In This Hamilton! Thrive Issue …

📌Daily Weather

📌New Years Eve Celebration at Receptions

📌Teacher surprised by Middletown community award

📌Badin Girls - Good !!

📌NFL Power Rankings, Week 17: Red-hot Ravens jump 49ers to claim No. 1 spot; broken Chiefs fall to No. 9

📌Cat Humor / Far Side

📌Check Out Hyde’s Restaurant

New Year’s Eve Puttin’ on the Ritz starring The Menus

About this event

• 5 hours

• Mobile eTicket

Receptions Fairfield New Year’s Eve Puttin’ on the Ritz will be a spectacular night to make memories with family and friends. Enjoy reminiscing about the past year while you celebrate the new year, dancing and singing along with The Menus. This entertaining show will have you on your feet for the new year’s celebration of a lifetime. Join us at Receptions Event Centers Fairfield on December 31, 2023, for a memorable night.

What’s included with the New Year’s Eve Puttin’ on the Ritz?

Each ticket includes an open well bar, appetizers, buffet dinner, late-night snack bar, champagne toast, favors & fun for all. You can upgrade to VIP, which grants you early access to the event with premium seating, upgraded appetizers, and an upgraded open-call bar.

Ticket Details

VIP Tickets

🎟️ Cost: $250 per Couple or $150 per Single

🕗 Seating at 8 PM until 1 AM

🎶 Premium Seating: Get Close to the Band and Feel the Rhythm!

🍴 Appetizers: Satisfy Your Cravings with a Selection of Tasty Bites!

🍹 Open CALL Liquor Bar: Sip on Your Favorite Beverages All Night!

🥂 Champagne Toast at Midnight: Cheers to New Beginnings!

🍽️ Full Dinner Buffet with Dessert: Delight in a Sumptuous Feast!

Upgraded Specialty Party Favors

General Tickets

🎟️ Cost: $199 per Couple or $100 per Single

🕗 Seating at 8 PM until 1 AM

🍴 Appetizers: Satisfy Your Cravings with a Selection of Tasty Bites!

🍹 Open WELL Liquor Bar: Enjoy a Night of Endless Libations!

🥂 Champagne Toast at Midnight: Cheers to New Beginnings!

🍽️ Full Dinner Buffet with Dessert: Delight in a Sumptuous Feast!

Teacher surprised by Middletown community award

Editor’s note - It’s not Hamilton! - but close enough cuz it’s awesome!

One of this city’s school instructors has been singled out for an annual award for teaching excellence.

This year’s Kingswell Rising Star Award goes to Middletown Middle School teacher Heather Castle, who was described by her principal as having a classroom learning style that “goes beyond imparting knowledge and nurtures a love for learning.”

The 7th grade English teacher recently received her trophy during a ceremony by officials of Kingswell, a Middletown-based, non-profit Christian organization who yearly honors a series of local individuals for their contributions to the community.

According to a statement from the group: “The Kingswell Impact Gala and Awards were founded back in 2017 to recognize and acknowledge exemplary achievement efforts of people or projects that provide a positive impact and demonstrate excellence throughout the city of Middletown.”

“The Rising Star Award goes to someone who is impacting the community in new and innovative ways. Mrs. Castle was nominated for her work at Middletown Middle School, and her commitment to students and the Middie community.”

Nominations are done anonymously and Castle doesn’t know who suggested her for the honor but she knows it surprised her.

“I’m very humbled to have been given this award and was definitely not expecting it,” she said.

“Teaching is a thankless profession and it’s not often that we get recognized for what we do for our students in a light like this one. However, I wouldn’t have received this award if it weren’t for the wonderful colleagues I’ve worked with who have helped shape me into the educator I am today.”

When news of the award became public, Middletown Middle School Principal Michael Valenti told Castle “your dedication to education … your commitment to mission work and your unwavering support for students are truly inspiring.”

Castle, a veteran of the city schools, is also a top official with the Middletown Teacher Association.

Valenti said her work in that area broadens Castle positive impact beyond her classroom efforts.

“As a leader in the teacher’s union, you have shown remarkable advocacy for the rights and well-being of educators. Your efforts in creating a collaborative and supportive environment have not only strengthened the teaching community but have also set a high standard for collective action and solidarity.”

Moreover, said Valenti, “within the classroom, your impact is felt on a personal level” by students.

“Your dedication to the academic and personal growth of your students is evident, and your support extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of education. Your students are not just learners but individuals who feel valued, encouraged, and inspired to reach their full potential.”

