West Chester & Liberty, OH June 2026

FOR THE GENTLEMEN

At Butler Tech, students experience more—they gain direction, purpose, and a clear path forward.

Designed for individuals ready to take the next step, Butler Tech connects adult learners to in-demand careers through hands-on, skills-driven training aligned with today’s workforce needs. Whether starting fresh or building on existing experience, students gain direction and a clear path toward what comes next.

Train for careers in healthcare, industrial technology, public safety, and transportation through programs shaped by industry input and built around real-world experience. Students gain industry-recognized credentials, practical experience, and the skills needed for what comes next.

With flexible scheduling, dedicated instruction, career coaching, and job placement support, Butler Tech helps students move from training to career.

Boys to Men

Gentlemen, this month is all for you! Each June we like to highlight an interesting man in our community and share stories specifically geared towards our male readers. This year we placed an emphasis on things to do and history as we highlight local Juneteenth events as well as a few more stops on the Butler County Time Travel Trail as part of our series around America’s 250th birthday.

This is my eleventh time writing a publisher letter for our annual Men’s issue. In the past, I’ve shared many stories about being a “boy mom” to my two sons. But I am no longer a boy mom, I am now a man mom. My sons are both hitting milestone birthdays—my oldest turned 21 last month and my “baby” will celebrate his 18th birthday in just a few days. It’s a shift into their adulthood that comes with a mix of pride, nostalgia and a little disbelief at how quickly time moves. Somewhere along the way, the little boys I once wrote about became men that I’m incredibly proud to call my sons.

There are many more stories that we’d love to tell each month, but to expand the length of this magazine, we do need additional advertiser support. If you are part of a business that would like to reach 14,000 local households each month, please email me, and you can be part of helping deliver even more great stories to our readers each month.

This issue is dedicated to the men who lead, serve and inspire in ways both big and small. Whether through business, service or simply how they show up for others, their impact is felt throughout our community every day.

Cheers to the guys!

MICHELLE MOODY, PUBLISHER MICHELLE.MOODY@CITYLIFESTYLE.COM

June 2026

PUBLISHER

Michelle Moody | Michelle.Moody@CityLifestyle.com

EDITOR

Tera Michelson | Tera.Michelson@CityLifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR A.J. Lape

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mel Boban, Mike Burcham, Mia Hilkowitz, A.J. Lape

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Len Kaltman, Jerome Melson/Melson

Photo Arts Studio, Brittany Dawn Short

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler Learn

Derma

Biote

Microneedling

1: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butler County held its annual Night at the Derby fundraiser. BBBSButler.org 2: Guests of Hope in Bloom enjoyed a fun, meaningful evening supporting Hope’s Closet and local foster children. HopesClosetOhio.org 3: The Lakota Optimist Club celebrated its 50th anniversary of raising funds to support the youth of Lakota. LakotaOptimists.org

A FRESH APPROACH TO YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE

For over 16 years, Sye Mishler has helped individuals and families navigate life’s most important financial decisions, helping people answer the two fundamental questions:

Will I make it? and What are my blind spots?

Whether

Mishler Financial Advisor, RJFS

business monthly

AVtech Limited Offers Custom Golf Simulator Installation

Enjoy year-round golf in the privacy of your own space. Upgrade your business lounge, family room or garage with a commercial-grade golf simulator, custom installed by AVtech Limited. Play famous golf courses from around the world, evaluate and improve your swing and compete with friends for fun. Wherever you’ve got enough room to swing a club, you can install virtual golf. Contact the local experts at AVtech Limited for details. AVtechLtd.com

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Michael Corna Agency of American Family Insurance Protects What Matters Most

June marks National Insurance Month and Father’s Day, making it the perfect time to consider protecting what matters most. At the Michael Corna Agency of American Family Insurance in West Chester, families receive personalized coverage designed to support every stage of life. From home and auto to life insurance, they help clients plan ahead with confidence. It’s a meaningful way to care for the people who depend on you—today and for years to come. AmFam.com/agents/ohio/west-chester/michael-corna

