Mason & Deerfield, OH September 2024

A Fresh Look for Fall

COWORKING SPACE

A Touch of Style

Welcome to our latest issue where we dive into the vibrant world of style, focusing on how it transforms our homes and lives. Style is a powerful reflection of who we are, and this issue celebrates how local businesses and innovative ideas can elevate our everyday environments.

We’re excited to highlight how local talents enhance both style and sustainability. Clutter 2 Care is making a significant impact by repurposing donations into valuable resources for the community and beyond. Meanwhile, Curated Fine Furnishings & Design blends old and new to create stylish, functional interiors, sparking creativity for your home. Additionally, discover a family-owned business renowned for its timeless windows and doors, where generations of craftsmanship meet modern elegance.

Finally, step into a world of rejuvenation with Focus Health & Wellness. Get an inside look at their aesthetic treatments and therapies, designed to help you embrace a “renewed you” with confidence and grace.

We hope this issue of Mason + Deerfield Lifestyle inspires you to explore and express your style in creative and exciting ways.

MARK

ANDREA, PUBLISHER

September 2024

PUBLISHER

Mark Andrea | mark.andrea@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Amanda Stout | amanda.stout@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Karen Andrea

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jonathan Stout, Amanda Stout, Pamela McWhorter, Kathy Doane, LeAnn Parker

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mark Lyons–Lyons Photography, Matthew J. Capps, Janie Jones, Stephanie Meinberg

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

C E L E B R AT IN G 25 Y E A R S !

Lichtenberg Landscaping is excited to celebrate their 25th anniversar y this year! We are ver y grateful for our customer ’ s suppor t and proud to be par t of the Mason and Deerfield communities whe e li e and k We feel ble sed o be a local, hometow n busine

inside the issue

Clutter

Mixing

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Mason Deerfield Chamber's Connections MADE Happiest Hours are a popular monthly networking event. 2: February's Happiest Hour event was an engaging carnival experience at Warped Wing Brewery. 3: March's Happiest Hour was an "Italian Aperitivo" event at Carrabba's Italian Grill. 4: Attendees at February’s event were encouraged to check out the three game stations offering prizes. 5: January's Happiest Hour was a Mardi Gras celebration at Deerfield Springs Retirement Resort. 6: April’s Happiest Hour included a “Minute to Win It” extravaganza at Barrel House Kitchen & Bar. 7: May's Happiest Hour offered attendees an "Altered Moments" theme at 16 Lots Brewing Co.

8: Zak Morgan delighted little onlookers as part of the Little Sounds of Deerfield concert series. 9: Guests enjoyed the ever-popular Eagles Project Band at Cottell Park on June 13. 10: Hundreds of fans attended the Abe's Lincoln concert at Cottell Park on June 27. 11: The Live Like Maya Foundation hosted their 2024 Game Night at 16 Lots Brewing Company. 12: The event honored Wyatt Reber, a pediatric brain cancer survivor. 13: Bingo and other games raised funds for pediatric brain tumor research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. 14: Jen Mott from the Cincinnati Circus performed stunts and created balloon characters.

business monthly

Taste of MADE Returns to Fall Classic Golf Outing

Join the Mason Deerfield Chamber for the 8th Annual Taste of MADE at the UC Health West Chester Hospital Fall Classic Golf Outing! Local restaurants will provide complimentary food and beverages to more than 120 golfers. Nonrestaurant businesses can also purchase tables to showcase their offerings. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to network, enjoy great food and support a worthy cause. Learn more at MADEChamber.org

New Small Business Development Initiative for Deerfield Township Residents

The Deerfield Township Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) has launched a new small business development initiative for Deerfield Township residents. In conjunction with the Warren County Small Business Development Center and COhatch, the CIC is helping emerging entrepreneurs by awarding twelve Boost Scholarships. These include free access for one year to meetings, team collaboration, networking, classes and programming at the COhatch facility. Apply now by going to: https://bit.ly/49A8rsY; ChooseDeerfield.com

Rotary Club of Mason Deerfield Unveils Holiday Auction and Ball

A one-of-a-kind holiday event will enchant the halls of Manor House on November 23. The inaugural Rotary Club of Mason Deerfield Christmas Tree Auction and Holiday Ball is a black-tie event featuring decorated trees for viewing and auction, a VIP cocktail party and a plated dinner followed by dancing with a live band. Other experiences include a jazz lounge and bourbon bar, casino activities and cocktail bar, high-end raffles and more. Find tickets and sponsorship information at HolidayTreesAndBall-MasonDeerfield.com.

