Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest: And the winner is…..
The votes have been tallied and it’s time to announce this year’s winner. Congratulations go out to Brian Hiles for his photo of Elder High School in Cincinnati!
Be sure to catch the winning image on a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and who voted for their favorite image.
Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Story of Historic Preservation
Help us celebrate Preservation Month this May by participating in our annual Preservation Month Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “The Story of Historic Preservation” and we’ll be looking for your great images that capture what YOU think celebrates historic preservation. In tandem with your image, we want to hear the great story that goes with it. Whether it’s a story of a formerly endangered building that has been saved, a story of the people who built it, or a story of the people today who love it, we want to know why your subject material is important.
Once you get that perfect image and write the story behind it, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 14). Our Preservation Committee and Board of Trustees will choose finalists from all of the entries we receive, and then we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner! The winning image will be featured on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Good luck!
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Friday, April 14-Friday, May 12
Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 19-Thursday, May 25
Winner announced: Friday, May 26
Matt Wiederhold Named Executive Director for Heritage Ohio
Matt Wiederhold
W. Kevin Pape, chairman of the Board of Trustees for Heritage Ohio, announced Matt Wiederhold will become the third executive director for Heritage Ohio, the state’s revitalization and preservation non-profit.
Matt Wiederhold has over 20 years of community development experience combining his interests in historic preservation, local history, and community building. He has served in positions in Cleveland, Toledo, and most recently served as the executive director of the successful Main Street Medina program. Wiederhold said, “I’m honored to have been selected as the next executive director for Heritage Ohio, an organization with which I’ve been involved since 2001. I’m deeply committed to the mission of the organization, and look forward to using my passion for historic preservation and community revitalization on a state-wide level.”
Wiederhold received his bachelor of arts degree in art history with a focus on American architecture and historic preservation from the University of Toledo. He received national Main Street Certification in 2004, and in 2006 he became an economic development finance professional.
Board Chair W. Kevin Pape states, “The search committee was impressed by Matt’s experience with combining his expertise in historic preservation, local history, and community building to transform neighborhoods and towns into desirable places to live, work, and play. It was clear to us that he had the energy and vision we were looking for in the engaged leader who will be Heritage Ohio’s next executive director.” Wiederhold will begin his role May 2, 2022.
Using the Standards for Rehabilitation to guide your project
Wednesday, December 8, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation consist of 10 common-sense principles to guide and evaluate rehabilitation work done to historic resources. Whether you’re contemplating a future tax credit project or thinking about applying for a historic preservation grant, adhering to the rehab standards will be critical to receiving your final approvals. Join Mariangela Pfister, Department Head, Technical Preservation Services of the State Historic Preservation Office, as she provides a basic overview of the standards and how they are interpreted.
Presenter
Mariangela Pfister, department head and deputy state historic preservation officer for technical preservation services, heads the Technical Preservation Services Department which manages the Building Doctor program, answers questions about care of older buildings, and works with applicants for the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit and the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit. She has developed a wood conservation presentation, has written articles on preservation topics, and continues to work on a series of fact sheets entitled “Fast Facts” on common old-building maintenance issues. Pfister holds a master’s degree in history from The Ohio State University and bachelor’s degrees in history, English, and secondary education from Capital University.
Preservation Month Photo Contest 2021: And the winner is…
Update 5/31: We’ve tallied the votes and we’re pleased to announce the winner of the 2021 Preservation Month Photo Contest:
Devin Brautigam of Sidney submitted this striking image of the Big Four Bridge, Sunrise Over Big Four, and the voters have voted. Congratulations, Devin!
We’ll feature Devin’s winning entry on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio.
Thanks to all of our photographers who submitted their images, our finalists who provided five stunning entries for us to choose from, everyone who voted, and our website chatters who talked up their favorites and supported our photographers.
Photographer’s statement:
Sunrise Over Big Four
The “Big Four Bridge” in Sidney, OH. Many call it the “Gateway into Shelby County”. The bridge was constructed in 1923-1924. Some folks lost their lives during the construction of this, which I believe, adds to the historical nature of the structure.
The bridge has been deteriorating over the last several years. While downtown Sidney has started alot of revitalization, improving it’s courthouse area, I really hope one way or another we can keep this bridge maintained before it’s too late. In the photo you can see the cracks and chucks of concrete that’s either been weathered away or have fallen. The condition of the bridge has been a popular topic among the community, many folks worrying about safety. As a hometown photographer of Sidney, this bridge has not only served a purpose for what it is, but it’s allowed me to really be creative and grow as an artist.
Sponsor a Heritage Ohio Annual Award!
For one week only we’re opening up sponsorship for our Annual Awards! Although our Annual Awards Ceremony typically happens during our Annual Conference, this year we’ve had to move our Annual Awards online. However, we have a great celebration planned! Beginning this month, we’ll highlight one of our award winners each day, providing our audience bite-sized peeks at this year’s best in revitalization and preservation. You can download the Annual Awards sponsorship form here.
