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By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings The hottest new place in town is serving up the sweetest treats around! Whit’s Frozen Custard of Portsmouth set up shop at 631 2nd Street right here in Portsmouth. Sweet treats are not all that they have! Besides freshly made custard, frozen custard cakes, and Whittie cookie sandwiches, they also offer footlongs, BBQ sandwiches, and shredded chicken. Matt and Aleis Conley are the proud owners. They started planning the business in November of 2019 and officially opened August 17, 2020. The Whittman's started the very first Whit’s location in Graneville, Ohio, back in 2003 and today other families across the country have opened up 60 locations. They felt that Whit’s would be a great addition to our county. They centered their thoughts around having a nice place for families to gather together. Since they are located in the historic Boneyfiddle district, I had to ask if they knew any history about their building. They told me that it used to be called “The Trotter Building”. I did my research and found that it was owned by Eliza (Denison) Trotter, who was a pioneering businesswoman. She launched her hat store in 1858 and constructed the building in the early 1870s. Since then it has been home to a dental office, a photography studio, a music academy, and much more! Even though they only recently opened, I talked with them about COVID and how it has impacted their launch. Matt told me, “Covid affected our business by giving us a late start to opening. We had originally planned to open in May. COVID made that impossible. However, we have had amazing support from the people of Scioto County, even through this pandemic. I think the reason why is that it gives families in our community something to do. It’s nice to be able to take the family out for a frozen custard treat. We are blown away by the support we have been shown and hope that it gives our community something to look forward to each week as our flavors change. We sure do love to see all of the smiling faces.” The next time you are looking for a fun night out for you and your family to enjoy, check out Whit’s Frozen Custard of Portsmouth.

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings When people hear the word “popcorn”, they typically think of a movie theatre. However, when the residents of Scioto county hear the word “popcorn”, they think of Jet’s Gourmet Popcorn. Located right in Portsmouth, they have been serving our community for a little over two years now! Jet and Tim Angel are the men behind who have changed our thoughts (and taste buds) on typical popcorn. They offer over 70 flavors of gourmet popcorn while also making various handmade chocolates, baked goods, and flavor infused sodas! Tim and Jet started off selling handbags and jewelry at festivals, special events, and flea markets. They knew that they wanted to start a business that could appeal to more potential customers and once they came across the idea of popcorn, they ran with it All of their gourmet popcorn is popped, caramelized, bagged, and sealed by hand right here in Portsmouth! They hand make all but a few of their gourmet chocolate and baked goods too. They love hearing flavor suggestions and any helpful and creative ideas! They welcome people stopping in their shop to give them feedback. COVID greatly affected Jet’s and their day to day productions. Jet and his wife have worked day in and day out to keep everything going. They expressed their gratitude for the support that the community has given them since the pandemic began. Jet added, “We plan on being here for many many years to come to serve our awesome community with the very best gourmet popcorn in the world, we put our heart and soul into what we do and we couldn’t do it without the genuine love and support from everyone who walks in our door, likes and shares our posts online, mentions us to a friend, it’s our beloved community members who support us every single day that keep us so passionate about what we do and we can’t thank you all enough, you all mean the world to us!” Make sure to stop in to check out all of their delicious goodies! You can also find them on social media @JetsGourmetPopcorn

