Happy Tuesday Daytonians!

Thanks for spending another week with The Gem, where good times aren’t hard to find. Let’s take a look at what we’ll be covering in this edition…

• Did You Know: Dayton's Biggest Fourth of July Celebration Is This Friday

• Hidden Gems: Bennett’s Publical, Pizza Factory, Shen’s

• Local Events: 6/30 – 7/7

• Computer Love: Dayton Just Launched a First of Its Kind Aerospace Academy

• Money: Vandalia Company Lands Massive $860 Million Army Contract

• Sports: World Cup, OU Coach Earns HoF Honor, Girls Flag Football Goes Varsity, Dragons Update

— Tom

Did you know?

Dayton's Biggest Fourth of July Celebration Is This Friday 🇺🇸

Dayton is kicking off Independence Day in a big way with the annual Lights in Flight celebration on Friday, July 3. The free event features an America 250 parade through downtown, a street fair at RiverScape MetroPark with food vendors, games, and family activities, before ending with the region's signature Lights in Flight fireworks show at 10 p.m.

This year's celebration is expected to be one of the largest yet as communities across the country mark America's 250th birthday. Whether you're looking for a family outing, great food, or one of the best fireworks displays in southwest Ohio, downtown Dayton will be the place to celebrate before the Fourth of July weekend officially begins.

Click here to learn more

Hidden Gems

43 TVs, wings, cold beer: Bennett’s in Miamisburg 🍻

Game day gets a Main Street address at Bennett’s Publical Family Sports Grill, 67 S. Main St. in Historic Downtown Miamisburg. The room runs on cold draft beer, fast-moving servers, and 43 TVs tuned to whatever Dayton is debating that night. Call-ahead seating, reservations, party rooms, and catering make it easy for teams, families, office crews, and post-tournament crowds to gather without spreadsheets.

The scratch kitchen keeps the spread broad—wings, pizza, burgers, bowls, sandwiches, entrées, and daily specials—but the real draw is the communal buzz: friends leaning over scores, kids stealing fries, and Main Street feeling like one big booth.

Check them out on Facebook

Dayton’s Original Pizza Factory | South Park dough with deep roots 🍕

South Park can smell dinner before the door opens. Dayton’s Original Pizza Factory, 1101 Wayne Ave., carries Bill Daniels’ family thread from Nonna Concetta Triviloni Ali’s 1957 pizzeria roots to the first Pizza Factory on Salem Avenue in 1986 and the Wayne Avenue move in 1996.

Dough is made in-house, given at least a day to rise, then topped with house-blended sauce and plenty of fresh-cut vegetables. Pizzas are the anchor, joined by grinder subs, salads, craft beer, cider, and wine. Phones ring, boxes slide, and porches across Dayton get their warm, flour-dusted delivery.

Check them out on Facebook

Shen’s Szechuan & Sushi — Poe Avenue polish, peppercorn spark 🍣

Poe Avenue doesn’t usually announce itself as a night-out strip, which is part of Shen’s charm. Since 2011, Shen’s Szechuan & Sushi has filled 7580 Poe Ave. with glossy booths, a full-service bar, a deluxe sushi counter, and two private rooms for birthdays, family dinners, and office clinks.

The kitchen bridges heat and finesse: Cheng Du pork, dumplings, peppery Szechuan plates, sashimi, and specialty rolls all share the same polished dining room. Daily carryout keeps it practical; reservations make gatherings simple. North Dayton gets a rare combination here—big-room comfort, careful service, and spice with a little sparkle.

Check them out on Facebook

THE BULLETIN 📌

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 4800+ Daytonians?

Local Events

DRONES AND CIRCUITS TAKE FLIGHT

• What: Young engineers explore drones, microelectronics, simulators, and circuits in a hands-on aviation STEM day.

• When: Jun. 30, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

• Where: Sinclair Community College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: $149 

WYNONNA AND MELISSA UNITE

• What: Two powerhouse voices share an outdoor stage with Maggie Rose for country, rock, and singalong favorites.

• When: Jun. 30, Doors 6:30 PM / Show 7:30 PM

• Where: Rose Music Center at The Heights, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights

• How Much: $74+ 

WINGS LUNCHEON AT THE HUB

• What: Women in Networking Growing Stronger gathers Miami Valley business voices for lunch, connection, and local momentum.

• When: Jul. 1, 11:30 AM – 1 PM

• Where: The Hub Powered by PNC Bank, 31 S. Main St., Dayton

• How Much: $15; RSVP required 

RIVERSCAPE BOOTCAMP BURN

• What: The Unit leads a lively outdoor bootcamp using the park’s steps, paths, and riverfront spaces.

• When: Jul. 1, 6–7:30 PM

• Where: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

ERNIE JOHNSON JAZZ NIGHT

• What: Jazz-funk joy lands downtown as Ernie Johnson from Detroit fills Levitt’s lawn with free summer sound.

• When: Jul. 2, 7–9 PM

• Where: Levitt Pavilion Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

DAVE CHAPPELLE UNDER STARS

• What: Dave Chappelle and surprise friends bring a phone-free comedy camp to Yellow Springs.

• When: Jul. 2–5, 8 PM nightly

• Where: Wirrig Pavilion, 4866 US-68, Yellow Springs

• How Much: $185+ 

LIGHTS IN FLIGHT RETURNS

• What: Dayton’s America 250 day brings a street fair, parade, kids zone, food vendors, and fireworks sparkle.

