In This Hamilton! Thrive Issue …

📌Daily Weather

📌Thyme Savor returns to Main Street in Hamilton

📌Teacher surprised by Middletown community award

📌Badin Girls - Good !!

📌NFL Week 17 latest buzz, upset picks, playoff predictions

📌Cat Humor / Far Side

📌Vehicle hits High Street restaurant in Hamilton, two people injured

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Thyme Savor returns to Main Street in Hamilton

Susan Hampton has brought back Thyme Savor to Main Street, offering a convenient solution for those with tight schedules who still crave a home-cooked meal. Teaming up with Cathy Blevins, the duo prepares ready-to-enjoy meals for in-home dining.

The dishes, conveniently packaged for either a toaster oven or a conventional oven, are a testament to Thyme Savor's commitment to time-strapped individuals. Hampton shared, "The meals are already prepared in containers for a toaster oven or your oven. When we sell out of one thing, we make something different."

Thyme Savor might ring a bell for some long-time residents of Hamilton, as it operated on Main Street in the early 2000s but closed due to a lack of understanding of the concept at the time. The limited shopping options nearby also played a role in its closure.

However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a surge in people embracing home dining, Hampton decided to revive Thyme Savor, almost a generation later, at its original location at 222 Main St. "We're doing well," she reported. "We're having a good time. We're in a groove now, and we know what people like to eat and what they don't like to eat."

For those curious about the menu, Hampton recommends checking their Facebook page, where she regularly posts pictures of fresh and new offerings. The menu is dynamic and changes with each visit. Thyme Savor's culinary offerings include fresh soups, salads, various chicken salads (with the walnut and cranberry variant being a staple), French onion soup, savory rigatoni, and chicken and dumplings.

Hampton emphasizes the commitment to quality by stating, "Everything's made from scratch here from this kitchen." She personally handpicks all ingredients, avoiding reliance on large companies and trucks to ensure competitive prices for customers.

With more than two decades passed since the first opening, Main Street has experienced a significant uptick in activity. Saturday foot traffic has quadrupled since the early days, reflecting the community's increased support.

Thyme Savor operates from Wednesday through Saturday. Hampton dedicates Tuesdays to cooking, ensuring that anything purchased on Wednesday remains fresh for five days. The goal is to help customers stock their refrigerators for the week, providing a hassle-free solution for those short on time.

For more info about Thyme Savor CLICK HERE

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

NFL Week 17 latest buzz, upset picks, playoff predictions

• Jeremy Fowler

• Dan Graziano

Dec 27, 2023, 07:00 AM ET

Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season is here, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz of the week.

What are our boldest playoff race predictions with two weeks remaining? Which players have the most to prove before the end of the regular season? How many coaching jobs will be open come the offseason? And which teams are on upset watch this weekend? It's all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their notebooks with everything they've heard heading into Week 17.

Jump to a topic:
Bold playoff race predictions
Most to prove | Open coaching gigs
Upset picks | Latest buzz, notes

Vehicle hits Jocko’s on High Street in Hamilton, two people injured

Two people were injured Wednesday afternoon in Hamilton when a vehicle hit Jocko’s restaurant on High Street.

It happened about 3:45 p.m. when dispatchers received a call of a vehicle into the building and a pedestrian hit, according to dispatchers. Two people were taken away by ambulance. Jocko’s World Famous Chicken & Seafood is located at 725 High Street.

Officers who are a part of the Butler County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team remained at the scene investigating. The side of the building beside the drive-thru window sustained heavy damage.

A man who answered the phone at the restaurant about 5:40 p.m. said they were closed, but they might open the dining room on Thursday.

Source: Hamilton Journal