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings When I’m sitting at home bored on a Saturday afternoon, my favorite thing to do is to go “antiquing”. There are so many unique things to be found around Scioto County and some of the neatest items that I have found came from Ghosts In The Attic Antique Mall. They are located on 518 Second Street in the Boneyfiddle area and have three stories for you to explore. They offer your typical antiques and collectible items, but have recently added some new goodies. Homemade soaps, local honey, jewelry, books, and t-shirts are just a few of their new additions. The building that they are located in is a part of the rich history that the Boneyfiddle area provides. The building was built in the 1800s. Previously it has been a general mercantile, a wholesale drug company, Ohio Valley Coffee Company, West End Furniture Company, and a few others. It was once even occupied by an undertaker! When talking to them about COVID and how it has affected their business, they told me how they had been closed for over 6 weeks in the early spring and didn’t reopen until May 12th. They are requiring face masks and were so excited to welcome everyone back. They even had customers lined up waiting for them to unlock the doors on their reopening day. They told me this, “We really appreciate our loyal customers who have become our friends as well as customers.  The community is a tremendous support to us as well as local businesses.” The next time that you are sitting at home bored, or are in the mood for a DIY project, go check out Ghost In The Attic Antique Mall on second street! You won’t be disappointed. Facebook: @ghostsintheatticmall

By Del Duduit | Local Happenings Stockdale native and former Minford Elementary student Zach Veach has his best starting position yet in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Zach will start in the sixth row at spot 17 on Sunday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I’m happy for him but I just cannot imagine. The past three years, I have been there to cover the race at the Brickyard. Although not an avid follower of auto sports, the Indianapolis 500 is the most exciting event I have ever attended, and I have been to a few of them. I have covered everything from the Super Bowl to the Final Four. But I must admit, the MLB Home Run Derby comes close, but that was more entertainment and fun than anything. The disappointment hits home because I won’t be there for his fourth attempt to “kiss the bricks” as many of the media will not be allowed to come. The race, traditionally run on Memorial Day weekend, was pushed back to Aug. 23 over fear of the coronavirus. News came down this week that the race will be run without fans. Zach, who grew up in Stockdale, put on his Twitter post recently that “My favorite sight of the year is walking through gasoline alley and seeing the stands for the first time on Indy 500 race day. Saddened it’ll look so different this year but it is what needs to be done. We’ll put on a great show for everyone watching at home!” I will miss that too but cannot narrow down what I will miss the most. Everything about the Indy 500 is spectacular. The pageantry, the tradition of honoring the military and the patriotism is appreciated. The flyovers send chills down my back and the order for “drivers, start your engines,” are the four most exciting words you will hear. On race day, it is “highly suggested” to be in the media center about 4 a.m. – maybe I won’t miss that as much come to think of it. But I must admit, the place is hopping with adrenaline even before the sun comes up and rises over the Pagoda. Track employees are everywhere and hyped up on coffee. But the entire event is a thrill. I recall walking the straight away with my friend, George, who is the owner of Kingdom Racing, at 6 a.m. He always has a driver in the field and goes to each car and prays for safety over them. Throughout the morning, there are church services as the Speedway in a garage conducted by IndyCar Ministries. I’ve been to a few of them. It’s interesting to watch the employees at the track get ready to put on the show. The red carpet is rolled out for “celebrities” at 5:30 a.m. and once the gates open, about 400,000 fans come into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s electric. A friend and fellow sportswriter who covers the Bengals with me, went two years ago for the first time at my suggestion, and told me it was more amazing than he ever thought it would be. I will miss not talking with Zach in his garage hours before he straps into his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Auto Sport. I coached him in fourth grade basketball at Minford Elementary School and he is friends with my youngest son because they were on the same team. I will miss following him on the board in the media center and watching his car zoom by me at 240 mph. Last year, Zach was in good position to finish in the top 10, but a five-car cash with 25 laps to go took him out of 12th place and the race. Hardly any media, and no fans at the IMS is hard to fathom. When I spoke to Zach before he raced at Texas Motor Speedway in June, he said it was going to be odd to not see fans the stands. He loves the 500 and wants nothing more than to cross the finish line and drink from the milk jar. Instead of being waited on inside the media center and having the traditional brisket and potatoes for lunch, I’ll be in my recliner chomping on nachos and cheering for our own as he takes part in the most exciting day in sports. Godspeed Zach. Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings Sitting in the heart of the Boneyfiddle area is a photography studio known for its senior and portrait photography. Andrew Dodson Photography has been around since 2013 and has done a great job at capturing memories. When his newborn son arrived, Mr. Dodson couldn’t find anyone to do the type of photography that he was wanting. He decided to learn how to do it himself. Newborn photography became his main focus for a couple of years until he transitioned to what he is currently doing today. Mr. Dodson had an amazing opportunity to go to Los Angeles and shoot a Hollywood after party for the 50th Anniversary of the Carol Burnett Show. He has photographs of Carol, Jane Lynch, Maya Rudolph, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, at-the-time House of Cards megastar Kevin Spacey, among many others. Having a long career in commercial video, he had to shelf the life of his photography. After a while, he ventured back into photography where he fell in love all over agin. He told me that his favorite part is the increased value over time that photography provides and the memories that it preserves. Today with his photography, he tries to create a unique and fun experience for the seniors that they will remember forever with images that their family will cherish for years to come. With COVID being a prevalent thing in our daily lives, I asked him how it has affected his photography. He told me that they had to completely shut down during the governor's orders, but today they are back open and working hard. He told me that the local support has meant everything to him during this time, but he commended the community for always supporting him no matter what. If you are a senior looking for fun and unique images to perfectly capture your senior year, check out Andrew Dodson Photography! Facebook: Andrew Dodson Photography Instagram: @andrewdodsonphotography Website: https://www.andrewdodsonphotography.com

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings Do you need a “me” day? Are you looking for that perfect gift for your significant other? Look no further than Amelia Gray Skincare & Cosmetics. They are now a full salon and spa that can service all your beauty needs. Tarrah Bouts started this business in 2015 and just celebrated its’ 5 year anniversary on August 1st! She named the salon after her two kids, Amelia and Grayson. Having started out with only 4 part time employees, today they have 16 employees (9 full time) and are actively interviewing for 2 additional full time positions. Tarrah gained this love for beauty from her grandmother. Growing up, she owned a one woman nail salon and always took Tarrah with her. Tarrah landed her first job at a makeup counter here in Portsmouth. At the time, she was pursuing her associate’s degree at SSU, but something kept pulling her towards the beauty industry. She established her career at Portsmouth’s own, Gabby's Salon. Tarrah’s daughter, Amelia, was born with a very rare genetic mutation. This condition specifically affects the way she looks, as well as her overall health. Her prognosis was not looking good, and Tarrha’s view of the world had changed. She realized that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. She knew that beauty does not have to be shocking transformations of appearance. She wanted to instill that knowledge and self confidence to her daughter, and to our community. Amelia Gray offers a variety of services. They offer hair services, massage therapy, skin treatments (relaxing and advanced acne), lash extensions, and brow design. They also retail major cosmetic brands such as BareMinerals, Buxom, and Smashbox. Due to them being a “Class Elite” spa, you can also find Bioelements skin care. COVID is still a relevant topic, so I spoke with Tarrah about how it has impacted their business. Back in the spring, salons were closed for about 8 weeks in Ohio, so revenue was a concern for them. However, their team was able to come together and find a quick turnaround for their clients. Tarrah and her team had talked with their clients and realized that they started getting what people are calling, “maskne”. This is acne caused by wearing a mask. They were able to show their clients home remedies to quickly get rid of it. Their wedding clients were cancelling/postponing their services at a rapid rate. Maddy Howell, a team leader/stylist, started providing free tutorials on instagram and YouTube for all of the brides who decided to elope during quarantine. Amelia Gray has been a valuable asset to our community. They have been a light during this dark time, and continue to evolve their company to the community’s needs. Go check them out here on our site! Instagram: @ameliagrayskincare Facebook: @ameliagrayskincare Website: http://www.ameliagrayskincare.com