TURNING CLUTTER INTO HOPE

Clutter 2 Care gives back to the community locally and abroad by repurposing donated items.

ARTICLE BY JONATHAN STOUT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK LYONS–LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY

When most of us collect items to donate from our households, we usually do so for the personal benefit of decluttering. But have you ever considered how the items you donate may help their next owners or be used to raise money for special causes? Symmes Township’s Clutter 2 Care Thrift n’ Gift was started with this consideration at heart.

In 2017, the Reagan family was preparing to be full-time missionaries in Haiti. They momentarily paused their preparation to pivot their efforts to a community-wide yard sale to raise funds for Back2Back Ministries and its staff members. They asked their neighborhood to clean out their basements and bring them clutter for the sale. After a couple of successful sale weekends, they raised $4,000 to send to their friends in Haiti.

“When it was complete, we thought we were done, but all our friends and family kept bringing us items to sell,” Clutter 2 Care Founder Laurie Reagan tells us.

Instead of uprooting to Haiti as planned, they decided to focus on humanitarian efforts in Cincinnati.

“As we prepared to make that move, the childhood poverty situation in Cincinnati revealed itself and we felt a strong pull to help our community,” Laurie explains.

After raising more than $40,000 in two years, Clutter 2 Care was officially incorporated and received their nonprofit 501(c)(3) status in 2019, with the storefront opening in 2020 in Symmes Square.

An all-volunteer-run organization, owners Laurie and Andy Reagan operate Clutter 2 Care with a weekly staff of 21 volunteers. They share profits with eight local and four international nonprofit groups to serve low-income, at-risk, marginalized children in our community and around the world.

So what can customers expect to find at Clutter 2 Care?

“Our products cross a wide range of items,” Laurie tells us. “We have everything from adult and children's clothing to an extensive jewelry, shoe and purse collection.”

Shoppers will also find a wide selection of furniture, art, children's items, books, kitchen supplies and more.

Additionally, during the pandemic, Clutter 2 Care began offering Love Kits to schools and partner agencies to help school-aged children be clothed appropriately. These kits include 5-7 outfits, shoes, coats, new underwear, new socks and toiletries so students in need can quickly and proudly return to the classroom.

The best ways to help Clutter 2 Care are to donate gently used items and to shop at their store. Volunteer opportunities can be viewed on their website.

“Think of us before you pay retail prices,” Laurie recommends. “We usually have just what you need, when you need it!” Clutter2Care.com

“ THE CHILDHOOD POVERTY SITUATION IN CINCINNATI REVEALED ITSELF AND WE FELT A STRONG PULL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

Immediate

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• Be

• Strengthen muscles before and after intense physical

• Recover your energy levels naturally and bounce back from complete exhaustion.

CURE FOR THE common home

MIXING OLD AND NEW, CURATED FINE FURNISHINGS & DESIGN

OFFERS STYLISH, INSPIRED INTERIORS FOR ALL.

If fairy godmothers for interior design were a thing, Heather Walker and Jillian Dowd would be holding magic wands that can also stir martinis. Standing stylish and sophisticated with bold, swishy earrings, this dynamic duo evokes the glamour of interior design from another time. They’re ready to help anyone enjoy creating an inspired space they can call their own. As co-owners of Curated Fine Furnishings & Design, Heather and Jillian specialize in bringing together the unexpected—mixing vintage finds with new pieces—to create interiors that surprise, delight and reflect each client’s unique story.

“When we go into clients’ homes, they always have at least a handful of pieces that they’ll say, ‘Oh, this is my grandmother’s,’ or ‘this is special to me,’” says Jillian.

