walking across spain
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7/28/2019 Walking Across Spain
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4 Thursday, June 13, 2013 Springboro Sun
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Editor Policy
Drive-in to
the pastIsnt it funny how fast technology changes; you can barely
catch up.
Im still trying to figure out this Palm Pilot I got for
Christmas in 1997 and wheres my stylus?
So, in this day and age of flat screens, DVRs and Blue Rays,
its nice to see on a beautiful
evening here in the Miami Valley
the drive-in theater is packed.
Yes, full of moms, dads, grand-
parents and kids enjoying an
experience together, sharing a
moment in time, which we rarely
do anymore.
The Dixie Drive-In Theater
has been my favorite since I was
a kid and not a lot has changed
since it opened in 1959.
Now dont get me wrong, its
been updated throughout the
years, but for the most part its
frozen in time. Ryan Levin, V.P. and owner of the Dixie and a
buddy of mine, has continued what his dad and uncle unspooled
(sorry) so many years ago.
The Dixie Drive-In began as a family owned business back
in 1959 and is still to this day family owned and operated,
Levin said. Lou (Ryans dad) and his brother Al Levin (Ryans
uncle) started the business as a single outdoor drive-in theater
with a capacity to accommodate 1,000 cars. Lou and Al, who
are twin brothers, are now 87 years old and remain active busi-
nessmen.
Like many of us, the first motion picture we experienced may
have been at a drive-in.
I remember my father taking me when was I about seven
years old. The movie playing was Phantasm it was a horror
movie and I was riveted, Levin said, his face pale as a ghost(OK, not really). Dad left the car for a few minutes and then
the really scary part hit - scared the you-know-what out of me.
Now I know why they have parental ratings on movies.
I had a frightening experience too. We took the back seat out
of my 70 Ford Galaxie 500 and put three buddies in the trunk.
As the movie started they climbed through. Always wondered
why the dude in the ticket booth stared at me when I arrived
alone. (Ryan, do I still own you admission for that?)
Now cut to today, The Dixie has undergone many changes.
For one,l it has two screens. There is also a remodeled conces-
sion stand with a retro look. The speakers are gone too many
people driving away, forgetting they were attached to the car
window. Now the sound is through your radio.
But it hasnt lost its original charm.
I know as a young kid I loved watching and hearing the
sound of the film rolls feeding though the projector, Levin said
proudly. Did you know we purposefully keep the back door of
the projection room open so kids, and adults can actually seehow the magic works?
But the Dixie is also keeping up with the times.
We look forward to moving toward a digital format but
we want to preserve the legacy of the past, Levin said. The
plan would be to have the f ilm play a loop to give the appear-
ance of the flavor of film but actually be showing the movies
digitally. Audiences will enjoy seeing these 1st run movies in
high definition of a newer technology,
It will be one of the only digital drive-ins around.
But, with all the choices around, from your own home theater
to the multi-screen theaters, is the drive-in still relevant?
You betcha, Levin said. First of all, the drive-in is truly
family entertainment and for all ages. Its affordable for a
group of kids to actually stay and watch two first-run movies.
Plus money is tight these days and the drive-in offers great
value; we have concessions at a reduced rate of 30%-50% less
than traditional indoor theaters. Thats a tremendous savings.
And, speaking of tight, profit margins are slim for movie the-aters but Levins dad and uncle came up with a plan to pump up
those profit margins. Its one of those why didnt I think of
that moments.
While attending a theater owners conference in 1964, they
learned of a farmer that approached one of the drive-in owners
about renting the space during the day for a farmers market.
Thats when the light-bulb went off for Lou & Al. It was a
no-brainer to capitalize on their existing land AND the ameni-
ties at the Dixie, Levin said. It was a perfect match of an
ingress/egress format for an outdoor market. The food, rest-
rooms, and speaker system were already in place for the de-
facto enterprise and the Paris Flea Market came to life which
happens every Sunday.
But the bottom line isnt about the bottom line at all. Well,
sure its a business and the plan is to make money, but Levin
says hes also in the business to make memories.
Folks can make it a fun, family event they can create a
Norman Rockwell experience, make it a night to remember,
something they will fondly look back on for years to come, he
added.
And when you think about it, how many things do we enjoy
all at one time? Not many.
The drive-in is where you meet your neighbors, hang with
friends, set up the lawn chairs and lay out the blankets, pop
some popcorn, eat a corn dog and enjoy a movie with others
simultaneously.
We bring people together, Levin said.
And speaking of together, do you know how tough it is to
stuff people in the back of a Dodge Dart?
Cheers,
Buch
MORE BUCH BANTERINGS
The Dixie Drive-In Theater is located (where else?) at 6201
N Dixie Drive. Their phone number is 937-890-5513 and their
website is www.DixieTwin.com See ya at the drive-in and oh,
tell em, Buch sent you!
Walking across SpainMy neighbor, Roger Ridenour, who I
wrote a feature story about two yearsago, is off to Spain. He left Tuesday for
New York and then to Madrid. His
actual walking journey begins in Leon
and ends 219 miles later in Camino de
Santiago. Its the f inal leg of the Way
of St. James. The full trip 500-plus
miles actually begins in France, but
Roger, who turned 70 a couple of
months ago, thought that was a tad too
long. He has another trip planned later
this summer.
Recently, theres been an increase of
thousands making this journey.
