Ohio University’s sixth annual Music Industry Summit was its largest offering to date with attendance more than doubling compared to last year. More than 2,500 OHIO students, Bobcat alumni, industry professionals, high schoolers, and music lovers of all ages congregated for the opportunity to learn, engage with music industry leaders, and enjoy a series of networking and performance events. Hundreds more attended conference programming virtually. The Music Industry Summit (MIS) recently took place on April 9-10 with both in-person and virtual attendance options. The conference...

The Kennedy Museum of Art (KMA) will have a new leader at its helm beginning July 1. Professional museum administrator Sandra Harris has been hired as executive director of KMA, taking the place of former director Ed Pauley, who served in that role from 2008 until last fall. Harris most recently has served as executive director of American Women Artists and has an impressive resume in leadership for museum and cultural institutions across the country, including the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, the Hearst Museum...

NELSONVILLE — Factory Street Studio will hold its 45th annual spring dance concert Friday and Saturday at Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville. The Spring Dance Concert will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 for children and $20 for adults ages 18 and over. They will be available in-person before each concert. The Spring Dance Concert is an annual event that allows students...

Local author David Brennan will discuss his new book, “Baby Gangs of Athens” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Little Professor Book Center, 65 S. Court St., Athens. According to the book summary, “The Baby Gangs of Athens” shows the lives of the babies who live in Athens and Athens County. The baby gangs — East Side and West Side — have alliances and rivalries. Every year, they prepare for the big baby drag races held at the Athens County Fair. ...

The Athens and Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District offices are joining forces to present an Educator’s Workshop on May 29. Workshop check-in starts at 8:45 a.m. and the workshop will end at 4 p.m. This one day workshop is open to formal public school teachers and non-formal homeschool and summer camp teachers alike. Participants will be introduced to the nationally acclaimed Project WILD, Aquatic WILD, and Project WET programs. Educators will come away from the workshop with a three manual toolkit of practical lesson...

The New York Times, MSNBC, FOX News, and many other media outlets have stories about Ari Faber’s trailblazing campaign as a transgender candidate for Ohio State Senate District 30. Athens’ award-winning weekly newspaper decided to learn more about Faber and did so at Donkey Coffee one sunny afternoon. Faber’s red hair, genuine personality and strong desire to help others made it a captivating interview, a breath of fresh air. “I’m...

The Athens County High School Jazz Band invites everyone to an evening of entertainment at Brenen’s Coffee Café on Monday with the music beginning at 7 p.m. Come down to Brenen’s Coffee Café and treat yourself to some good food while enjoying music performed by the top high school musicians of Athens County. This year’s band includes musicians from all county high schools — Alexander, Federal Hocking, Athens, Trimble and Nelsonville-York. This year’s guest artist is George Carpten IV, associate professor of Trumpet at Ohio University. The musical selections include modern songs such as “Uptown Funk” and classics like “Respect” and “Besema Mucho.” The band is under the direction of Terry Robb.

CANAANVILLE — With the opening of a new exhibit, demonstrations and more, there were a lot of things to do at the Community Hemp Fair on Saturday in downtown Canaanville. The event was at in the backyard of the Cannabis Museum, where the history of hemp is portrayed with old tools and information used in the hemp industry years ago. The museum debuted two parts of its new exhibit, Cannabis...

On Monday, Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez announced that Donald J. Leo has been named the university’s executive vice president and provost effective July 1, 2024. “We are so excited and fortunate to welcome Don to the OHIO community. As a proven academic leader, scholar and educator, he has demonstrated effectiveness in working collaboratively to support students and faculty, which will positively impact the entire University community,” Gonzalez said. “Don will be a strong partner in advancing our academic mission to meet the needs...

Ohio University and Hocking College will host Commencement Ceremonies on May 4. Ohio University Ohio University will hold a commencement ceremony for graduates at 9:30 a.m. May 3. Two ceremonies for undergraduates will be held on May 4. These ceremonies will be held at the Convocation Center, 95 Richland Ave., Athens. ...

STEWART — The Federal Valley Resource Center (FVRC) announces the recent updates to their campus, including replacement of all the roofs to the historic buildings and creating a new front entrance. The community is invited to join a celebration of these accomplishments with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a community meal and the third Annual Honky Tonk Ball. The event is scheduled for 4 p.m. May 11, at 8225 State Route 329, Stewart. ...

Justin Nobel, a science journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, spent seven-year investigating how the U.S. oil and gas industry’s avoidance of environmental regulations has created a dangerous and radioactive public health crisis. His recently published book, “Petroleum -238,” is both a landmark work of environmental writing and an urgent call to action. Nobel will speak at two events on May 1. A reading from his new book will held at 2 p.m. at the Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens. He will talk about...

Several women gathered April 6 to have fun and help raise money for My Sister’s Place. Organized by Kate Stotts-Kuhar, Prokos Rentals general manager, the Prokos Rentals Sweet Tea Social featured food and drinks, music, a silent auction, giveaways and more. The event was held in the Prokos Rentals event center, located near the State and Carpenter street intersection. The theme was loosely based on the Kentucky Derby with the...

In his younger days, Kevin Kunz cared more about picking up the spare than earning a standing ovation. Raised in Stow, near Akron, he was passionate about bowling but had another interest lurking at the end of the lane. A spur-of-the-moment decision his senior year in high school changed everything. “A friend in study hall brought in the script for the school play, which was ‘See How They Run,’” Kunz...

Sunday morning, citizens and university students alike gathered at Ohio University’s Pruitt Field to watch and cheer on runners as they made their way across the finish line of the Athens Marathon and half-marathon. A beautiful day for running, according to marathon volunteer Helen Rutter, the race marked the 56th race since 1968, according to the Athens Marathon website. Those participating in running or facilitating the race were not the only ones to enjoy the good weather, however. ...

NELSONVILLE — The third annual Tunnel to Towers 5K run/walk will take place April 28 in Nelsonville. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Nelsonville’s Historic Public Square. The event participants, many wearing firefighting gear, police uniforms, and military uniforms, will travel from the square through the scenic streets of Nelsonville, ending back at the public square. The route includes banners of hometown heroes along the streets near the...

Jorma Kaukonen and John Hurlbut are releasing “One More Life Time” on Record Store Day. A limited release of 500 vinyls will be available at record stores across the country, exclusively for Record Store Day, this Saturday. “Being born in 1940, the first record I ever listened to was a 78 RPM album by Roy Rogers And the Sons of The Pioneers,” said Kaukonen, a resident of Meigs County. “In 1955, I got two more 78 RPM singles … ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill...

Federal Hocking High School Drama Club’s cast for Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” include (l to r) Emma Lenko, Jozlyn Bew, Adam Gilchrist, Collon McPherson, Abigail Holliday, Adam McKnight, Kaylee Poston-Ford, Clara Maxwell, Bryan Schwarzel, and Alex Macartney (not pictured: Isaac Macartney). Final performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the school’s auditorium, 8461 State Route 144, Stewart.

Both Athens High School and Federal Hocking High School Drama Clubs are performing their spring plays this weekend. ‘Shrek Jr.’ Get ready to step into a fairy tale world unlike any other as Athens High School Drama Club presents its latest production, “Shrek Jr.,” running Friday through Sunday in the school’s auditorium, 1 High School Road, The Plains. ...

STEWART — Community Food Initiatives will host its annual community potluck and meeting from 1-3 p.m. April 27 at the Federal Valley Resource Center, 8225 State Route 329, Stewart. Everyone is welcome at this event; membership is not required to attend this celebration. The event will feature activities that celebrate our food community and our Appalachian culture of growing and sharing the harvest, with the following highlights: ...