The designers at Curated know how to see these vintage pieces with fresh eyes, whether it’s a family heirloom or a retro consignment piece. Take, for example, the old secretary desk that’s been turned into a cigar and bourbon bar, looking warm and handsome on Curated’s showroom floor. Or maybe a new bed with faux leopard throw pillows paired with a vintage mirrored dressing table serving 70s chic is more your style.

“We’re giving new life to something in a different way,” Jillian explains.

That perspective—the ability to see the familiar in a new way—even carries through in how Curated came to life. Before its current moniker, the store was known as Bond Furniture and Design, a longtime downtown Loveland fixture. When the building’s owners, Kevin and Jodi Malof, wanted to turn the then-unused second

floor into apartments, Jillian and Heather had different plans in mind.

“I said, ‘I’ve got a better idea,’” Jillian laughs, recalling the story. “‘What if we had some high-end vintage and antique pieces mixed with our new furniture and a showroom to showcase the eclectic-ness?’”

Kevin and Jodi, who are also the pair’s business partners, loved the idea and it turns out, so do customers. Anyone who walks in can enjoy a Curated experience at nearly any price point, whether they’re redesigning an entire house or just looking for a distinctive accessory. Curated offers a sophisticated style that’s not stuffy or off-putting.

“You could spend $12 on this cute candlestick or $3,000 on this exquisite buffet,” Heather and Jillian offer together. “We want people to feel like they can stop in as part of an afternoon or evening out— an expansion of the community.”

CONTINUED >

With this in mind, Heather and Jill are in the middle of creating their own design-inspired community right within the walls of Curated, as they remodel and lease out space to a variety of boutique-minded businesses. There will even be a grand staircase in the center of the showroom that leads to the second floor.

Heather and Jillian hope to have this last phase of additions wrapped up in time for their holiday open house. As part of the event, they plan to offer arrangements from their newly established floral department, alongside fully decorated Christmas trees.

“We’ll shrink wrap the trees and out the door they’ll go!” laughs Heather, explaining how customers can pick up a dash of holiday style—just like that! At Curated, mixing the old and new to create a little interior magic is always within reach. CuratedFFD.com

Rekindle hope. We’ll light the way.

As one of the nation’s leading mental health centers, we understand your journey is deeply personal. Bringing together unparalleled expertise, profound insights, and a people-first approach, we provide life-changing care and support, infusing every interaction with the underlying belief that lasting well-being is possible. We see beyond diagnoses — we see you.

NO PANE, NO GAIN

Take a peek inside to learn how making better windows is a Gilkey family tradition.

ARTICLE BY KATHY DOANE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW J. CAPPS & PROVIDED

You might have seen one of Gilkey Window Company’s TV commercials where founder Mike Gilkey is surrounded by his little grandkids. He’s enthusiastically preaching the virtues of the family product to his mildly interested young audience. It’s cute, it’s sweet, ending with Mike’s commitment “to building the best windows for you.”

“I wasn’t afraid of starting my own business because my dad and my uncles had done the same.” –Mike

If making great windows and convincing viewers to sign up is the main message, there’s also the idea of family and “we’re all in it together.”  It’s not just lip service—the ranks of Gilkey employees are filled with family members. Not long ago, top leadership passed to Mike’s son Vince as CEO and his son-in-law, Augie Quirch (daughter Emily’s husband), as president. But they had to earn it.

Vince’s first job with the company began during summers back in high school. “I cleaned the bathrooms and picked up cigarette butts,” he smiles. Eventually, he graduated to make screens and then went full time after college.

The fact is, Vince Gilkey’s career path was predestined. It’s part of his family’s DNA stretching back to the mid-1940s when his grandfather John and great uncles returned from World War II.

After the war, as the first baby boomers were joining the population, his great uncle Joe saw an opportunity—all those growing families would need homes, so he and his brothers started businesses covering all facets of the construction trade. For Vince’s grandfather John, it was a concrete company.

One of those new baby boomers was Vince’s dad, Mike, who was hooked on the family business from an early age. “When I got into high school, I started working with my dad pouring concrete in the summer,” Mike says.

