NRHS craft show seeking vendors

New Richmond High School will host its annual craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

“We are looking for a wide variety of vendors and visitors to join us for this event, which raises money for our marching band and for Lions Reach Out, a small charity that helps out needy families during the holidays,” said NRHS teacher Sue Griffin.  ““We have lots of vendors with unique, affordable products.  Everything from soap to jewelry to homemade treats will be featured.”

 All vendors will be in prime locations in our gym, cafeteria and theatre lobby and there is plenty of help available to help vendors load and unload. Booth space is only $35. There will be a small additional charge for a table or electrical outlets.

A concession stand will be open throughout the day and we'll have a raffle and bake sale as well. If you'd like to be one of our vendors, or you have questions about the fair, please contact Joyce Montgomery at 513-553-3191x10906 or Sue Griffin at 513-553-3191x10314  for more information.

NRHS science teams excel in competition

The New Richmond High School senior team coached by teacher Pat Crowley finished second overall out of 64 teams in the annual Clermont County Science Challenge competition held at UC Clermont College.

Team members were Sydney Padgett, Kelsey Nichols, Brooklyn Klein and Tim Hammer.

“Our 12th grade team ranked 2nd overall due to several 4th and 5th place finishes,” noted Crowley. “They scored high enough, and consistently enough, to earn the second-most points of any team.  The first-place team (Milford) had 9.5 more total points more than our senior team.”

Science Challenge is a joint venture among local school district teachers and the Clermont County Educational Service Center to provide a youth leadership initiative that uses team and problem solving skills. The program begins at the local school district level and culminates in a county-wide event.

Each team participated in four 50 minute events in Life Science, Physical Science, Earth Science, and Nature of Science. Teams had to use their knowledge of physics, life science, and earth science to solve problems similar to what scientists and engineers have to do with real-world issues.

“I am extremely proud of the successes our students experienced at the Clermont County Science Challenge,” said NRHS principal Mark Bailey. “Our senior team placed 2nd out of 64 teams and our underclassmen represented the district equally as well earning many gold and bronze medals.”

The NRHS 9th grade team consisting of Archer Maguire, Quincey Isparo, Rachel Gastrich, Hailey Kramer and Aaron Prescott won a gold medal in Nature of Science and a bronze medal in Physical Science and was ranked 20th overall out of 64 teams competiting.

The NRHS 11th Grade team consisting of Collin Albers, Teddy Mansfield, Joey Hammill, Alex Gardner and Travis Justice won the gold medal in Physical Science.

“Our students' success is a testimony to their dedication and perseverance as well as the support of their families,” said Bailey. “These accomplishments serve as confirmation in my mind that New Richmond has excellent science teachers focused on Ohio's New Learning Standards who develop interesting and rigorous learning experiences for our students.”

John Frye honored for Transition Program

John Frye, Director of Pupil and Staff Services for the New Richmond Exempted Village School District, has been honored as the district’s Career Prep Educator of the Year by the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce for his work with the Transitions Program for students with disabilities and the development of Brewhaus Dog Bones.

This recognition event is part of the Work Readiness Initiative of the Clermont Chamber of Commerce Foundation which brings educators and businesses together to enhance students’ work-ready skills. Frye was nominated by NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird. 

Transition serves students with disabilities ages 18-22 in a life skills, employment skills and functional curriculum.  Currently eight student Associates are served by four job coaches and a teacher who work to prepare them for adulthood. Formerly contracted out to West Clermont, the Transition program was moved back to the district in 2014 at a savings of more than $100,000 per year.

John Frye (second from right in back row) is pictured with Supt. Adam Bird,
teachers, aides and associates of The Brewhaus Bakery Co. which serves
 students with disabilities ages 18-22 in developing employment
and life skills.

The cornerstone of the New Richmond Transitions Program is The Brewhaus Bakery Company located on the first floor of the Market Street School.  

“Brewhaus produces handcrafted, small batch, oven baked dog treats made from whole grains sourced proudly from local Cincinnati microbreweries,” said Frye. “Mrs. Lisa Graham, parent and entrepreneur in our district, established the Brewhaus Dog Bones company which is managed by the Associates and provides a real business experience for the Associates.”

