Commissioner Mary McDonald

10/17/2026

Stillwater Center under the leadership of Dr. Michelle Pearce-Mobley shares its inaugural Spooktacular 5K & Fun Run today at the Stillwater Center.
8100 N. Main St., Dayton, OH

Stillwater Center is a county-operated intermediate care facility in Dayton, Ohio, that serves as a long-term home and respite provider for Montgomery County children and adults with severe-to-profound developmental disabilities and complex medical needs.

The Fun Run event was an accessible family-friendly 1-mile fun run following the main race.

Activities & Features included:
• Costume Contest: Encouraged for participants of all ages
• Trick-or-Treating & Activities: Community-focused booths and family-friendly stations
• Cause: Proceeds support recreational programming, therapeutic activities, and essential items for Stillwater Center residents.

Many Thank you’s to you Dr. Mobley and your incredible staff for creating this event that serves all in our community.



MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU😎

10/17/2026

CONGRATULATIONS Dr. Johnson
Steven Lee Johnson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Sinclair Community College, received the 2026 Citizen Legion of Honor Award from the Presidents Club of Dayton on Thursday, Oct. 15, during a ceremony at the Sinclair Conference Center. I was honored to present him with a Proclamation from the Board of Montgomery County Commissioners.

Dr. Johnson, who is in his 24th year leading Sinclair, was recognized for more than four decades of contributions to education, leadership, service, mentorship, volunteerism, advocacy, regional development and community engagement.

In accepting the award, Johnson emphasized the importance of fostering connections throughout the community.

“We’re all connected,” Johnson said. “It’s all about being connected to each other. Our history - our present, our past, our future - is all interconnected. And our connections are making Dayton a better community.”

He also acknowledged how Dayton has evolved since he moved in 2000 to join Sinclair. He commended the efforts that have made the city stronger.

“The Dayton of the year 2000 is very, very different than the Dayton of 2026,” Johnson said. “You have worked very, very hard - very deliberately and cohesively - to build a better Dayton for our friends and neighbors. You’ve done a great job. It is totally the place that’s going to get better. The Dayton region is fundamentally stronger economically and culturally - better than any time in decades. This region is rising as an epicenter for the most advance aerospace. It’s an incredible set of developments that is going to cast the future in advanced aerospace and defense for a long time. I’m very grateful to you for hanging in there and making this community what it is and so much more.

Johnson’s leadership and influence have extended well beyond Sinclair. He has served on the executive board of the American Association of Community Colleges and chaired the boards of the League for Innovation in the Community College, the Ohio Association of Community Colleges and the AACC Workforce Education Board.

He also served for several years on the executive committees of the Dayton Development Coalition and the Dayton Business Committee. Johnson testified twice before the United States Congress on educational technology issues.

During his presidency, Sinclair Community College has grown into the second-largest of Ohio’s 22 community colleges. For the past decade, the college has awarded more credentials than any other community college in the state. Most recently, Sinclair was named one of the nation’s Top 25 community colleges by the Aspen Institute as part of the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College

“Under his leadership, Sinclair has become more than a place of education. It has become a place of pathways to careers, opportunity, economic mobility and hope,” said Rev. Vanessa Oliver Ward, who delivered the invocation and benediction. “Dr. Johnson’s example reminds each of us of our responsibility wherever we are. He is a leader who has understood that leadership begins with something both simple and profound - being in the room. Being in the room means more than simply being present. It’s listening, learning, working alongside others and bringing our gifts, our experience and our commitment to the work before us.”

The Presidents Club’s 75th anniversary celebration also recognized student scholarship recipients whose stories reflected the organization's commitment to education and opportunity. Among them was Molly Wilson, recipient of the Phillip L. Parker Presidents Club Scholarship, who shared a moving account of overcoming addiction and incarceration. Wilson is pursuing an associate degree in Applied Science and Addiction Services.

Information received from DDN Article.

10/15/2026

My Deepest Condolences
Marvin Olinsky was a true visionary and a dear friend to the city of Trotwood when I served as mayor. Marvin will be remembered for all the ways he touched our community and left a legacy to long be cherished.
Thank you Marvin.

View Marvin Olinsky's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

10/13/2026

💖
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is an annual international health campaign that takes place from October 1 to October 31. Often referred to as "Pink October," it aims to increase global awareness of the disease, raise research funds, and promote critical health habits.

Early Detection is key and the primary medical goal is to educate the public on the importance of routine breast self-exams and screening mammograms, which significantly improve survival rates when cancer is caught early.

In the United States, breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women. In 2025, more than 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 59,080 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (also known as stage 0 breast cancer) will be diagnosed in women in the United States. While there has been an overall 44 percent decline in breast cancer deaths since 1989—thanks to gains in awareness, earlier diagnoses, and more effective treatments—there is a persistent mortality gap between Black women and white women.

The gap in breast cancer incidence and outcome among Black women is complex and multifactorial. Social, economic, geographic, and lifestyle factors may partially account for disparities. Black women are statistically more likely to have diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, and are less likely to breastfeed after childbirth—all of which are risk factors for breast cancer. They are more likely than white women to have inadequate health insurance or access to health care facilities, which may affect screening, follow-up care, and completion of therapy is vital.

10/10/2026

The Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services (MCBDDS) hosted its seventh annual Trunk-or-Treat today at Northview Center. Our citizens were all dressed up in their favorite costumes and wandered through the decorated cars and collected lots of Halloween goodies! This event was open to the community with hundreds in attendance. Providers were on hand to share information about our services.