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings Do you enjoy activities that cause you to think? Activities that you can do with friends and family? Well look no further than Portsmouth’s very own, Mr. Bonneyfiddle’s Riddle Room. Located on Gallia Street, they have been entertaining our community since the summer of 2018. Carrie Ford and Kristin Nickles started the company with the intent of bringing a unique form of entertainment the county had never seen before. They have personally created over 100 escape rooms. In their current location, they have three themed rooms for you to enjoy. The first room is called, "Something's In The Parlour". Whether you are by yourself, or have a team of 8, you can enjoy this room. This room is "haunted" by spirits that will not leave. Can you solve this riddle without becoming trapped forever? The second room is called, "Fright Night". In this room, you will have to solve the riddle of Mr. Boneyfiddle's horror house before they catch you. The third room takes a sweet twist. Mr. Boneyfiddle needs your help in taste testing his newly perfected pie recipe. You and your team will have to solve this riddle before you become an ingredient in the next batch. The Riddle Room also offers a mobile escape room that can be rented for your own party! You will often see them setting up at local festivals across the region. This particular trailer offers 2 fully functioning escape rooms. COVID-19 has played a part in the lives of the Riddle Room’s day to day operations. They have been closed this summer and will remain closed to keep everyone in the community safe. They are gearing up for fall and cannot wait to welcome everyone back. Talking with them they told me, “The community acceptance of an escape room has been amazing and to consistently have people reaching out and asking when we will resume operations has been overwhelming. We can’t wait to be back in action and offering the people of Scioto County a way to escape reality!” This fall, when you are looking for something fun to do for date night, or a girls night out, check out Mr. Boneyfiddle’s Riddle Room. You are guaranteed to have a fun and brain-teasing experience. For now, make sure to follow them on social media! They will be posting updates about their reopening plans, along with little brain teasers to keep your mind running during your wait. Website: https://www.boneyriddleroom.com Facebook: @boneyriddleroom Instagram: @boneyfiddleriddle

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings Be sure to check out WNXT! Right off Highway 23 sits a shop that creates homemade, delicious treats. ‘83 Sweets is nestled in the small town of Lucasville, Ohio. Mother and Daughter duo, Julie Blackburn and Alyssa Logan, started this business in honor of Alyssa’s grandmother, Norma Jean. With Alyssa being born in the 80’s, she learned her most important baking skills from her grandmother, and wanted to continue that theme within her business. With their fun 80’s theme menu, they love to share their homemade cupcakes with the community. Their cupcakes have brought them great achievement. They won Cupcake Wars, a reality competition series on Food Network, with guest star, Cody Simpson. Having gone on the show twice, they received the title of “runner up”, this time with guest star, Tony Hawk. They have appeared in many magazines, both local and nationally (The Know, Mingle, and Boho Style). They have made cupcakes for some really cool people too. The Cincinnati Reds and Urban Myers are just a few of their clients. Julie’s favorite menu item is her homemade baklava and the buckeye cupcake (with hand whipped peanut buttercream). Alyssa enjoys their seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice cupcakes in the fall, and lavender cupcakes in the spring! When asked what the local support means to them during this time, they said, “We cannot express the gratitude that the community has shown us with continuously placing several curbside/delivery orders and still keeping us very very busy! The majority of our orders are family and friends taking and dropping cupcakes off to loved ones that are quarantined and cannot leave, it is so encouraging and wonderful we can be a part of that sentiment of cupcake kindness. We had to go from 7 people to just the two of us again but we handle it because we started out with just the two of us and we can work our way through this together!” Next time you are craving something sweet, consider calling in and seeing what their “flavors of the day” are, and enjoy a delicious treat! You can find them on the Local Happenings website under Lucasville Restaurants! Click here to check them out at Local Happenings!