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LiveWire Marketing Merges with Chowdown for Restaurant Marketing at Its Finest

Restaurant marketing rises to a new level with the spring merger of LiveWire Media & Marketing and Chowdown Cincinnati. Under the leadership of CEO and President Nathan Taylor, the union brings together two companies that were already among the area’s most recognized forces in the restaurant industry and connects them in a way that makes each significantly stronger. Rebranding as Chowdown, the company currently serves more than 300 restaurant clients across 27 states. Chwdwn.com

Priceless Memories

Advice Editorial: Gift Giving Inspiration For Dads

ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN

Learn Together

Learning a new skill together, or sharing a favorite hobby, is a great way to bond. If Dad likes woodworking or fishing, finding a class to attend together goes beyond gifting tools and allows fun.

Retro Movie Night

Enjoy a movie night together with popcorn, candy and all the fixings. Home movies enable strolls down memory lane, or one of his favorite movies from his childhood makes for fun conversation. Ordering a projector for a large format screening makes the movie night feel extra theatrical.

Chef’s Kiss

Take the food pressure off Dad and invite local culinary experts to prepare a meal. A fun theme, based around his favorite vacation, such as Hawaiian food, will make the evening memorable. Alternatively, try a local cooking class together based on his favorite cuisine.

Blast From The Past

Brainstorm childhood memories together and enjoy a day reliving them. If he chaperoned a trip to the zoo, experience it again together. If short on time, stop at a favorite ice cream stand and tell him how much you cherish the memories.

“Thanks

-Tim Marklay

Dr. Phuoc Tran

Dr. Lauren Tran

Dr. Sarah Bui

Implants

LISTENING

Sye Mishler believes the most important financial conversations rarely begin with money. They start with questions about family, dreams and the moments people hope to experience—a child’s college graduation, a long-planned trip or the relief of a secure retirement.

As a financial advisor with Raymond James and Founder of Mishler Financial Planning, Sye helps clients navigate those milestones through retirement planning, college savings and long-term financial strategy.

“We take a sincere interest in our clients’ lives,” he says. “We really want to learn what’s most important to them.”

That perspective shapes how he works, focusing first on client goals before recommending solutions. At the heart of those conversations are two questions he returns to: Are we going to make it? And what are our blind spots?

For Sye, the most meaningful moments come when careful planning turns into reallife memories. His own path to this work wasn’t traditional. Before entering finance, Sye performed as a concert violinist and conductor around the world.

“A conductor’s primary job is to listen,” he explains. “It taught me the idea that things take time, patience and discipline.”

His life changed when he made the decision to leave music behind, a choice he now views as a turning point. The transition helped him become more outward-focused and develop a deeper sense of empathy.

But empathy didn’t come only from a career change. It was inspired by his wife and his childhood Transformers hero, Optimus Prime.

“Optimus Prime still exists as my role model,” he says. “He always takes the ethical, good, decent, moral path, even if it’s the most difficult to take.”

A small Optimus Prime figure still sits on his desk, often in his hand as he speaks with clients. He has gathered an impressive collection, filling lighted shelves throughout his office, including a four-foot Metroplex figure standing guard over the conference room.

“I’m very clear when people come to me, I’m not going to judge their journey,” he shares.

Sye describes himself as naturally curious, motivated less by competition than by a desire to experience as much of life as possible. That curiosity has led him to Spartan Races, travel and a wide range of interests— including cooking.

“Food is my love language,” he says. “That’s how I express love.”

An avid home cook, Sye traces that passion back to his grandmother, who ran school lunches in the Michigan public school system. Inspired by her, he enjoys preparing meals tailored to the people he cares about most— another way to connect and show appreciation.

That same outlook guides his volunteer work. Though he and his wife do not have children of their own, Sye feels strongly about supporting young people, particularly those facing food insecurity. Motivated in part by his own experience of being adopted, the issue feels personal.

