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: Fairborn Is Going Full Halloween This Weekend

• Hidden Gems: Rino’s Crepes & Cappuccinos, Nida Thai Cuisine, Don’s Pizza Palace

• Local Events: 10/13 – 10/20

• Computer Love: AI Boom Helps Dayton Tech Company Grow 2,164% in Three Years

• Money: 94 Years Old and Still One of Dayton’s Fastest-Growing Companies

• Sports: Owen Knocks Off Top Seed in Mason, Bengals Bounce Back, Flyers Rally Against Xavier, Miami Valley HS Football Top 10

— Tom

Did you know?

Fairborn Is Going Full Halloween This Weekend 🎃

Downtown Fairborn is turning into Halloween central October 16–18 for the 15th Annual Fairborn Halloween Festival.

The three day event will feature 80+ food and craft vendors, carnival rides, live music, a beer garden, costume contests and the Spooktacular Parade.

Families can also stop by Sunday for trick or treating at vendor booths.

Admission is free, with festivities running Friday from 4–11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.–11 p.m., and Sunday from noon–6 p.m.

The Gem Tip: Come hungry, wear a costume and expect downtown Fairborn to be packed all weekend.

Click here to learn more

Hidden Gems

Cookie-butter crepes on Brown Street 🥞

Cookie butter gives Rino’s Crepes & Cappuccinos a sweet introduction. Biscoff Bliss folds in the spread, then adds cookie crumbles and chocolate sauce. For contrast, the Lox Nest pairs smoked salmon with onion and chive cream cheese, red onion, and capers.

Opened in 2026 at 1120 Brown St., the café brings made-to-order crepes and espresso drinks to the neighborhood. Dine-in, takeout, and delivery accommodate everything from a leisurely coffee break to a lunch picked up between errands. The common thread is the crepe itself—a simple canvas with room for more than dessert.

Check them out on Facebook

Nida Thai Cuisine: A Family Kitchen on Franklin 🍜

Family-owned Nida Thai Cuisine makes room for everyday suppers at 853 E. Franklin St. in Centerville, near the high school. The casual dining room accommodates children and groups, while carryout and delivery suit evenings with less time to spare. Vegetarian and vegan options widen the choices.

Basil fried rice combines jasmine rice, egg, and vegetables in garlic-basil sauce. Massaman curry offers coconut richness with potatoes, onions, and carrots. Then there’s the roasted pork noodle soup, a departure from the familiar curry-and-rice pairing: house-roasted pork and egg noodles in broth, with bok choy, cilantro, and green onions.

Check them out on Facebook

Square-Cut Charm at Don’s Pizza Palace 🍕

Pizza isn’t the only thing with a local signature at Don’s Pizza Palace. Dayton artist Chloé Chicarelli’s mural gives the patio at 139 E. Center St. in Germantown a colorful backdrop, putting creative work right alongside an everyday pizza night. Square-cut favorites include Don’s Deluxe and Pepperoni & Hot Honey, the latter bringing sweetness to the spicy topping.

Dessert has its own hometown connection: cookies from local baker Sugar By Fix. Pickup and delivery are available, but the patio offers something the box can’t carry home: a seat beside the artwork, with dinner close at hand.

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 5000+ Daytonians?

Local Events

MAKE SENSE OF FEDERAL BENEFITS

• What: Federal employees can explore retirement benefits, insurance, and savings during an all-day seminar with a take-home workbook.

• When: Oct. 13, 8 AM – 4 PM

• Where: Wright-Patt Credit Union Corporate Building, 3560 Pentagon Boulevard, Beavercreek

• How Much: Free; registration required. 

COUNTRYSIDE’S HAUNTED TRAIL RETURNS

• What: Follow costumed guides past ghosts, ghouls, and zombies. Recommended for ages 8+; all minors must attend with an adult.

• When: Oct. 13–14, 7–9 PM

• Where: Countryside Park at Washington Township RecPlex, 895 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Township

• How Much: Free; nonperishable food donations encouraged. 

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

• What: A classic creature feature surfaces at the Plaza! Catch the 1954 monster movie on Miamisburg’s neighborhood big screen.

• When: Oct. 14, 4 PM; Oct. 15, 7 PM

• Where: Plaza Theatre, 33 S. Main St., Miamisburg

• How Much: $5 

STARR CHIEF EAGLE’S HOOP-DANCE STORIES

• What: Lakota storytelling, language, and hoop dance come together in an educational performance for school and homeschool groups in grades 3–8.

• When: Oct. 14–15, 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM daily

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

• How Much: $5; school and homeschool groups only. Reservations required. 

DAYTON’S FIRST CHAPTER COMES ALIVE

• What: Historian Andrew Hershner traces Dayton’s beginnings, early residents, and growing industries in an evening celebrating the city’s roots.

• When: Oct. 15, 6–7:30 PM; optional dinner seating begins at 5:15 PM

• Where: Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N. Ludlow St., Dayton

• How Much: $15; optional dinner costs an additional $15. Advance registration required. 

RAIDER WOMEN: PINK WITH A PURPOSE

• What: Cheer on Wright State’s women against Purdue Fort Wayne and wear pink for the Raiders’ breast cancer awareness game.

• When: Oct. 15, 7 PM

• Where: Alumni Field at Rinzler Student Sports Complex, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton

• How Much: $10+ 

MAGIC, MISCHIEF & ERIC EATON

• What: Eric Eaton blends audience-powered magic with quick-witted comedy for an adults-only night out. Ages 21 and older.

• When: Oct. 16, 7:30 PM; Oct. 17, 6:30 PM

• Where: Dayton Funny Bone, 88 Plum St., Suite 200, Beavercreek

• How Much: $32+ 

TSUKICON: DAYTON’S ANIME COMMUNITY SHINES

• What: Celebrate anime, cosplay, artists, panels, and performance at Dayton’s locally created, moon-festival-inspired convention.

