by Ann Mort
MIDFIRST OHIO
CHALLENGE NAMES NEW LEADERS
When MidFirst Ohio
Challenge opens the gates July 18-19-20, 2008, it will be under the direction of
new committee chairperson Maria Langendorf. Mrs. Langendorf has been involved
with the event from its beginning, serving as entertainment chair. She is also Community Relations Manager at
Middletown Public Library system. Many local residents will recognize her as the
hostess of “8 Minutes in Middletown” a regular segment on TV
Middletown.
Mrs. Langendorf
follows Rod Hale as chairperson. Hale chaired the 2006 and 2007 balloon events.
Other past chairs are Ginger Bruggeman, Dan Sack and Dave Pearce, all of whom
remain involved with the event as sub-committee chairs.
Also moving up in the
organization is Paula Hale taking over for the retiring event coordinator Peggy
Ketron who managed the event for two years.
Mrs. Hale has also been involved since the event began and has served
most recently as the food vendor chairperson.
Other members of
MidFirst Ohio Challenge’s executive committee remain: Dave Pearce-Treasurer, Dr
Mark Frazer and James Wannemacher – Balloon Pilot Representatives, David Hart –
Team Fastrax Skydivers, Ginger Smith-City of Middletown and Ann Mort –
Publicity. Rod Hale will serve as Immediate Past
Chair/Advisor.
According to Mrs.
Langendorf, “It will be a pleasure to work with the MidFirst Ohio Challenge
committee. It speaks well for the event management that there have been so few
changes to the core committee in the past five years. Everyone involved knows
their job and we enjoy working together. There is, however, always a need to
fill a few volunteer positions. We will be looking for volunteers who enjoy hard
work, putting on a top notch event and having fun at the same
time.”
MidFirst Ohio
Challenge is a three-day festival centered around a competitive hot air balloon
event and skydiving demonstration located at Smith Park in downtown Middletown.
The 2008 event will include many of the elements crowds have enjoyed in the past
such as musical concerts, arts and crafts and festival foods plus some new
things to see and do.
The event, now in its
sixth year, has drawn up to 70,000 guests each year to the site. Middletown is situated midway between
Dayton and Cincinnati, just off I-75 and within easy driving distance to other
major attractions such as Kings Island.
Event hours: Friday
4-10:30 pm, Saturday Noon-10:30 pm, Sunday Noon-7:00 pm. Admission is $2 for
adults (over 12) walking into the grounds OR $5 per car regardless of number of
occupants. RV’s and Buses are $25 for parking.
For more information
about MidFirst Ohio Challenge, call 513-705-1770 or visit www.ohiochallenge.com website.