By Del Duduit | Local Happenings For now, the plan is for high school fall sports to begin official workouts on August 1st. Many area coaches and athletic directors are optimistic it will happen. Some have told me they are planning for the season to start on time and will be open to any options to make the season a reality. The Ohio High School Athletic Association is ready as well. Bob Goldring, the interim executive director, is steadfast that the schedule to begin official practices will happen, and he added, on time. Goldring, who took over after the OHSAA Board of Directors fired former executive director Jerry Snodgrass spoke with Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted this week and addressed the issue of going ahead with high school sports this fall as planned. "Our priority is to start our seasons on time," Goldring said in a teleconference with reporters last week, "Would we consider other options? I think it would be naïve for us to say no. But the tone is what we need to hear. Determination. Commitment. Resolve." The only thing left is the go-ahead from the governor’s office to allow contact competition between schools this fall. Wheelersburg head football coach Rob Woodward told me a few weeks ago that he will prepare the Pirates for their upcoming season the best he can until he’s told otherwise. Jesse Ruby, Minford High School head football coach, said the same thing. “Until we are told there is not going to be a season, we are getting ready the best we can,” he said. The coronavirus shut down spring sports and there is a lingering threat it might impact the fall season. Every coach and player wants to play. They are not selfish. They are not afraid. They see the need to get back to normal. There are so many different opinions, and that invites frustration. College football is in serious jeopardy. Several power-house football conferences, which includes the Big Ten, have already said they will have a shortened season. And some college conferences have already put the kibosh on fall sports. Legendary football coach Lou Holtz said last week on Fox News that “I don’t believe there will be football this year.” But he wants it to happen. He said the kids need it for stability and for their own personal well-being. I agree. That is why Goldring’s announcement was crucial. The message sends hope and encouragement to the athletes to prepare. His confidence is what everyone in Ohio needs to hear. One local volleyball player told me that she will “just cry” if fall sports is spiked by fear of the coronavirus. The players will even concede to fans being in the stands, just to get on the field. “I just want to play. That’s all,” another athlete told me. That’s how important it is to them. But Goldring added there might be difficult decisions to make soon and stressed they have not yet come to any concrete conclusion. "If there's going to be delays in the season, if there's going to be postponements to the season or only non-contact sports are permitted during the fall, then we have to pivot and look at our options moving forward," Goldring said in the teleconference. "We're looking to start our practices on Aug. 1 and our seasons to follow." But the overall decisions whether to have fall sports and Friday Night Lights will come down to the local school boards and superintendents. If the state government clears high school sports to be played, then OHSAA intends to sanction them. “We really feel that it’s the schools’ decision whether they will have sports or not,” Goldring added. “We don’t think it’s the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s place to say yay or nay to sports.” The kids and players want it. The coaches want it. The community wants it. Let’s be safe, and let’s play ball. Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings The Portsmouth Little Theatre is a local non-profit organization here in Portsmouth. They welcome all ages, and would love to have you a part of their next production! The building sits on Lawson street, and was built in 1949. It used to house the Strand Movie Theatre and is also included in the Ohio Historic Industry. The theatre has a board of governors that choose which productions they put on. They always try to choose a well-rounded season that includes a variety of genres. They look for diversity in their actors, and are able to find many talented actors/actresses in our area. Their very first production was the play My Sister Eileen, directed by Barbara Robinson Webb. She is the author of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The set for that first show was built by volunteers in their own homes, with auditions at the Portsmouth High School Auditorium. The first production at their new Lawson street location was Dirty Work at the Crossroads starring Harold Micklethwaite and Anna Louise Stanton. Audience members, Theatre patrons, and volunteers had familiar names like Oberling, Marting, Compton, and Gulker. Local businesses donated props; businesses like Kresge, Keystone Printing, WPAY and more! I talked with them about upcoming productions, and how COVID was affecting them, and they have been deeply saddened by the effect that it has had. They had to cut their 2020-2021 season and will be using this time to work on the historic building and planning for an “unbelievable” 2021-2022 season. They told me how appreciative they are of the support of our local community. They told me that, “without community members boldly stepping out onto our stage or faithfully paying to watch from the house or without gracious donors and local businesses willing to partner with us for our productions. We thank you for all that we are and cannot wait to see what we achieve together next.” Be on the lookout for their 2021-2022 season; it will be one for the history books!