It was a fun event.

10/10/2026

I appreciate Margie for giving me the opportunity to get to know her and her commitment to serve everyone in Montgomery County. This work is bigger than partisan politics, it requires working together to solve real problems that build collaboration. She has shown me she will and can stand for all our citizens in Montgomery County, from Vandalia to Austin Landing and everywhere in between. Good luck Margie.

I am truly honored to receive this endorsement. Commissioner Mary McDonald works tirelessly to make this county better. I will work just as hard for all of the residents of this county!

10/10/2026

It was a great day joining Tracey Tomme Executive Director at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Ribbon Cutting and opening of their new Ice Age-themed children's play and learning exhibit. The event expands the play area for the little ones and highlights the museum's continued growth and community impact.

Congratulations Tracey and Boonshoft Board of Directors for this beautiful addition to our community.

10/09/2026

“Policy in the Parks” was held today at Eastwood MetroPark. This event was offered by Five Rivers MetroParks as a legislative opportunity for local, state and federal elected officials and staff to experience the important role public investment plays in supporting conservation, recreation and quality of life throughout our region.

The time was spent understanding the importance of the parks and highlighting several new projects and amenities, including investments supported through public funding.

10/08/2026

Montgomery County Marks Progress Toward
New Job and Training Center
Forest Park
Press Release
Montgomery County is marking a major step forward in plans for a new Job and Training Center in Harrison Township as the county moves from property acquisition into design and planning for the $40 million project.

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC), along with state and community partners, gathered Thursday to unveil a temporary sign at the future site in Forest Park and celebrate the progress made toward bringing the new center to the community.

The county finalized the $729,000 purchase of the 40-acre property in August, securing the site for the new Job and Training Center and future growth. With the property now secured, the county is moving forward with the design and planning process.

“This is an exciting point in this project because we can see it moving from an idea to something that will soon become a reality,” Commission President Carolyn Rice said. “We’ve secured the property, brought our partners together and now have a clear path toward construction. Today’s sign is a small milestone, but it represents the progress we’ve made and the work that is ahead.”

The BCC has approved a $3 million contract with Miamisburg-based Levin Porter Architects to design the new Job and Training Center. The approximately 140,000- to 160,000-square-foot facility will provide a new home for Job and Family Services and Workforce Development, offering residents access to employment opportunities, skills training and critical resources to help them overcome barriers to employment. The center will also help local employers connect with the talent they need.

The county is also announcing a timeline for the project. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2027, with the new center expected to be completed in late 2028.

“This project is about more than a new building. It’s about creating a modern, state-of-the-art facility designed around what our residents and employers need today and what they’ll need in the future,” Commissioner Mary A. McDonald said. “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the services, resources and spaces that can best support our community, and now we’re moving into the next phase and getting closer to making that vision a reality.”

The project represents a significant investment in Montgomery County’s workforce system. The estimated $40 million project is supported through county financing, including a $40 million bond issue for the new Job and Training Center.

The Forest Park location provides convenient access to a major corridor and is near other county facilities, including Children Services and the Stillwater Center. The location will help create opportunities to connect employment and workforce services with other resources available to residents.

“Bringing a project of this size to a community takes a lot of collaboration,” Commissioner Judy Dodge said. “We’re grateful to the partners who have helped us get to this point, and we’re excited to continue working together as we move toward construction. There is a lot of work ahead, but today is a great opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made.”

The new center also builds on a vision Montgomery County pioneered more than 30 years ago, when it brought public assistance, workforce services and job training together under one roof.

“Thirty years ago, Montgomery County was ahead of its time when it brought public assistance, workforce services and job training together under one roof,” said Michael Colbert, County Administrator. “That model became a national best practice, and this new center gives us an opportunity to build on that legacy. We’re taking a proven model and creating a facility that will serve our community for decades to come.”

Montgomery County has worked closely with Harrison Township throughout the process to secure the property and establish a vision for its future.

“For a long time, we’ve been trying to find the right future for Forest Park, and we knew it would take a major investment to truly bring this property back to life,” said Shannon Meadows, Harrison Township Administrator. “The Job and Training Center is the kind of transformative project this property needed, and we’re grateful for our strong partnership with Montgomery County in making it happen.”

The site itself has a long history of serving as a gathering place for the community. It first opened in 1928 and over the decades evolved from a zoo to an amusement park and, later, Forest Park Plaza. The shopping center remained a popular destination until it was demolished in 2013. After more than a decade sitting vacant, the property is now entering its next chapter.

The temporary sign unveiled Thursday is the first visible marker of the new Job and Training Center that will take shape on the site as Montgomery County prepares for construction.

Additional information, including updates on temporary service locations, is available at the Job and Training Center Project webpage.

10/07/2026

We voted today!🇺🇸

Early voting in Montgomery County, Ohio, starts today. You can vote Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., at the Montgomery County Board of Elections Downtown, 451 W. Third St., on the lower level.

🇺🇸If you cannot get out of your car to come into the building you may drive to the lower level of the Montgomery County building parking garage,
Park by the entrance into the building
Look for the phone number on the wall to call to have a representative come to your car to assist you in voting from your car.

Your vote is your voice. Make it heard!🇺🇸

🇺🇸 My baby sister Taysha Clay.