People from a multitude of nations
should make this walk a great experi-
ence, Roger remarked as we chatted
on his patio Sunday afternoon. Since
the summer of 2011, Roger walked thePeruvian rain forests and then climbed
to the top of Machu Picchu on a two-
week journey to South America. Hiked
the Roman Road walking thru olive
fields from Florence, Italy to Rome, a
distance of 273 kilometers in seven
days. I stood right where the Pope
stands, being not properly bathed or
dressed for the moment, having just
arrived from such a long hike, he
mentioned. And earlier this year
walked from Fishermans wharf near
San Francisco to Point Reyes National
Seashore in seven days. Several people
he met along the way became friends
as they journeyed the path.
On his final day, he told his new
friends that he was being picked up bya cab to transport back to the airport
for his ride home. Moments later a
long stretch limo with a driver dressed
in a tuxedo pulled up in front of the
camp area and asked for Mr. Ridenour.
He shouted out, Right here. Don,
why I said what I did Ill never know
becaus e its not like me at all. Roger
looked at the group and remarked,
You never know who youve been
walking with these days. Ive been
incognito, jumped in the back of the
limo and said, Driver take me to the
airport. They were all shaking their
heads when the limo pulled away.
Theyll never know Im just a retired
carpenter from Springboro, Ohio, will
they? he added.
To prepare for the trip to Spain,
Rogers been walking eigh to 10 miles
every day in our community with a 22-
pound backpack con tai nin g exac tly
what hell have with him on the trail
all the necessities in small quantities
and two quarts of water.
His flight home is set for July 8,
allowing ample time to complete the
journey and throw in a couple of side
trips. One to the end of the earth site
from back in the 1400s and the other to
catch the running of the bulls in
Pamplona.
I had to ask what his favorite tri p had
been over the last 20 years. Bicycling
through 200 miles of China with a myr-
iad of side trips, the great wall and so
much more would be number one, he
enthusiastically responded.What about your bucket list, whats
left youve been so many places.
Nepal, the Mt. Everest region, not
climbing to the top however, a train
ride across America with my grand
children and I really want to return to
Iceland. But in the meantime I have a
trip to Niagra Falls planned in a few
months with the grand kids and thatll
wrap up this years travel calendar. I
wished Roger an excellent and safe
journey. Our prayers are with you for
peace, good health and a wonderful
adventure to share when you return. I
admire people that can leave the com-
fort of their home, family, and friend-
ships to visit other parts of our magnif-
icent planet. To God be the Glory.
Wednesday nights at Heatherwoode
are great fun. Awesome burgers that I
wait all week for, or their brats or
chicken are amazing, too. Just the
ambience on the patio is so relaxing,
different music every week to enjoy,
some fun chipping contests are held
every week with glow balls and who
knows what other fun things might
show up. Mark it on your calendar
Wednesday nights at Heatherwoode.
You dont have to play golf, you just
need a good appetite and want to catch
a comfort vibe to get you through the
2nd half of the week. It all starts at
6:30, so come on down and join the
fun.
Had a wonderful time at Dr. Ron
Malones ret iremen t par ty a tCampionis last week. Big crowd and
amazing to see some of the gifts this
wonderful administrator received.
Thirteen years here in Springboro as
high school principal. Those students
that started kindergarten the year he
started as principal received their high
school diplomas from Dr. Malone at
graduation. Ron is not going anywhere,
my friends, he loves this community
like you and I do and is here today and
for all the tomorrows. I wish everyone
could read the notes they left in his
yearbook. Your heart would flutter and
take flight. God Bless Dr. Ron Malone.
Merge Wright, as you travel this
summer across America, you will see it
on highways everywhere. Most spell it
incorrectly. They keep forgetting to put
a big W in front of the R. Think of
me and Ill think of you. The HEAT is
on. Lets grab some summer.
MERGE WRIGHT
By D
on Wright
Times
Columnist
Roger Ridenour
Eyler Drive, Sandy Acres has been
in Clearcreek Township for about 60
years. There are 27 homes and two
four-unit rental properties.
Until recently, it was on a small dead
end road ending in a gravel pit, a field
and a creek. Before things changed,
tons of gravel provided wild raspber-
ries grew in the field and were deli-
cious. Children played in the creek in
summer and skated on ice in winter.
Deer walked up in the yards to eat
apples from residents trees.
There were no sidewalks and curbs.
There still arent However, the resi-dents get on with that situation. The
short street was and is a nice neighbor-
hood. It has been here since
Springboro was a village and there
were only two school buildings, one
traffic light and a volunteer fire depart-
ment.
Now the areas of the former gravel
pit and field have joined Eyler to the
south across from Heatherwood. Bailey
Lane is the central street of Crest
Homes at Five Fairways subdivision in
that area. Handsome homes are rapidly
filling the plat. To the west of the end
of Eyler, a small subdivision is also
developing on Sandy Court cull de sac.
There are three homes on the court andeight lots for sale there. But something
is missing.
It may be that the owner was not
aware of the special living thing that
grew on Sandy Court lot eight.
Thirteen years ago, neighbors on Eyler
Drive and other interested citizens
urged protection of a large oak tree that
stood there. People came to see it and
enjoy its stately beauty. It is thought to
have been growing for up to 150 years
and maybe more. It has been cut down.
The huge trunk is lying on the
ground. The center of the stump is 62
inches across. The tree will saw out
many board feet of good oak timber.
The stump will take great digging or
blasti ng be fore a house can bui lt on lot
number eight. Then there will be only
the ghost of the special living thing,
once called a Monarch Oak. It cannot
be replaced in less than a centu ry or
more.
Springboro has many lovely trees.The city is a member of Tree City
USA, and there are employees who
specialize in forestry. They monitor to
help keep local t rees healthy. The miss-
ing old Monarch is now just wood. It is
ironic that the plat on Sandy Court is
named White Oak Estat es. The oak is
gone. Change is sometimes unneces-
sary.
The loss of a landmarkBy Mary
Dalton
SpecialWriter