If you want to sponsor one of our awards, you have to act now. We’ll only have sponsorship open for one week.
Thursday Happy Hour: Preservation Hackathon
Our final Happy Hour starts with a simple question: if given a real-life preservation problem, what would you do? We have a tongue-in-cheek title for Thursday’s Happy Hour as we delve into case studies that discuss common preservation issues and how they were solved.
We’re sharing these “story problems” with you ahead of time to give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the issues and think a bit about potential solutions, so you’re ready to share your answers when the Happy Hour begins. Maybe you’ve even come up with your own Preservation Hack you can share!
And, we’d be remiss to miss out on a special thank you! to our Happy Hour sponsor Plante Moran.
Question #1, courtesy of Kyle Sword of Pilkington NA:
Background: A developer wants to upgrade an existing historic building that is National Register-listed, using tax credit incentives. The building space, a former architect’s office, will be redone to accommodate a variety of uses. One special feature of the building is its bronze windows dating from 1926, glazed with 1/4″ plate glass. The windows currently aren’t especially energy efficient, and there are condensation issues, but hardly any corrosion.
Question: Should/can the developer replace the windows? If the windows are maintained, what can be done to improve energy efficiency and increase the comfort level? How would different options compare, and how would costs compare?
Question #2, courtesy of Erin Claussen of Toledo Revival:
Background: The local Board of Zoning Appeals has granted approval to allow off-premises rooftop signage for a building project. The revenue that will be generated from the signage is a critical piece of funding that will help pay for the building’s redevelopment.
While advertising has become viewed as a nuisance condition, in large part stemming from how much signage used to be everywhere in downtowns, there seems to be a resurgence around retro-style advertising, with more and more people perceiving unique signage as a sign of vibrancy.
Question: Is there such a thing as “creative signage” that truly fits in the downtown (and especially in local design review districts)? Where might we find the equilibrium between stories-high, characterless panels, and a very strict and regimented approach to new signage that might match historic color palettes but does not exactly add to the vibrancy of a district? What role should the potential revenue the signage could generate, play in the discussion about what should be approved and what shouldn’t be approved?
Question #3, courtesy of Danielle Steinhauser of CT Consultants:
Background: While the foundation of the Main Street Approach is built on the concept of preservation of the historic buildings located downtown, district stakeholders are also keenly aware of the importance of conveying vibrancy. Vibrancy is displayed through any number of activities, objects, and people, and might include the display of public art, helping to reinforce the idea that old attitudes of defeatism and apathy have been ousted, and downtown is now seen as fun, welcoming, successful, and unique.
Question: Is it “good preservation” to add a mural to the side of a previously unpainted brick building? The mural would not cover the entire elevation, but a portion of it.
Are there basic rules to keep in mind when debating the merits of economic revitalization and pure preservation, understanding that each case might have its own unique circumstances?
So there you have it: 3 questions to stoke your thinking-process about downtown revitalization and historic preservation. We look forward to hearing your take on these subjects at our Thursday Happy Hour.
The Pitch Party is back this Wednesday: Here’s what you need to know
If you attended last year’s conference, hopefully you joined us for our Keynote and Pitch Party, which closed the conference. If you enjoyed the Pitch Party, I have good news for you: thanks to the generosity of Happy Hour sponsor Ulmer, a law firm based in Cleveland, the Pitch Party is back for a second year. It happens during our Wednesday, 9/2 Happy Hour, beginning at 5pm. Find out more about what the Pitch Party is, and how you could enter for a chance to win (at least) $1,000 for your organization.
So, you want the chance to pitch to win? Anyone attending our Wednesday Happy Hour who represents a nonprofit organization can sign up to participate. Starting shortly after 5pm, we’ll drop the contest link in the chat box, and you can sign up using that link. Make sure you enter as soon as you can: the sign up link will only be active for about 15 minutes.
Then, we’ll draw 3 names at random, and the 3 names chosen will each get 3 minutes to pitch our Happy Hour attendees about their organization, what it does, and why they deserve the $1,000 grand prize.
Do you hope to be a pitcher? If so, think about your key points to share with attendees creatively in just 3 minutes. Then, if you’re chosen, you’ll have the opportunity to sell your good work, your need, and how our conference attendees can join your efforts to move your organization forward.
How will the winner be chosen? Beginning at 6 pm on Wednesday, we’ll open a special donation page on our website for 23 hours, through 5 pm on Thursday, September 3. You will have the opportunity to donate to one, two, or all three of the organizations highlighted during the Happy Hour. One dollar donated to the organization=one vote. The organization receiving the most votes (dollars) will receive the cash prize of $1,000, in addition to every dollar raised for that organization during the 23 hours.
We’ll announce the winner at the beginning of Thursday’s final conference Happy Hour.
Although the winner will receive the $1,000 cash prize, none of the 3 organizations will go home empty-handed, as the 2nd and 3rd place finishers will also get to keep every dollar raised for their respective organizations through the 23-hour voting period.
Good luck to all the prospective pitchers! We look forward to hearing from you on Wednesday.