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings In front of the murals, in the midst of the Boneyfiddle area sits a restaurant that needs no introduction. The Portsmouth Brewing Company has been a staple in our home town for years. The restaurant was originally opened in 1843 by the Esselborn family. The Esselborn were German immigrants who came here in search of a better life. In 1920, during prohibition, the brewery went under. Afterwards, it was a hudepohl distributorship for a number of years, and then became an arcade mall. The restaurant has an underground tunnel which is located in the basement. The business would carry material and products through the tunnel to the river to load boats. This was during the time when the river was a primary channel for commerce. Then in 1996, Steve Mault purchased the building and reopened it as a brewery. He had this dream after being stationed in Germany for a number of years in the 70s. He became fascinated by German style beer, and was determined to save up enough money to get started on his newly found dream. Steve enlisted the help of his brother Ira, and  together they became dedicated to the restaurant. I talked to Steve’s grandson, Tyler, and he told me that he can still remember riding with his grandma to the brewery for the very first time. Tyler asked her where they were going and she told him that his grandpa had bought a brewery. He told me he didn't think she was too thrilled at the time, but looking back now at her reaction, he chuckles. Today, the Portsmouth Brewing Company is your typical local craft brewery. They aim to provide the public with great beer, great food, and an excellent atmosphere. They want their patrons to make happy memories within their walls. COVID is still ongoing and is taking a great toll on the restaurant industry. I talked with Tyler about what the local support meant to him and his family during this time, and he said, “The support means a great deal to my family. There are so many aspects to business—aside from a financial perspective—and the public has been very generous from the beginning of the pandemic—up to this point. We’ve done our best to provide the public with whatever services we could, and the public has certainly responded with gratitude. We will continue to do our best. To the Public: Thank you for your support.” The next time you are in the mood for delicious wings and a cold brew, check out The Portsmouth Brewing Company. You can view their menu, and get directions to their restaurant here.

By Audrey Stratton | Local Happenings This week’s story is one that is close to my heart. As a child, when visiting my great-grandmother, we would go to Misty’s Kone Shoppe. She lived right around the corner from the dairy bar and I always knew we had arrived once we saw the sign. Opened in 1985 by Marvin Hull and Ronnie Chamberlin, this old fashioned dairy bar has always been a hometown favorite. Today, it is now owned by Jim and Anita Vastine. Jim’s favorite menu item is their footer (with sauce), fries, and a chocolate milkshake. ANita loves the fishtail sandwich or pulled pork BBQ with corn nuggets. When talking to Jim, he told me that Anits is the “half of what makes Misty’s what they are”. She is there every day running the business and helping out in the kitchen. Jim has been involved with Misty’s Kone Shoppe for many years. Marvin gave him an opportunity to deliver the food and he jumped right in. Over the years he always told Marvin that he would buy the dairy bar from him one day. Once Marvin passed away, he made an offer to Ronnie and “the rest is history”. Mary’s Kone Shoppe loves to support local businesses. They buy 95% of their products from Valley Wholesale Foods. They also pride themselves in their homemade items. All of their hand dipped ice cream is handmade as well as their footer sauce. Just like Marvin in 1985, their footer sauce is made fresh daily with products bought from Deemers. With COVID cases increasing and procaustions having to be made everywhere, I talked with Jim about how this has affected their business and he told me, “The support we have received locally is unreal. During this unprecedented time, we were able to stay open and provide our services to this great community., and the community in turn came out and supported us without fail. We have to say we are blessed, the patronage this community has shown us is so appreciative of words we can't express. Knowing we can put a smile on someone’s face and warmth in their heart really is why we do what we do. The old adage of finding something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life applies.” Make sure to check them out on our page! https://www.localhappenings.net/foodanddrink/Mistys-Kone-Shoppe/Wheelersburg