  On September 29^th, a reception will be held to showcase the photographs, and a $200 best in show prize will be given, as well as 9 first place awards in the categories of people, places and things.  The photographs will be on display throughout downtown Lima in October. For complete rules, visit http://www.downtownlimaohio.com

Contact Person:

Jennifer Brogee
Downtown Lima Committee Member

jennifer@kaffeescape.com
419-236-5711

We started out at The Meeting Place on Market where we were welcomed and got our marching orders.

From there, we walked across the street to Trinity United Methodist. We spent about 15 minutes taking photos of the outside of the building. Then, Rev. Harris welcomed us personally as we explored the inside of the church. The lighting was gorgeous as the sun started to set through the stained glass windows.

After 20-30 minutes of shooting at the church, we meandered over to Memorial Hall. Civic Center employee Mike Bean opened the building up for us so we could enjoy the antique fixtures, the expansive rooms, and many photographic opportunities.

We ended the night with a closing Q&A on Memorial Hall’s steps, with professional photographer Jason Bower sharing his expertise and answering our questions.

Overall, a great night! Check out downtown Lima’s facebook site for photos from some of the participants: http://www.facebook.com/downtownlima.

We have one more photo shoot night on August 9^th. We’ll meet at 6 pm in front of Nitza’s. We have permission to explore the inside of the Met Block building, and may have another historic building to explore as well!

On Thursday, July 14th, 6 pm, attendees should meet at The Meeting Place on Market (220 West Market Street). The night will begin with a short question and answer session, and then move to Trinity United Methodist Church, where participants will have the opportunity to take pictures inside the historical building. After some time there, the group will move to Memorial Hall, where photos can also be taken.

The workshops are not required to participate in the competition, but they offer anyone, regardless of skill level, training in photography techniques. To join the workshops, no registration is required. Just bring your camera and your questions. All workshops are free and open to the public. Junior high age and older welcome!

Jason Bowers graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1998 with a BS in Journalism and concentration in Photojournalism. He worked as a photographer for several newspapers and transitioned into freelance work, discovering that he truly enjoyed working for himself. Jason says, “Over the years, because I’ve had opportunities to photograph so many interesting people, places, and events it’s hard for me to imagine doing anything else. I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to do what I enjoy for a living.”

The first annual Downtown Lima More Than You Know Photography Competition will accept photographs from both amateurs and professionals throughout the month of August. Photographs must be taken within downtown Lima during 2011. On September 29^th, a reception will be held to showcase the photographs, and a $200 best in show prize will be given, as well as 9 first place awards in the categories of people, places and things. The photographs will be on display throughout downtown Lima in October. For complete rules, visit http://www.downtownlimaohio.com

Contact Person:

Jennifer Brogee
Downtown Lima Committee Member

jennifer@kaffeescape.com
419-236-5711