Frank’s 8 delicious Happy Hour Ohio beers: Week 2
Did you enjoy this week’s list? Boy, I know I sure did! But we’re just getting warmed up. We have another week of Happy Hours, and four more opportunities to sample some of the tastiest brews Ohio has to offer. Join me for one or all during the second week of our virtual conference.
Monday Happy Hour: Siren Shores, Great Lakes Brewing Co, Saison
One of Great Lakes “Legendary Series” beers, this brew features (I kid you not) pink peppercorns and passion fruit. Are we getting dangerously close to Devin’s exotic cocktail territory with ingredients such as pink peppercorns and passion fruit? Perhaps, but this is a saison, and brewers have wide latitude with what you add to a saison.
Apparently, saisons have traditionally been “kitchen sink” types of beer…you add what you have available to complete the flavor profile, even if what you have is pink peppercorns and passion fruit. It works (taste-wise), trust me!
Tuesday Happy Hour: Hefe & Wedge, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, Hefeweizen
Sure, the classic hefeweizen might be the poster child for the Reinheitsgebot, but this Wolf’s Ridge Beer is breaking all the rules, adding orange zest to up the flavor profile. We won’t call the Beer Police on you, though; you’re to delicious to be locked up.
Wednesday Happy Hour: Fruit Hoops, Platform Beer Co, Sour Ale
Sour ales are the wild horses of the beer world, in my opinion, because traditionally, you never quite knew what you’d be getting in the way of yeast and bacteria. Thankfully, these happy accidents were usually quite delicious.
Thursday Happy Hour: Gose Face Killah, Streetside Brewery, Gose
Whether you’re a fan of Wu-Tang, or the film Mystery of Chessboxing, this is the beer for you. It’s a Gose, so again we’re a bit on the sour side, and Goses sometimes add salt and coriander to give you more exotica for your beer. Here’s to the Heritage Ohio Annual Conference…cheers!
Frank’s 8 delicious Happy Hour Ohio beers: Week 1
Are you looking forward to Devin’s cocktail of the day? Boy, I know I sure am! Each day for our Happy Hour, Devin will unveil an exotic new drink that you can mix and drink along with Mr. Miles.
But then I got to thinking…what is there for the Joe Schmos of the conference? What about us hard-working blue-collar Bob & Betty Buckeyes of the pres & revit movement? If you’re like me, you’re just not into those hoity-toity drinks. So, rather than be left out, I’ve endeavored to find 8 different Ohio beers, a unique one for each day, that us conference-goers who aren’t into the frou-frou drinks can still enjoy. I’ve posted my Week 1 list for Monday-Thursday below, and I’d like to invite you to join me for a delicious Ohio beer. We’ll toast virtually to the vibrancy of downtown revitalization and historic preservation in Ohio, and celebrate Heritage Ohio’s foray into virtual conferences with a cold, frosty one.
Monday Happy Hour: Ziegler, Madtree Brewing, Lager (Oktoberfest)
Just like the stores that feel compelled to stock their Christmas items during the dog days of summer, we’re starting off with a delicious seasonal beer…it’s just the wrong season. No matter, though. It’s in stock and it’s delicious. Note: if you can’t source a Madtree Oktoberfest, we do consider Great Lakes Oktoberfest an acceptable substitute.
Tuesday Happy Hour: Sun-Kissed Wheat, Homestead Beer Co, Ale
We come to our senses on Tuesday with a summer themed wheat ale. It is, after all, still summer.
Wednesday Happy Hour: The Building Doctor IS In and my recommendation for maximum Happy Hour enjoyment is to join me as we partake in a Swizzle from Rhinegeist. What is a Swizzle, you ask? Just a wonderful melange of cider, lemongrass, and ginger wrapped up in a handsome aluminum can. While it’s technically not a beer, it’s MY “beer” list, and I’m bringing it to Happy Hour. Besides, we can still proudly Prost! (as the German Cincinnatians like to say) with this delicious Ohio cider.
Thursday Happy Hour: The Scots know how to do a lot of things well, including the fellows from Brewdog who whip up this delicious IPA, Elvis Juice. We’ll get lost in its piney, hoppy, citrusy loveliness while the preservation pros dispense their best advice to a new generation of up-and-comers.
Check back Friday 8/28 for my Week 2 of delicious Ohio beers.
Round 24 of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits announced
We were rewarded for our patience! ODSA has announced recipients from Round 24 of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits. You can read more about the full list here.
It’s not too late to join us as a conference sponsor!
Have you heard? Heritage Ohio’s conference is online this year. Happening August 24-September 4, we’re bringing you an all-star preservation & revitalization lineup, and you can join us virtually. Registration rates are obscenely cheap to attend, but we still have conference costs, which means the support of our sponsors and vendors is even more important this year. If you’re interested in joining us, check out our SPONSOR INFORMATION here, and our SPONSOR/VENDOR CHOICES here. Contact Frank Quinn, fquinn@heritageohio.org, with sponsorship questions.