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: Centerville Unlocked $1.4 Million With Small Grants

• Hidden Gems: Ashley’s Pastry Shop, Demnika’s Italiano, Sakura

• Local Events: 1/20 – 1/27

• Computer Love: This $307K Plan Could Launch 200 Dayton Residents Into Tech Careers

• Money: Big Retail Bet: T.J. Maxx Brings New Jobs and Investment to Piqua

• Sports: Hoosiers finish 16–0: Indiana wins CFP title

— Tom

Did you know?

Centerville Unlocked $1.4 Million With Small Grants👨‍💼 

Did you know a small local grant program helped unlock more than $1.4 million in private investment across Centerville? The Centerville Community Improvement Corporation awarded just $117,000 in grants to seven projects and local business owners turned that into major upgrades, from full remodels to roof repairs and new storefronts.

The investment helped protect 43 local jobs and breathed new life into busy business districts. City leaders say it’s a powerful example of how a little public money can attract big private dollars and turn small grants into major economic growth for the community.

Hidden Gems

Butter-Sugar in the Air: Inside Ashley’s Pastry Shop at 21 Park Ave 🥮

Ashley’s Pastry Shop has sweetened Oakwood from 21 Park Ave since 1982, when Greg and Theresa Hammons named the bakery for their first daughter. Inside, sheet pans clink and butter-sugar aromas drift past a counter that’s equal parts celebration station and neighborhood hello.

The case runs from melt-in-your-mouth donuts to the classic Opera Cream cake, with custom cakes and cookie cakes made to order for birthdays, graduations, and “just because.” Regulars mix with UD students and last-minute gift seekers, and favorites can even be shipped nationwide. It’s polished, friendly, and proudly local—small moments turned into great memories.

Check them out on Facebook 

Demnika’s Italiano — a family comeback on Dixie 🍕

Demnika’s Italiano feels like a homecoming at 2667 S Dixie Dr in Kettering. After helming Palermo’s from 2007–2017, the Demnika family returned in 2022 and reopened this spot as a mom-and-son operation with steady, familiar hospitality. The menu keeps to comfort classics: Nonna’s Pizza, handmade calzones, and pasta favorites like lasagna and chicken parmigiana.

Plates arrive hot, the dining room stays relaxed, and the welcome is quick and genuine. Weeknights stay easy with carryout, plus delivery through Slice or DoorDash, and Monday–Saturday hours. Bright, simple, and generous with portions, it’s the kind of neighborhood Italian that turns first visits into repeats.

Check them out on Facebook

Sakura — sushi + Korean comfort (with boba, too) 🍜

Chopsticks tap and boba lids pop at Sakura, a bright little hideaway at 3464 Pentagon Blvd, Ste F in Beavercreek that pairs sushi with Korean comfort. The menu happily zigzags from classic maki and nigiri to bubbling kimchi stew and bibimbap layered over hot rice and crisp vegetables, with occasional surprises like beef bulgogi curry udon.

Drinks are half the fun—Dalgona Brown Sugar, lychee green tea, and more. Weekend hours run later, and reservations are a quick tap for date nights or family dinners. Welcoming, simple, and easy to love.

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 4000+ Daytonians?

Local Events

IT LEADERS: AI GOVERNANCE

• What: A breakfast roundtable on IT governance in the age of AI—local CIOs, practical policies, and peer discussion.

• When: Jan. 20, 8:15–10 AM

• Where: Montgomery County Business Solutions Center, 1435 Cincinnati St Suite 300, Dayton

• How Much: Varies

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS POP-UP

• What: Drop in for free blood pressure and blood glucose checks from Premier Community Health—walk-ins welcome, no registration, just quick peace-of-mind.

• When: Jan. 20, 11 AM – 12 PM

• Where: Vandalia Senior Center, 21 Tionda Dr South, Vandalia

• How Much: Free

NAIOP NEW YEAR KICKOFF PARTY

• What: Toast to 2026 with Dayton’s commercial real estate crowd—networking, quick hellos, and a Brightside vibe to start the year.

• When: Jan. 21, 3:30–5:30 PM

• Where: The Brightside Music & Event Venue, 905 E. 3rd Street, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH CHRIS DIMMICK

• What: A fast, candid convo with a Dayton hospitality leader—then stick around to mingle with fellow founders and community builders.

• When: Jan. 21, 4 PM

• Where: Tender Mercy, 607 E 3rd St (Lower Level), Dayton

• How Much: $25

DAYTON JOURNALISM SUMMIT

• What: Two days of hands-on workshops and panels—media literacy, photo, audio, writing—plus big conversations about Midwest news and community.

• When: Jan. 22 – Jan. 23, 11 AM – 6 PM

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

• How Much: Free

HUB HOT SAUCE THROWDOWN

• What: Celebrate National Hot Sauce Day—bring a spicy dish to share and swap stories with fellow makers inside the Arcade.

• When: Jan. 22, 3:30–5 PM

• Where: The Hub, 31 South Main Street, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

EDWIN DROOD MUSICAL MYSTERY

• What: TheatreLab’s audience-influenced whodunit musical—each performance can end differently.

• When: Jan. 22 – Jan. 25 (starts Jan. 22, 7:30 PM)

• Where: PNC Arts Annex, 46 W Second St, Dayton

• How Much: $26+

BRAIN HEALTH FOR ATHLETES LUNCH

• What: Lunch & Learn on concussion awareness and everyday habits that sharpen focus—nutrition, sleep, stress, recovery—plus practical tips for athletes and coaches.

