Back to School Bash

August 5, 2019

Audra Schiele, four, examines a book in the MidPointe Public Library Bookmobile.

photography and captions by Alexandra Fernholz | additional interviews by Rebecca Breland

Lakota’s second annual Summer Block Party took place at The Park, The Square, and Sabin Hall at Liberty Center on Aug. 4 2019, just eleven days before the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. Visitors could receive vision screenings, dental checkups, free haircuts, and more from 2 to 4 P.M.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Sophie Thipen, five, constructs a house from Duplo blocks.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Brystol Rosenbalm holds still while Edge Teen Center Operations Director Annie Droege sprays her hair with temporary green dye.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Arlen Johnson of the Butler County Sheriff’s Department stands with his vehicle, answering questions, posing for photos, and demonstrating different features of the car. Visitors were allowed not only to look inside the vehicle, but sit in the front seat.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Social Worker Savannah Morris, who works with Focus on Youth, passes out a cold treat on a hot day. Flavors included cotton candy, cherry, and watermelon.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Executive Director of Focus on Youth Bryan Forney accepts a $5000 donation from Liberty Center. Focus on Youth, an organization which provides foster care, adoption, and mental health services, has served over 1800 foster children since its founding in 1992.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Matt Ginter of the Butler County Sheriff’s Department stands just outside of Cantina Laredo with his motorcycle, answering visitors’ questions and occasionally taking pictures for them.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Tereon Spenser, eight, holds still while a member of Salon 747 gives his hair a trim inside Sabin Hall.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Aradhana Kaushal, the lucky winner, grins excitedly after winning a $50 Target gift card in a raffle.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Greg Lee of Showstoppers Talent Agency (left) and Michelle Hopkins of Cincinnati Childrens (right) were in charge of the afternoon’s raffle. Prizes included two $50 Target gift cards, a $50 Kroger gift card, and two free flights at indoor skydiving attraction iFly.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — The face painting table, run by Tuesday Tedesco of Showstoppers Talent Agency, proved to be a popular draw for children of all ages.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Optomologist at Cinncinnati Children’s Carol Weinel assists Ava Grubbs in finding the edge of the crosswalk with a cane. Visitors blindfolded themselves and practiced using a cane as a visually impared person would.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Oliver Schiele (right), six, recieves a sticker for answering trivia questions correctly.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Tuesday Tedesco of Showstoppers Talent Agency uses face paint to transform Learah Davis into Minnie Mouse.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Dietician Barb Lattin passes out both knowledge and cups at the Cincinnati Children’s table.

lakota, lakota east spark, spark, dean hume, alexandra fernholz, rebecca breland, back to school, school, summer — Kathie Hays helped to apply temporary tattoos to visitors at the Reach Out Lakota booth.

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Back to School Bash