“I just wish we can do better for our children,” he says. “I see value in letting kids be children, not trying to push them toward achievement.”

Through food drives, school supply initiatives and partnerships supporting children’s hospitals and vulnerable young patients, Sye and his staff create opportunities for clients and community members to give back.

He credits much of that community focus to his colleague Cheryl Carson Hutcheson, a retired defense attorney and prosecutor for Hamilton County, whose encouragement helped expand the firm’s charitable outreach.

Whether he’s helping someone plan their financial future or helping a child in need, Sye still sees his role much like he did as a conductor—listening first and using what he’s been given to make a meaningful difference.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Sye at his West Chester office.

MISHLER FINANCIAL PLANNING

7237 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Unit 103 West Chester | 513.277.3396

RaymondJames.com/mishlerfinancialplanning

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mishler Financial Planning is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

Celebrate Juneteenth

Enjoy face painting, games, music, dancing, art + more family fun at Juneteenth.

A Community Juneteenth Celebration Returns to West Chester June 13

“I want participants to leave with a clear understanding of when Juneteenth began, what it means, why it started, who was behind it and why we celebrate it today.” - Brenda Melson

West Chester’s annual Juneteenth Celebration returns for a third year this June with free live music, spoken word and arts and crafts.

Brenda Melson, manager of Transforming Families Ministries, started the event in 2024 after recognizing there was no established celebration of Juneteenth in West Chester. In past years, she had attended Juneteenth celebrations in other communities, including in Paris, Kentucky, where her second great-grandparents lived.

“That experience was incredibly meaningful and inspired me to bring a Juneteenth celebration to my own community,” she says.

Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans after the Civil War. It is commemorated on June 19, the day in 1865 when a Union general reached Galveston, Texas, to announce Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in Confederate states, according to the

National Museum of African American History and Culture. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

“I want participants to leave with a clear understanding of when Juneteenth began, what it means, why it started, who was behind it and why we celebrate it today,” Brenda says.

The celebration will take place from 5-8 p.m. on June 13 at the Square at Union Centre. There, visitors will find two food trucks: one for Antliz Uptown Barbecue and another for the Peach Cobbler Factory. They can also listen to a band, Top This Band , perform on stage throughout the event. There will be time for trivia aimed to help educate the public about the holiday.

The event is intentionally family-friendly, with some free offerings specific to younger attendees. They’ll host a face painter and balloon twister and are partnering with the MidPointe Library and Fitton Center for Creative Arts to provide a free craft relating to Juneteenth. This year, Brenda also says they received a grant from ArtsWave for the celebration.

“I want children in our community to grow up with that experience that they went to a Juneteenth Celebration, so [the tradition] continues through the generations,”

she says. “If it’s something that they do as a child, then I hope they’ll come back as an adult.”

One of Brenda’s favorite parts of each year’s celebration is the speakers. This year, DeHeaven Simpkins, a Cincinnati pastor and artist, will speak about the history of Juneteenth. A spoken word artist, Kiyah Dean from the Arts Equity Collective and comedian Tamara Jackson-McClinon will also perform during the event.

“It’s open to the whole community,” Brenda says. “We have a mixture of people, ages, races, so it’s just everybody coming out and celebrating, just like any other holiday that we celebrate.”

If families can’t make it to the June 13 celebration, Brenda says Transforming Families Ministries will host the Juneteenth Jubilee at Liberty Center a few days later. At that event, P. Ann EversonPrice and the All Star Band will perform. This event will also feature a dance team from the Bi-Okoto Cultural Center, a Cincinnati nonprofit cultural organization. There will also be a face painter and balloon twister for kids. This celebration runs from 6-9 p.m. on June 18.

Brenda says each year more people have attended the celebration, and she hopes with the third running, even more community members will come out.

“Juneteenth is for everybody, regardless of age,” she says. “There’s something there for everybody.”

