Latest reporting from the Community desk.
Community
Lakota Local School District invites K-12 students, including home-schooled and private-school students within district boundaries, to enter its 28th annual MLK Day contest by 4 p.m. Nov. 23, with winners performing at a January community celebration.
Community
Reach Out Lakota reports a 22 percent increase in pantry visits as nearly 200 new families sought help in 2025, and Lakota Local Schools launches its 19th annual Stuff the Bus food drive running Oct. 12–23.
West Chester, OH
Clear
Feels like 42° · 0% rain
Community
Venardos Circus's animal-free "ALICE" production opens Thursday, Aug. 13 at Liberty Center in Liberty Township with 14 shows through Aug. 23, and Liberty Center is giving away a family four-pack of tickets via Instagram sweepstakes closing Friday at 1 p.m.
Community
MetroParks of Butler County is accepting online applications through Sept. 7 for 18 lottery-assigned bowhunting spots at three parks, with a youth option for hunters ages 10–17 at Day Farm.
Community
Five Butler County sunflower fields are blooming through September, led by Liberty Township's Niederman Family Farm, with u-pick options, farm markets and family activities across the region.
Community
Fitton @ The Foundry at Liberty Center opens registration for four fall arts classes — creative journaling, seagrass basketry, broom making and paper quilling — taught by three instructors from September through December 2026.
Community
Liberty Township's Spot-a-Truck & Chili Cook-Off returns Sunday, Oct. 4, at Liberty Center with free car seat safety checks from LTFD and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, a five-department firefighter chili cook-off benefiting C3OHIO, and a vehicle display open to all ages.
Community
MetroParks of Butler County warns that heavy rain may force grass parking lot closures at VOA MetroPark during the Country Music Festival running through Sunday, Aug. 9, directing festivalgoers to the festival's social media for alternate parking updates.
Community
Cincinnati Children's Hospital earned a spot on Forbes' Best Employers for Women list for the ninth consecutive year, ranking No. 1 in Cincinnati and No. 3 in Ohio, while its Liberty Township campus continues a $365 million expansion that will nearly triple inpatient beds by 2028.
Community
Lakota East High School's biggest band fundraiser, Tag Day, is set for Saturday, Aug. 22, with online donations, community donation stations, a finale performance and Jolly Treats sales supporting every band student as the marching season begins.
Community
West Chester Township announced Thursday it will not renew its license with Further Festivals for the VOA Country Music Festival beyond 2026, citing the event's heavy public safety demands and lack of measurable local economic benefit.
Community
Animal Friends Humane Society, Butler County's oldest nonprofit shelter, is asking West Chester and Liberty Township residents to foster kittens and volunteer as the organization faces overcrowding and rising veterinary costs while expanding services like its pet food pantry and community cat programs.
Community
The C3OHIO Firefighter Chili Cook-Off returns to Liberty Center on Sunday, October 4, with fire departments from Liberty Township and West Chester Township competing for the community's vote alongside the Spot-A-Truck event.
Community
The Voices of America Country Music Festival returns to Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester Township from August 6–9 with headliners Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Jordan Davis, while Venardos Circus brings its animal-free big top to Liberty Center August 13–23.
©2026 West Chester-Liberty Herald
Powered by Surround Sound Media