Source: Journal-News

‘We’re getting there’ — Badin girls win 6th straight after 0-2 start

HAMILTON — Gracie Cosgrove was patient enough to trust her shooting abilities from behind the 3-point line Saturday night.

“The first half, I was struggling,” the Badin High School junior guard said. “I got into the locker room at halftime and said to myself, ‘It’s fine. I’m fine.’”

She went back out on the court and shredded the net the final two quarters.

Cosgrove dropped nine treys — including six in the second half — to register a game-high 31 points, Braelyn Even scored 16 points and Badin blew by St. Ursula 83-40 at Mulcahey Gym.

The Rams (6-2) are on a six-game winning streak and have beaten their last four opponents by at least 15 points. Badin, which fell to Lakota East and Cincinnati Country Day to start the season, is 6-0 against St. Ursula in the last six years.

“We’re getting there. Have we arrived? No,” said Tom Sunderman, who is in his 16th season as Badin’s head coach. “But we’re getting there. The girls are starting to buy in.”

The Rams got offensive production from junior Ashley Pate (10 points) and sophomore Lily MacGowan (13 points). Pate is in her first full season after transferring to Badin last year.

Sunderman said the focus for his program heading into the new year is to get the returning players to ease some of the younger ones into the system.

“I look at it like this — we can’t have a good season without them,” Sunderman said. “That’s what we have. We have two seniors and two juniors until Brooke Sebastian (injured) is back in another month. Then we have a lot of sophomores.

“We’ve said this all along so far that it’s going to be by committee and who’s ready that night. I think you’re starting to see some of that come along.”

Badin led 21-13 after the first quarter and 40-23 heading into the half thanks to a spark from MacGowan and Pate from the outside.

Cosgrove got into her groove by scoring 20 of her points in the second half.

“This is all-around stemming from our energy on defense,” Cosgrove said. “Defense does make offense.”

Badin had five players connect on 17 shots from 3-point range, including one from Even, who does most of her work in the paint.

“We’ve been talking about what we’ve been doing well and to just continue to do what we’ve been doing well,” said Even, a sophomore. “We started transitioning more tonight once we stopped fouling. That helped us set up the 3s, which was good.”

St. Ursula (3-5) has lost three out of its last four but came off a 61-38 win at Fenwick last Saturday. Juniors Callie Nichols and Grace O’Toole had 10 points apiece to lead the Bulldogs.

Source: Journal News

'Twas two weeks before the playoffs, from the top on down, 
Not a team was comfy, not even in Motown.
Division titles shall be hung, in both Detroit and San Fran,
But in Cincy, Indy and NOLA, they're rethinking the plan.

The same might be true in Kansas City, too, 
And they're crying in Denver, feeling all sorts of blue.
They're joined by the Jaguars, quite down but not out, 
While Dallas dropped another game, not nearly as stout.

With Pittsburgh and Houston, time will tell,
And the Vikings and Falcons, still in it as well.
Yet the clock is ticking, the margins have shrunk, 
To find who's a gem, and who is junk.

The Bills and Packers survived, with sweet relief, 
The Dolphins and Seahawks both share the same belief.
'Tis the season for miracles, both big and small, 
The Browns, Bucs and Rams currently stand playoff tall.

Power rankings will change, each week a new mix,
Every shocking result, our Sundays turn into tricks.
Stakes have ne'er been bigger, few can deny,
Postseason spots simply vanish in the blink of an eye.

In Week 16's final contest, we were left with two, 
The Ravens and Niners, only the highest value.
Or so we thought, as disappointment bore, 
Brock's interceptions adding up to four.

Purdy's picks weren't pretty, each one a ghastly sight,
The Niners clawed to make it closer, but never looked quite right.
Twelve times now, any way anyhow, the Ravens got it done,
Merry Christmas, Baltimore! You are now No. 1.

FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANT SINCE 1946

HOME-MADE FOOD AND PIES ARE OUR SPECIALTIES

After WWII, brothers Jim and Hub Hyde, born in a poor coal-mining town in Eastern Kentucky, moved to Hamilton, Ohio in search of work. In August 1946, they saved some money and brought an ice cream shop which soon became Hyde’s Restaurant.

Over the years, the diner grew in size and menu – hamburgers and ice cream expanded to fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, fish dinners, and then homemade pies. Hub Hyde continued to work until he no longer could, passing away in March 2006.

For the past 39 years, Mick has ensured Hyde’s success by bringing it forward with the times while maintaining the original feel of the restaurant – a place with charm, hospitality, and simply great home-cooked food at a reasonable price. In 2005, Ashley and Amy stepped into the picture to help their Dad.