A Father’s Day Road Trip Down Memory Lane

Step Back in Time at Butler County’s 1910 Museum + Chickahominy House

Long before Interstate 75 became the north-south thoroughfare that transformed Butler County, travelers relied on U.S. Route 25 to move between Cincinnati, Dayton and points north. At the center of it all was a single building at the intersection of U.S. 25 and Ohio 63.

Built in 1910 by Marion G. Warner, the structure now known as the 1910 Building began as a general store. After the small-town shopkeeper’s death in 1922, the store stayed in

ARTICLE BY MIKE BURCHAM | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY TRAVEL BUTLER COUNTY

The Chickahominy House

the family. His wife, Lizzie, took over operations before passing it on to their daughter, Nelle. U.S. 25 was established, turning Monroe into a regular stop for people traveling between Cincinnati and Dayton and north through Detroit all the way to Port Huron, Michigan.

When Nelle eventually sold the building to Earl C. Marshall, she included a condition in the agreement: no “intoxicating liquor” could be sold on the premises. Marshall honored that request and introduced something new at the business: a soda fountain. It quickly became a popular gathering place, especially for local youth, among them Jim Price, who worked as a “soda jerk”

during his high school years and now serves on the Monroe Historical Society Board. Travelers frequently stopped in for flavored sodas, ice cream and a break from the road.

“It was a popular stopping point between Cincinnati and Dayton,” says Scott Fowler, a board member of the Monroe Historical Society. “Ruth Lyons used to travel the route for her broadcasts at Channel 2 in Dayton and her home in Cincinnati. She loved the ice cream.”

Through the years, the building saw life as a pizza parlor, dress shop, office space and even the city’s Mayor’s Court before eventually becoming home to the Monroe Historical Society.

“Ruth Lyons used to travel the route for her broadcasts at Channel 2 in Dayton and her home in Cincinnati. She loved the ice cream.”

— Scott Fowler, Monroe Historical Society

The Hale Media Room Chickahominy House

The Hale Media Room traces the evolution of communication through history.

The building’s restoration owes much to Jim, who acquired ownership in the early 1990s. With a commitment to honoring Monroe’s past, he invested in repairs and allowed the Monroe Historical Society to establish a museum within the space.

Inside, the Hale Media Room houses vintage radios, early televisions and rotary telephones, showing how communication evolved alongside the growth of towns like Monroe.

The Chickahominy House, which is often called the Main Museum, was built next door in the late 1990s after a community fundraising effort. Together, the two buildings serve as a hub for preserving local history.

Exhibits range from a fully restored 1924 Monroe fire engine to displays honoring Lesourdsville Lake and Americana amusement parks, once popular destinations known for rides like the Screechin’ Eagle

A fully restored 1924 Monroe fire engine is on display at the Chickahominy House.

roller coaster. Another section honors Monroe residents who served in the armed forces, connecting local lives to national history. Among the collection is a 45-star United States flag, dating from 1896-1908. It is one of the oldest known flags in Butler County.

Today, the 1910 Building and the Chickahominy House offer visitors a chance to step into history and see how a single intersection once connected a small town to a much larger world.

About This Series

West Chester + Liberty Lifestyle celebrates America250 with stories featuring stops on the Time Travel Trail, sponsored by Travel Butler County. These historic sites highlight the important role Butler County played in the settling of Ohio and the United States. TravelButlerCounty.com

AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST

Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short

Creative Director: Jen Birn

Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill

Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX

MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.

After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.

Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?

A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”

THE QUIET STANDARD:

MIKE JOHNSON

“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”

— Mike Johnson

Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?

A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”

Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?

A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”

This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAYS

Takeover Summer Concert Series

The Square @ Union Centre, 9285 Centre Park Drive, West Chester | 6:00 PM

Bring a blanket or chair to West Chester’s newly renovated clocktower to enjoy this free outdoor concert series to be held every summer Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy live bands, food trucks and beer—adult beverage sales benefit local nonprofits. Find details about bands and food trucks online. WestChesterOH.org

SATURDAYS

Keehner Park Concert Series

Keehner Park Amphitheatre Stage, 7211 Barret Road, West Chester | 7:00 PM

Celebrate summer at the Keehner Park Concert Series, free, family-friendly concerts on select Saturdays throughout the season, 7-9 p.m.