• When: Jul. 3, 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM

• Where: RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

KROC FAMILY FIREWORKS

• What: The Kroc Center hosts bounce houses, yard games, food, fellowship, and a cozy fireworks-viewing night.

• When: Jul. 3, 7–10 PM

• Where: Dayton Kroc Center, 1000 N. Keowee St., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

AMERICANA FESTIVAL STREET FAIR

• What: Centerville’s big community bash fills Uptown with crafts, food, parade buzz, live stages, and small-town sparkle.

• When: Jul. 3–4

• Where: Uptown Centerville, E. Franklin St. & S. Main St., Centerville

• How Much: Free entry 

KETTERING GO 4TH!

• What: Kettering gathers for DJ music, kids-zone fun, food trucks, and fireworks over Delco Park.

• When: Jul. 4, 6–10 PM

• Where: Delco Park, 1700 Delco Park Dr., Kettering

• How Much: Free 

BEAVERCREEK PARADE & FIREWORKS

• What: Beavercreek celebrates with a parade, food trucks, children’s activities, live music, and fireworks.

• When: Jul. 4, 6–10:30 PM

• Where: Rotary Park, 2260 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek

• How Much: Free 

VINYL SUNDAY AT BARREL HOUSE

• What: Bring a record, hear it spin, and swap music stories with downtown neighbors.

• When: Jul. 5

• Where: The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: Free entry 

ROOFTOP SUMMER BBQ

• What: The Foundry keeps the holiday weekend tasty with a rooftop BBQ buffet above the city.

• When: Jul. 5

• Where: The Foundry, 124 Madison St., Dayton

• How Much: $55 

BIRTHDAY CANDLES AUDITIONS

• What: Dayton Theatre Guild seeks six actors for Noah Haidle’s tender, time-spanning play about birthdays and ordinary wonder.

• When: Jul. 6–7, 7 PM

• Where: Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free to audition 

RARE WARBIRDS FLY IN

• What: History rolls onto the flightline as FIFI, Diamond Lil, and friends give aviation fans a rare up-close look.

• When: Jul. 6–8, 10 AM – 4 PM

• Where: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

SCHOOL OF ROCK SONGWRITING CAMP

• What: Teens workshop original songs, study great compositions, and grow their sound during a five-day music camp.

• When: Jul. 6–10, 9 AM – 3 PM

• Where: School of Rock Beavercreek, 2850 Centre Dr., Beavercreek

• How Much: $475 

TACO TUESDAY MEDICARE MYTHBUSTERS

• What: RetireMed breaks down Medicare basics over a free, approachable Taco Tuesday-style educational session.

• When: Jul. 7, 12 PM

• Where: El Rancho Grande – Centerville, 1020 Miamisburg Centerville Rd., Washington Township

• How Much: Free

DAYTON SUSTAINABILITY VISION SESSION

• What: Residents help shape Dayton’s 2026 Sustainability Plan through community visioning and practical neighborhood perspectives.

• When: Jul. 7, 6–7:30 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library – Main Library, 215 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: Free

Computer Love

Dayton Just Launched a First of Its Kind Aerospace Academy 🛩️

Dayton is taking another step toward becoming a leader in aerospace technology. Sinclair Community College and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have launched the Sinclair-SNC Academy, the region's first employer designed aviation workforce program. Students will receive hands on training using the same standards and technology found in today's aerospace industry, with a direct pathway to careers at SNC for graduates who meet the program's requirements.

The partnership is also expected to expand into engineering, quality assurance, logistics, and other high tech fields, helping local companies fill in demand jobs while strengthening Dayton's position as a national hub for aerospace and defense innovation.

Money

Vandalia Company Lands Massive $860 Million Army Contract 💰

A Vandalia manufacturing facility is getting a huge boost after winning an $860.7 million U.S. Army contract. Integrated Procurement Technologies will build engine fuel tanks for the Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicle, one of the military's most important combat vehicles. The work will be done at the company's local facility, bringing long-term manufacturing opportunities to the Dayton region.

Big defense contracts like this do more than help one company. They support local jobs, strengthen the region's supply chain, and reinforce Dayton's reputation as one of the country's top hubs for aerospace and defense manufacturing. As military spending continues to flow into the Miami Valley, wins like this help keep the local economy growing.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

World Cup Knockout Chaos ⚽

World Cup chaos is here: the group tables are gone, the Round of 32 is rolling, and Canada, Brazil and Paraguay have already pushed into the last 16 while Germany and the Netherlands are out.

The U.S., Group D winner, turns full focus to Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in San Francisco; win there, and Seattle awaits July 6.

PEASE EARNS HALL OF FAME HONOR
Ohio University cross country and track coach Sarah Pease added a big honor June 24, entering the Indiana Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.

A former Indiana All-American and Big Ten steeplechase champion, Pease qualified for four U.S. Olympic Trials and now enters her sixth season guiding the Bobcats.

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL GETS VARSITY STATUS
Big news for Ohio high schools: girls flag football is now the OHSAA’s 29th recognized sport. The Board of Directors unanimously approved full sanctioning for the 2026–27 school year.

Ohio had 162 girls flag football teams this spring, and Macedonia Nordonia won the May state tournament event backed by the Browns, Bengals and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

DRAGONS SPLIT, THEN STAY HOME
The Dragons packed plenty into their West Michigan homestand, winning 8–5 and 12–6, dropping an 11–4 Thursday, losing both ends of Saturday’s rain-makeup doubleheader, then answering with a 10–4 Sunday win to split the series.

Next up: Lansing visits Day Air Ballpark June 30–July 5 before Dayton opens a July 7 road set at Great Lakes.