After working for his dad right after college, and then for a large remodeling company, Mike started his own remodeling business in 1978. Back then, he was working out of his garage and then 2-year-old Vince’s bedroom.

“He had a phone, a desk and this humongous blueprint machine that took up half of my bedroom,” Vince remembers, laughing.

CONTINUED >

At the time, Mike was selling windows produced by other manufacturers, but he wasn’t happy with their products. So in 1986, Mike decided to focus on windows and start making his own.

He converted a former Ludlow brewery into his first factory and began manufacturing vinyl windows, introducing a key change to the process: rather than screwing the pieces together, Gilkey Windows began welding them together, preventing the leaks that often developed as competitors’ conventional assembly would start to loosen.

In the years since, the company has expanded in significant ways. In 1994 it moved to its current Sharonville site. Today, Gilkey has 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space and added sales offices in Louisville, Palatine and Chicago Ridge, IL.

There are 150 full-time employees, including a few who have worked for the company for 40 or more years. In addition to Vince and Augie, several longtime Gilkey employees are also family: Vince’s sister Debbie Scheidler is the payroll director, his aunt Teresa Gedeon is the HR director, his uncle Cris Riel is the marketing director, his cousin Kevin Hillebrand is general sales manager, and Vince’s 24-year-old son, Matt, is the newest family hire, working on an installation crew. Vince’s mom, Sue, still helps out in the office.

It’s not easy to build that kind of company loyalty in a world where Americans change jobs on average 12 times during their work lives (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Gilkey’s formula for those who show interest and potential? Invest in them with training and opportunities to grow so they can discover what they’re good at.

Of course, the foundation for the family’s success is the windows they make and sell—and always looking for ways to do it better.

CONTINUED >

“From a young age, I knew I wanted to be in the family business.”– Vince

About 10 years ago, Gilkey began making fiberglass windows. “They just look better,” Vince says. “We use a laminate to apply color, which doesn’t fade.”

This addition has led to some interesting jobs. Although vinyl windows are not acceptable for use in restoring historic buildings, fiberglass windows are. Their sleeker, stylish designs make them look more like original windows, especially in older homes.

To date, Gilkey has replaced windows in a historic restaurant in Louisville, a church school in Columbia-Tusculum and at the historic

Perhaps the best sales pitch for this local family company can be experienced by merely stepping into the Gilkey Windows Sharonville showroom. Across from rows of samples is a long wall of windows that looks down onto the factory floor. It sounds like a low hum of activity until you open one of the windows, allowing the clamor of machinery and workers to pour in, showing off their noise-blocking, insulating ability. Now that’s a sound endorsement. Gilkey.com

GET YOUR SPINE BACK ON SCHEDULE

With the school year starting, your schedule isn’t the only thing that will need adjusting. Schedule an appointment today and let’s get your back on the right track. SERVICES: Chiropractic Care | Massage Therapy | Nutrition & Wellness

513.754.0050

WWW.EVERYBODYSHEALTH.COM

AN INJURY CAN HAPPEN IN AN INSTANT.

Job Change?

Whether retiring or changing jobs, you’ll want to know your retirement account options.

There are four potential options for your 401(k) when leaving an employer: Leave it in your former employer’s 401(k) plan, if allowed by the plan. Move it to your new employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’ve changed employers and your new employer plan allows for it Roll the account over to an individual retirement account (IRA). Cash it out, which is subject to potential tax consequences.

A Renewed You

Get an inside look at aesthetic treatments and therapies with Mason’s Focus Health & Wellness.

ARTICLE BY AMANDA STOUT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK LYONS–LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY

We all appreciate looking and feeling our best and lucky for us, there have been tremendous advancements in the fields of health, wellness and aesthetic treatments in recent years. Increased research grants and awareness initiatives have helped advance medical aesthetic treatments and devices and make them more accessible. The outcome is reduced risks, minimally invasive options, shorter recovery times and subtle results.