Pack a picnic and bring your own seating. Find the summer band and food truck lineup online. WestChesterOH.org

JUNE 5TH

Union Centre Food Truck Rally

The Square @ Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester | 11:30 AM

More than 40 food trucks from around the Tri-State area will once again gather at the Clock Tower for the 13th Annual Union Centre Food Truck Rally, hosted by the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association (UCBMA). Enjoy food, beverages and live entertainment, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Cast your vote for the top food truck. 2026 proceeds benefit Reach Out Lakota. UCBMA.com/food-truck-rally

Mental Health Services for Individuals and Their Families

• Counseling: Improving daily functioning for children and families

• Case Management: Community‑based treatment and support

• Substance Use Services: Care for co‑occurring mental health and substance use needs

• Psychiatric Care: Comprehensive evaluation and treatment from clinical specialists

• Early Childhood Support: Individual and family‑focused therapeutic care

• Day Treatment: Structured therapeutic environments

Join us in making an impact in our community. 513.272.2800 • bestpoint.org

CONTINUED

JUNE 6TH

Community First Aid Day

The Park at Liberty Center, 7100 Founder Row, Liberty Township | 1:00 PM

Join Liberty Township, the Liberty Township Fire Department and Liberty Center for the 4th Annual Community First Aid Day at The Park at Liberty Center, 1-3 p.m. Learn bystander CPR skills from first responders and visit community partner booths featuring a variety of health and wellness activities. Find more details online. Liberty-Township.com, Liberty-Center.com

JUNE 7TH

Flavors of India Festival

Voice of America MetroPark, 7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester | 11:00 AM

Celebrate the rich culture, vibrant traditions and incredible flavors of India at this exciting community festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 7. Enjoy authentic Indian cuisine from local vendors, including street food favorites from across India, cultural performances and live music. Don’t miss this family-friendly, fun and outdoor gathering. IndianChamberCincinnati.org/events

JUNE 25TH

The Joy Conference

Lakota East Freshman Campus, 7630 Bethany Road, Liberty Township | 9:00 AM

Join C3 Ohio at their annual mental health event, The Joy Conference, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 25. In partnership with the Butler County Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Older Adult Task Force, LifeSpan and MidPointe Library, C3 Ohio places mental health for all ages in the community spotlight. Find details online. C3Ohio.org

CUSTOM FRAMING AND LOCAL ART SINCE 2008

Try our new virtual framing tool to get a quote at PopRevolutionGallery.com!

Custom ranch on .92 acres in Woods of Logsdon! Freshly painted (2026) with hardwood floors, built-ins, and gas fireplace. Kitchen features new SS refrigerator (2025). Enjoy a 4 seasons room, covered deck, and private wooded yard. 1st floor study could be a 4th bedroom. Oversized garage (3-car capacity). Finished walkout LL with wet bar, full bath, rec room, and ample storage. New roof (2023). Community pool. Minutes to shopping, dining, and more—move-in ready! 7019 Cross Creek Lane

Beautifully maintained home in Aspen Trails with an open floorplan and hardwood floors throughout the main living areas. Updated kitchen (2021) with granite, backsplash, and SS appliances opens to the family room. 1st floor study and 9’ ceilings. Spacious bedrooms upstairs. Finished lower level with LVP, full bath, rec room, and storage. Private, treelined backyard. Community trails and ponds. Minutes to Kyles Station Kroger and Liberty Center. 5159 Aspenwood Drive

“Tiffany is very efficient and effective! She clearly communicated the ‘current market ‘ conditions. She set the expectations for both parties. Understood our needs and acted accordingly! Appreciate her professionalism! Best wishes from a happy customer!”

— Bhavani K.