Currently, Listermann Brewing Co./Triple Digit Microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Co., Rivertown Brewing Co., Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Paradise Brewing Supply, Ei8ht Ball Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Fibonacci Brewing Co., and Old Firehouse Brewery donate spent barley grains and sell the Brewhaus products in taprooms/brewing supply stores.

Mariemont, New Richmond, Oak Hills, Sycamore, Princeton, Mason in Ohio and Ft. Thomas and Boone County in Kentucky participate in the program and use the start to finish non-profit business model to help their students with disabilities (typically ages 18-22) learn valuable work and life skills.

Students participate in all aspects of the program from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, counting money (both cash and credit) from sales and then making bank deposits.

Associates in the NREVSD Transition Program are pictured preparing
Brewhaus Dog Bones from spent brewery grain.

“The goal is to eventually have our own freestanding ‘Brew Bakery’ for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site,” said Frye. “Brewhaus hopes to create a micro industry in Cincinnati from the spent grains that will directly benefit people with disabilities. It’s 100% non-profit and all proceeds go back into growing our program for others to participate. Best of all, your dog will love you for giving a Brewhaus Dog Treat.”

Brewhaus has partnered with Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to create a paid employment opportunity.

Brewhaus Dog Bones are currently being sold at Rivertown IGA in New Richmond, Party Source in Bellevue, Ky., Country Fresh Market in Anderson Township, Newtown Feed & Seed, Earthwise Pet Supply on Montgomery Road, Family Animal Hospital in Batavia, Cincinnati Hills Animal Clinic on Montgomery Road, Dog Day Every Day on Ohio Pike and Princeton Glendale Road in West Chester, Anderson Family Pet Center on Clough Pike, Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt on Eastgate South Drive, and Gardenia Garden and Home Décor in Milford.

NRHS welcomes back Dwayne Woodruff

New Richmond High School Hall of Famer Dwayne Woodruff returns to his hometown during Homecoming on Oct. 2 to present his Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship to 2015 recipient James Mahan.

Woodruff, who was a three-sport star at New Richmond and led the Lions to the 1974 Clermont County League championship, went on to play college football at the University of Louisville and an 11-year career in the NFL as a cornerback for the Pittsburg Steelers, where  he accumulated 37 interceptions after being drafted in the sixth round in 1979.


As a rookie in 1079, he played in all 16 games and won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. He made at least 10 starts in nine of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, including 1982 when he was named Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP. During two of his 11 seasons with the Steelers, Woodruff was rated as the fastest player in the NFL.

The University of Louisville named its academic center within the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex after Woodruff in 2007. Woodruff’s No. 10 jersey was retired by Louisville and now hangs in Papa John Stadium. Woodruff played for the Cardinals from 1976-78 and collected 161 career tackles, while intercepting three passes. He recorded a career-best 97 tackles in 1977 as the Cardinals advanced to the Independence Bowl.

While playing football during the day for the Steelers, Woodruff prepared for his life’s work at night and obtained his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law and became a founding member of the law firm Woodruff & Flaherty, P.C. (now Flaherty Fardo, LLC) out of Shadyside in Pittsburgh.

While in law school, Woodruff was nicknamed ‘The Judge’ by Steeler owner Art Rooney and 15 years after his retirement from pro football, Woodruff lived up to his nickname and became Judge Dwayne Woodruff after being elected to the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County. He was a candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but lost in the 2015 primary election.

Woodruff is married to Joy Maxberry Woodruff. They are the parents of three children; Jillian an Ob/Gyn Physician, Jenyce an attorney and John a law student at the Duquesne University School of Law.

The Woodruffs have shared their success with Dwayne’s hometown by sponsoring the Dwayne Woodruff Scholarship which gives $2000 annually to a deserving New Richmond High School graduate.

Woodruff and his wife Joy are currently chairpersons of the "Do The Write Thing" in Pittsburgh. The program is an Initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV). The Do the Write Thing Challenge gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives in classroom discussions and in written form by communicating what they think should be done to change our culture of violence.