• When: Oct. 16–18, times vary

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

• How Much: $35+; children 12 and younger free with a parent or guardian. 

FAIRBORN’S SPOOKTACULAR STREET PARTY

• What: Downtown Fairborn gets delightfully spooky with food and craft vendors, carnival rides, live entertainment, and Halloween festivities for the whole family.

• When: Oct. 16–18, times vary

• Where: Downtown Fairborn, Main Street near the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, 12 N. Central Ave., Fairborn

• How Much: Free admission. 

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL: SWEET COMMUNITY SPIRIT

• What: Follow your sweet tooth to chocolatiers, artisan vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and a free kids’ zone at this community festival.

• When: Oct. 17, 10 AM – 6 PM

• Where: Greene County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 120 Fairgrounds Rd., Xenia

• How Much: Free admission and parking. 

PUMPKIN CARVING, GOAT-SIZED MISCHIEF

• What: Carve pumpkins alongside friendly goats, with carving tools and goat treats supplied. Outside pumpkins are not permitted.

• When: Oct. 18, 2–3 PM

• Where: The Grazing Ground Dayton, 6280 Brantford Rd., Dayton

• How Much: $15+; tickets with and without a pumpkin are available. Register at least 24 hours ahead. 

SHAKE THINGS UP AT LILY’S

• What: Mix three cocktails or mocktails with Amber Brady, learn new techniques, and take your creations home. Ages 21 and older.

• When: Oct. 19, 6–7 PM

• Where: Lily’s Dayton, 329 E. Fifth St., Dayton

• How Much: $30; advance registration required. 

MULTI-COOKER MAGIC FOR FAMILY MEALS

• What: Discover quick, family-friendly meal ideas with Brenda from OSU Extension and learn how to make more of your multi-cooker.

• When: Oct. 19, 6–7:30 PM

• Where: Xenia Community Library, 76 E. Market St., Xenia

• How Much: Free; registration required. 

FROM SPREADSHEETS TO SMARTER WORKFLOWS

• What: Connect with regional technology professionals while exploring practical artificial-intelligence tools for cleaning data, spotting patterns, and improving everyday analytics.

• When: Oct. 20, 8:30–10 AM

• Where: Life Connection of Ohio, 2800 Donation Circle, Kettering

• How Much: Free for Technology First members; $35 for nonmembers. Registration required. 

RAIDER MEN PLAY FOR PINK

• What: Add pink to your Raider gear as Wright State’s men host Ohio Northern for a breast cancer awareness match.

• When: Oct. 20, 7 PM

• Where: Alumni Field at Rinzler Student Sports Complex, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton

• How Much: $10+

Computer Love

AI Boom Helps Dayton Tech Company Grow 2164% in Three Years 💻

Miami Township based Accelevation has been named Dayton’s fastest growing company after posting a 2,164% increase in revenue from 2022 to 2025.

The company builds infrastructure for data centers, a business that has surged alongside the growth of AI and cloud computing.

Accelevation generated nearly $448 million in revenue in 2025, up from about $20 million in 2022. It has also grown from fewer than 20 employees in early 2021 to nearly 2,000 workers.

The company recently made its debut on Nasdaq, marking another major milestone for one of the Dayton region’s fastest rising tech businesses.

Money

94 Years Old and Still One of Dayton’s Fastest-Growing Companies 💰

Wright-Patt Credit Union has landed on the Dayton region’s fastest-growing companies list after posting a 68% increase in revenue.

The credit union, founded in 1932, now manages roughly $9.6 billion in assets and paid members nearly $189 million in dividends in 2025.

The growth shows that one of Dayton’s longest running financial institutions is still expanding nearly a century after it started.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

OWEN KNOCKS OFF TOP SEED IN MASON 🎾

Miami’s Clara Owen delivered an opening-day upset at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional in Mason on Oct. 8, defeating Louisville’s top-seeded player 4–6, 6–0, 6–1. Owen won 12 of the final 13 games as Miami went 7–1 in singles.

Teammates Allie Faulkner and Maria Luisa Oliveira later reached Sunday’s doubles quarterfinals, finishing the event 3–1 as a pair.

BURROW THROWS FOUR TDS AS BENGALS BOUNCE BACK

Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers as Cincinnati held off Miami 31-24 on Oct. 11. Ja’Marr Chase delivered the highlight, pulling in a one-handed 45-yard touchdown, while Jordan Battle intercepted two passes before halftime.

The Bengals ended a two-game slide and improved to 3-2, giving Who Dey Nation a victory heading into the team’s bye week. 

FLYERS RALLY AGAINST XAVIER, WELCOME NOTRE DAME

Dayton’s men opened preseason with an 82-76 exhibition loss to Xavier on Oct. 7 at Mason’s outdoor Lindner Family Tennis Center. Zaide Lowery scored 16 points as the Flyers rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to within one in the second half.

Next up: Notre Dame visits UD Arena Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 PM for the CareSource Spotlight charity exhibition benefiting Jay’s Light. 

MIAMI VALLEY’S TOP 10 SWEEP WEEK 8

The Miami Valley’s top 10 delivered a clean sweep in Week 8, with five shutouts on Oct. 9. Trotwood-Madison blanked Mt. Healthy 49–0, and Springfield beat Beavercreek 21–0. Bellbrook routed Monroe 56–0, while Tippecanoe overwhelmed Greenville 65–0.

Celina shut out Bath 42–0, and Marion Local handled New Bremen 42–7. Wayne topped Miamisburg 52–21, while Springboro edged Fairmont 21–14. London defeated Jonathan Alder 34–7, and Middletown beat Lakota East 22–11.