“The aesthetic industry has changed drastically over the years,” shares Focus Health & Wellness Aesthetics CNP, Ann Pope. “There have been so many technological advancements. It is also now more affordable to the general population and socially acceptable.”

Mason’s Focus Health & Wellness offers a calm, caring environment for accessing a variety of services from concierge medicine/ primary care to treatments such as IV therapy, cryotherapy and aesthetic therapies. The serene surroundings, enhanced by natural colors and comfortable waiting areas and treatment rooms, make Focus feel less like a typical doctor's visit and more like a spa day.

Focus currently offers Jeuveau and Botox, dermal fillers, Diamond Glow facials, dermaplaning and chemical peels. “These are all good starting points for patients looking to get into aesthetics,” says Ann.

If you’re concerned with aging skin, maintaining a youthful appearance or just curious if aesthetics are for you, Focus is a great place to begin your journey. “We like for patients to come in for a consultation and discuss their individual skin concerns,” shares Ann. “Together with the patient, we will develop an aesthetic treatment plan. It’s important to understand the potential side effects of aesthetic procedures and start with realistic expectations.”

CONTINUED >

“ANN WA S PATIENT ANDINFORMATIVE THROUG HOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS . I WANTE D A VERY SUBTLELOOK AND SHE GAV E ME JUST THAT . ”

The three most popular treatments at Focus are the Diamond Glow facial, dermaplaning and Botox/ Juvederm. “These all have little to no downtime and are well tolerated by most patients. Our patients feel their skin is smoother and more youthful in appearance,” Ann details.

So what can you expect from these popular treatments? Ann gave us a peek at Diamond Glow facials and dermaplaning, which she recommends as a perfect pairing.

“Dermaplaning removes the layer of dead skin cells and vellus hair from the face. It allows for enhanced absorption of your skin care products and a smoother makeup application. It’s a great treatment to get before the Diamond Glow facial,” Ann explains.

The Diamond Glow facial is a dermabrasion treatment that exfoliates, extracts and infuses a custom SkinMedica serum for a long-lasting glow. The treatment improves signs of aging, addresses dry skin, reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and targets dullness and sun damage while improving the appearance of blemishes and uneven skin texture. Depending on your skincare goals, this treatment can be done every 2-4 weeks.

Ann has always been drawn to skincare and beauty regimens, dating back to her experience as a Clinique consultant. She is trained specifically in aesthetics, including in-person courses, one-on-one training with experts in the field and with product trainers.

“I love making patients look and feel their best,” expresses Ann. “When they tell me how confident they feel after an aesthetic treatment, it gives me great pride and satisfaction.”

Ann’s patient Melissa shares her experience receiving a lip filler treatment at Focus, “Ann was patient and informative throughout the whole process. She calmed my nerves and gave me all the facts before my lip filler. She was so encouraging and sweet. Her bedside manner was fantastic! I wanted a very subtle look and she gave me just that.”

Focus Health & Wellness is currently offering 20% off aesthetic treatments until the end of 2024, making it a great time to explore your options for a renewed you! FocusHealthWell.com

Make Your Own Modern Floral Arrangement

Add instant style to any space with a fresh floral arrangement.

Flowers brighten any room. Whether you place them in an entryway, kitchen, living room or bathroom, they make spaces come alive with pops of color and the scents of nature.

Create your own floral bowl arrangement using a cereal bowl and a bundle of store-bought flowers. To add texture and depth, look for small branches and ornamental grasses in your yard to pop into the arrangement. Then place your floral bowl in a spot where you need a burst of joy.

Supplies

• 1 bundle of flowers (about 24 stems)

• Branches and ornamental grasses

• 6” bowl (cereal bowl size)

• Floral shears (garden clippers or kitchens shears)

• 12” square cut chicken wire

• Wire cutters

• Garden gloves (for forming chicken wire)

• Floral tape (or clear tape)

• Lazy Susan (to move your arrangement and work from all sides)

Prep & Assemble

• Prepare the mechanics. These are the non-floral elements used to assemble an arrangement. These materials will act as a grid to hold each stem in place.

