PRESS
We d n e s d a y, A p r i l
6, 2011
PEOPLE
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IDEAS
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RECIPES
Maverick of Union Township wins ACM award as part of Chris Carr and Company By Kellie Geist-May kmay@communitypress.com
Most of us are lucky to win a high school cheerleading trophy or receive recognition for excelling at work, but Union Township resident Jeff Bolen can lay claim to an Academy of Country Music Award. Bolen, also known as Maverick, and the rest of the Chris Carr and Company B-105 morning show won this year’s Academy of Country Music Award for Large Market Personality of the Year. And it all started with a little happenstance. “I filled in with Chris Carr when the hostess was on maternity leave. When they put me, Chris Carr and Jason Statt in a room together, it was like we were long lost fraternity brothers. There’s something about the three of us that just works,” he said. “It was magical.” The music world thinks so, too. The team also has been nominated for two Country Music Association awards and two other Acad-
KELLIE GEIST-MAY/STAFF
Jeff Bolen, also known as Maverick on B-105, graduated from Amelia High School in 1975 and lives in Union Township. emy of Country Music Awards. Bolen was 13 when he decided he wanted to work in radio and he attended Ohio University after graduating from Amelia High School in 1975. He worked as a disc jockey at the Lighthouse Limited, worked for stations in Xenia, Fort
PROVIDED BY WUBE
Jason Statt, left, and Chris Carr, center, point at long-time B-105 member Jeff Bolen, also known as Maverick. The three traveled to Las Vegas Sunday, April 3, to accept their Academy of Country Music Award.
Wayne, Colorado and spent some time in theater before returning to Cincinnati. Bolen took a job with Bonneville International 15 years ago and has been with B-105 for 13 years. Although his work days are usually spent in the studio, Maverick used to spend his time reporting traffic from the sky – which could be nerve-wracking. “There were some scary days and close calls,” Bolen’s wife Paula Bolen said. “I was always listening to make sure he was still reporting from the air.” Although a name like Maverick is perfect for someone working in an airplane, Bolen said his nickname actually came from the Mel Gibson movie, not Tom Cruise. “When I was hired, there were characters on the air like Black Jack Daniels and Coyote Kim, so we needed something country … Patti
Marshall, the operations director of the radio station, gave me my name,” he said. Being involved in radio has given Bolen an opportunity to be more involved in the community. Chris Carr and Company supports organizations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati and Holly’s Prom for children with special needs. Bolen, Statt and Carr also are big military supporters. They host a Salute a Soldier segment on the morning show and work with local military groups to collect for Toys for Tots during Camp Carr. “A good majority of our staff are local people and we all have some connection to these events and organizations. We’re a family and we come together to help these organizations,” said Bolen, who was the Grand
KELLIE GEIST-MAY/STAFF
Jeff Bolen, also known as Maverick, is part of the Chris Carr and Company morning show on B-105. The group won this year’s Academy of Country Music Award for Large Market Personality of the Year. Bolen graduated from Amelia High School and he and his and his wife Paula Bolen live in Union Township. Marshal of the Amelia Christmas Parade in 2009. “Radio stations are on the air to serve the public, not just to play music or to give you the weather.” Looking back at his career in radio, Bolen said it’s the impact you’re able to make and the people you meet that make his job fun. It doesn’t hurt that Taylor Swift hugged you either. “Taylor Swift is top notch. She is someone who hugs you, thanks you and can’t wait to see you again. When we were nominated for a CMA Award, we got a
personal note from her,” he said. “There are a lot of class acts in country music and Taylor Swift is one who just really impressed me. It was like she came to Cincinnati just to see us.” The Chris Carr family and crew made their way to Las Vegas Sunday, April 3, to attend the ACM Awards. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I can’t say enough about Chris Carr. Without him, none of this would be possible,” Bolen said. “They put the three of us together and what came out has been unbelievable.”
Row House Gallery and Custom Framing celebrates 40 years By Kellie Geist-May kmay@communitypress.com
When Row House Gallery and Custom Framing first opened, it was a small town craft store. Now the Milford Main Street shop features local, regional and national artists and offers an extensive list of framing services. “We opened as a craft shop in 1971, but some friends of ours – who were wonderful artists – said we should put some of their work up in our shop,” said Betty Meyer, who started the shop with her husband Art. “Then other people came along and … before we knew it, we were a gallery.” About three years after opening, Row House expanded into the framing business and bought the row house next door to the original location. The business has been in the two row houses at 211 Main St. ever since. This year, Row House is celebrating their 40th anniversary. “It took a while to build our business, but it’s been great,” Betty said. Family has helped run the shop through the decades, but if you stop in nowadays, you’re likely to see Betty and her two
Connecting with Row House
Row House Gallery and Custom Framing can be found at 211 Main St. and reached at 831-7230. You also can visit their website at www.rowhouse.com or shop at www.shoprowhouse.com. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and some Sundays by chance or appointment. Other hours also are available by appointment. Row House also maintains a Facebook page, complete with daily art uploads, and sends email newsletters. To be added to the email list, call or email rowhousegallery@aol.com and put “add me to your email list” in the subject line.
KELLIE GEIST-MAY/STAFF
Row House Gallery is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The gallery is owned and operated by Betty Meyer, left, and her daughters Nancy Meyer, center, and Janie Smith. daughters, Janie Smith and Nancy Meyer. “We’ve seen more art in our lifetimes than most people could ever hope to see,” Nancy said. “And we’ve had the opportunity to meet quite a few wonderful artists. We’ve entertained them and they’ve entertained us.” Art at Row House ranges from historical to contemporary and oil to photography.
The gallery also sells prints and has contacts with artists who do commissioned work, especially portraits of children and pets. For those more into functional art, the back room of Row House is home to Lot 34, which opened in 2008 and sells pottery, wood works, glass art, jewelry and more. All of the Lot 34 art is made by artists in Ohio, Kentucky and Indi-
ana. Betty, Nancy and Janie have become staples in historic downtown Milford, not just because of their work, but also their involvement in the community. Row House has sponsored a number of benefit art shows and framing fundraisers for groups and causes including the Greater Milford Area Historical Society, the Drake Planetarium and multiple
animal shelters and rescues. Janie said the community involvement is part of being a good small business. “We do these things to make the community we live in a better place,” she said. Community involvement also has helped spread the word about Row House. “The more you can get involved in the community, the better,” Nancy said. “We can help these organizations while putting ourselves in front of a clientele that may or may not know we exist.” The owners aren’t the only ones with a long history – the buildings themselves have stories. Betty said John Kugler built the two homes for the foreman who worked in the Milford gristmill. Smith said they later served as a hospital during the cholera epidemic and have been named one of the
haunted places in Ohio. Betty said the business started in Milford and has stayed in Milford because she likes the location and the community. “I am so proud of Milford and I think, right now, we have a wonderful group of (businesses) and restaurants here,” she said. Nancy agreed and said those who live nearby need to stop by and get reacquainted with the area. “There are people who live in Milford who think downtown is just a bunch of old boarded up buildings. Downtown has gone through a lot of transitions, but we have a really good mix right now. It amazes me that people don’t know about the businesses we have on Main Street,” she said. “Just stop in.” Betty lives in Miami Township, Janie lives in Milford and Nancy lives in Goshen.