• When: Jan. 23, 12–1 PM

• Where: UD Community Room at The Dayton Foundation, 1401 S. Main St. #100, Dayton

• How Much: $20

TROPICAL TERRARIUM MAKE-IT

• What: Build a tiny tropical world in glass with plants and moss, guided by Now & Zen DIY Studio.

• When: Jan. 24, 12–3 PM

• Where: Now and Zen DIY Studio, 121 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: $25

GARDEN DESIGN BASICS

• What: A practical primer on planning beautiful, wildlife-friendly landscapes—plants, placement, and keeping it fresh year to year.

• When: Jan. 24, 10–11:30 AM

• Where: Cox Arboretum, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton

• How Much: $15 

DAYTON BRAWL YOUTH TOURNAMENT

• What: Big mats, big energy: youth wrestlers compete in stacked sessions—bring your cheers and your best bleacher voice.

• When: Jan. 25, 7 AM – 9 PM

• Where: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E Fifth St, Dayton

• How Much: $50 (athlete registration)

ANNUAL CSA FAIR AT 2ND STREET

• What: Meet local farms, compare CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares, and chat community food systems at the Market—produce people, unite!

• When: Jan. 25, 11 AM – 3 PM

• Where: 2nd Street Market, 600 E 2nd St, Dayton

• How Much: Free

ROSEWOOD GALLERY BOOK CLUB

• What: Quarterly book chat inside Rosewood’s gallery—snacks, art talk, and Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray on deck.

• When: Jan. 26, 6:30–7:30 PM

• Where: Rosewood Arts Centre, 2655 Olson Dr, Kettering

• How Much: Free

OHIO CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE

• What: Three days of seminars, speakers, vendors, and beer-industry networking—perfect for the curious and the connected.

• When: Jan. 26 – Jan. 28

• Where: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E 5th St, Dayton

• How Much: Varies

LEADERSHIP DAYTON INFO SESSION

• What: Curious about Leadership Dayton? Get the scoop on Class of 2027—program overview, alumni stories, and Q&A—over early-morning coffee.

• When: Jan. 27, 7:30–9 AM

• Where: NCR Country Club, 4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering

• How Much: Free

WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING: LUNCH & LEARN

• What: A midday networking boost with Better Business Bureau’s WiBN—practical connection-building plus a room full of Dayton doers.

• When: Jan. 27, 11:30 AM – 1 PM

• Where: Montgomery County Business Solutions Center, 1435 Cincinnati St, Dayton

• How Much: $25+

Computer Love

This $307K Plan Could Launch 200 Dayton Residents Into Tech Careers 🖥️

A Dayton nonprofit is asking for $307,000 to turn local talent into high-paying tech workers. NPower Ohio, which offers free training in fields like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and IT support, is seeking new funding to train more than 200 students for in-demand tech jobs. Many of these careers start around $50,000 a year or more, giving graduates a fast path into the middle class.

The nonprofit recently moved into a larger downtown headquarters to handle the growing demand as more companies in the region look for skilled tech workers. Leaders say the investment could pay off big helping fill open jobs, raise incomes, and strengthen Dayton’s growing tech economy.

Money

Big Retail Bet: T.J. Maxx Brings New Jobs and Investment to Piqua 💰

A major national retailer is bringing new investment and jobs to Piqua. T.J. Maxx plans to open a nearly 30,000-square-foot store at Miami Valley Crossing, taking over the former Joann Fabrics space along East Ash Street near I-75. The store is expected to open in late 2026, adding another big anchor to one of the city’s busiest shopping centers.

The new location will join Walmart and Home Depot at Miami Valley Crossing and marks the fourth T.J. Maxx in the Dayton region, showing continued confidence in the Miami Valley retail market. Known for discounted brand-name clothing and home goods, T.J. Maxx typically draws heavy foot traffic a boost not just for the shopping center, but for nearby businesses as well. City leaders say projects like this help grow the local tax base and bring new jobs to the area, making this another sign that retail investment in western Miami County is picking up.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

Hoosiers finish 16–0: Indiana wins CFP title 🏈

Indiana completed a perfect 16–0 season Monday night (Jan. 19), beating Miami 27–21 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens for the program’s first national championship.

Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a fourth-down 12-yard TD run, and DB Jamari Sharpe sealed it with a late interception of Carson Beck.

Tri-Village caps Flyin’ To The Hoop with 53–35 win
The 23rd annual Beacon Orthopedics Flyin’ To The Hoop showcase wrapped Jan. 19 at Trent Arena in Kettering, and Tri-Village closed the event with a 53–35 win over Indian Hill to stay unbeaten.

Trey Sagester led the Patriots with 19 points and 10 rebounds, one of three Tri-Village players in double figures.

UD hoops

The men stayed hot in A-10 play, winning at Duquesne 71–65 (Jan. 13) and routing Loyola Chicago 78–51 at UD Arena (Jan. 16). Next: at La Salle (Jan. 21), at Saint Joseph’s (Jan. 24), then Rhode Island in Dayton (Jan. 27).

The women fell to Richmond 85–67 (Jan. 14) and at Saint Louis 62–58 (Jan. 18), then visit Duquesne (Jan. 21) and host Rhode Island (Jan. 25).