• Wearing garden gloves, cut chicken wire roughly into a 12” square. Loosely form the chicken wire into a ball and place it inside the bowl.

• Use clear floral tape to make an X shape over the top of the bowl to hold the chicken wire in place. This will also give extra support when adding the floral elements later.

• Fill the bowl with water and mix in a flower food packet, if your flowers came with one.

• Begin to arrange florals in the bowl. Start with the strongest, thickest stems and end with the most delicate stems. Here, we began with branches, then the largest base flowers followed by taller focal flowers, and finally delicate stems, grasses and wispy greens.

SEPTEMBER 13TH

Movies in the Park: Top Gun

Cottell Park-Grass Loop | 7:15 PM

events

Maverick

Bring your teens for a family movie night! Enjoy a free outdoor showing of Top Gun Maverick at Cottell Park on September 13. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and snacks. Fun, Top Gun Maverick-themed games and crafts will be offered before the movie at 7:15 p.m. Find out more information at DeerfieldOh.MyRec.com.

SEPTEMBER 13TH

Mason Market on the Mile

North West Street | 4:00 PM

Mason Market on the Mile is a hybrid market celebrating Mason's farming heritage. Local growers and cottage vendors offer locally sourced agricultural products, handmade crafts, artisan goods and prepared foods. The market is brought to the community through the partnership of MADE CDC, the MADE Chamber and the City of Mason. Find out more information at MADEchamber.org

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Creative Kids Club

Cottell Park-Bungalow | 10:00 AM

Join instructor/artist Terri Riddle as she encourages children in Grades 1-4 to join her in creating fun art in the Creative Kids Club at Cottell Park. Each month artists will use a variety of mediums to be creative including acrylic paint, paper and mixed media. Reservations are  $30 and can be made at DeerfieldOh.MyRec.com.

SEPTEMBER 15TH

Deerfield Handmade

Market Fall

Cottell Park | 11:00 AM

Join The Arts Alliance for the Deerfield Handmade Market Fall at Cottell Park on September 15 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 60 local and regional artists will showcase their talents and wares. Visitors can peruse fine art, refurbished works, candle makers, unique food offerings, furniture, jewelry, clothing and more. Find out more information at The-Arts-Alliance.org

SEPTEMBER 18TH

How to Proactively Manage Your Mental Health

Manor House | 6:00 PM

The Lindner Center of HOPE will continue its free Community Education Series on September 18 welcoming Peter White, M.A., LPCC, LICDC, Outpatient Therapist at 6 p.m. at the Manor House. Peter will discuss the difference between proactive mental health management and managing behavioral health problems, as well as other mental health topics. Register now at LindnerCenterofHope.org.

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Mason Heritage Festival and Parade

Downtown Plaza | 4:00 PM

The Heritage Festival and Parade takes place on September 21 in Downtown Mason. The event features kids’ activities, vendors, music and more. The parade begins at 3 p.m. and is followed by activities and entertainment until 10 p.m. The event is free, open to the public and will include fun for all ages. Details are available at ImagineMason.org

Partridge Way

Orchid Court

Stunning ranch condo, once a model home in excellent condition. The foyer, bedroom two, great room, and kitchen all feature beautiful hardwood floors. Gorgeous kitchen with white cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances. Covered deck with views of the pond, perfect for relaxing evenings. Primary suite offers a luxurious bathroom. Finished lower level with wet bar, a third bedroom, full bath, ample storage and walkout onto a covered patio.

Pristine patio home in Four Bridges. High-end finishes throughout and hardwood floors on the first floor. Stone fireplace in the great room. Gourmet kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances and convenient pot filler. The first floor boasts a study and luxurious primary suite. Finished lower level includes two additional bedrooms, a full bath and a wet bar. Screened-in patio opens to an additional patio with a pergola and thoughtfully placed landscaping that ensures privacy.

SCAN TO FIND OUT THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE

“Tiffany was exceptional from the moment we met to talk about selling my house until the moment that I signed the closing papers. She was available whenever I had a questions and made perfect recommendations prior to listing my house. She’s a 11 out of 10 in my book!”

— Richard L.