Warren County Historical Society Hosts History Camp for Kids 2011! Okay, the kids have been out of school for a bit and you're ALREADY running out of ways to entertain them! How about letting the Warren County Historical Society take them off your hands for a bit?  Now this might be a bit unusual, but the theme is "Museums Without Walls: The Cemeteries of Southwest Ohio" and includes day trips to some of our area's most historic cemeteries.  The focus will not be on death, but the historical nature of the people buried there and the cemeteries themselves. The kids will visit two cemeteries dating back to the mid-1800s in Lebanon, and also make a field trip to Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati (founded 1845, rich with Civil War history, and the 2nd largest cemetery in the U.S.).  Addit... 07/06/2011

Lebanon Ohio July 4th Weekend Festivities! There's something to be said for small town life and how they celebrate Independence Day!  And Lebanon is a great small town with a historic district filled with neat shops and homes with fantastic character! So we're going to give you an "excuse" to come visit!  Sunday July 3rd Lebanon is going to have some typical small town fun with its Independence Day Celebration! Be downtown at 4 p.m. to watch the Independence Day Parade!  Then afterwards, head up to Colonial Park North (on Monroe Rd) for the Independence Day Celebration starting at 6 p.m.! Music will be provided the "This Side Up" from 7 to 10 p.m.  Fireworks hit the sky at 10 p.m!  There will also be free inflatable rides, a petting zoo, carnival games and food vendors.  You can bring y... 06/30/2011

21st Annual Lebanon Garden Tour June 25-26 2011 The weather has been great!  Everything is green, the flowers have been blooming.... The flowers have been blooming??  Then it MUST be time for the 21st annual Lebanon Garden Tour this weekend!  Enjoy five of the best gardens in Lebanon on this self guided walking tour!  Kids 12 and under are FREE, but for the rest of you, $8 gets you access to the tour.  Just purchase your tickets at the Lebanon Train Station when you get there! Enjoy a nice leisurely stroll, converse with the gardeners, and just enjoy the sites of historic downtown Lebanon!  Maybe wander down to Manna Cupcake Cafe or up to The Breakfast Club to get you fueled before you start! Tour starts at the Lebanon Train Station (198 South Broadway, a block south of Golden Lamb).  F... 06/23/2011

Lebanon Ohio Patio Homes:  Fox Run at Shaker Run Community Want to live in the Lebanon area and enjoy the low maintenance, patio home lifestyle?  Welcome to Lebanon's Fox Run at Shaker Run, where you'll never have to cut grass, shovel snow or rake leaves as long as you live there! With close proximity to three of golf courses (Shaker Run, Greentree and Armco), Armco Park just around the corner, you're going to LOVE the location!  Conveniently located off Greentree Road, only a short drive from the  I-75 interchanges, and also short drive into historic downtown Lebanon.  And did we mention since these are Turtlecreek Township patio homes you don't have a city tax?? This pocket community is composed of three cul de sac streets and will feature approximately 60 patio homes when complete. ... 06/15/2011

Golfer's Delight!  Another Liz Spear Team of RE/MAX Elite Listing:  1479 Red Hawk  Lebanon OH 45036 MLS 1268665 Fischer Homes ‘Whitman’ shows like a model! Located in beautiful Shaker Run just northwest of Lebanon with easy access to the I-75 corridor for commuting to Cincinnati OR Dayton! This large four bedroom, 2.5 bath, two story home is approximately 2807 sq ft, immaculately kept, neutral décor and ready for you to move in! Inside features include: hardwood entry, kitchen & dining room floors.  A large family room with gas fireplace, 9’ ceilings.  This home boasts a light and airy open floor plan! Other features includes a study, kitchen island, extra cabinets, 2nd floor laundry, 4 bedrooms,  3  of which have walk-in closets.  Additionally the home has wainscoting, a master suite s... 05/23/2011

Historic Downtown Lebanon Walking Tours May 21 & June 11 Maybe you've cruised through historic downtown Lebanon and admired the old homes and buildings!  Well how'd you like to get a FREE guided walking tour?  And not just by ANY guide, but an author who literally wrote the book on historic Lebanon? Then mark your calendars for 11 a.m. on May 21 or June 11.  John Zimkus, author of Historical Footnotes of Lebanon, Ohio will be giving a personal guided tour. Tours last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours and start from the Gazebo next to Golden Lamb (corner of SR123 and Broadway in downtown Lebanon).  Why not take the opportunity to get your exercise AND learn a bit more about Lebanon? Pre-registration is preferred, so please call Connie Baugher at 513-228-3156 to sign up. And maybe before start... 05/02/2011

Thankful Thursday:  Double Rainbow The news has been less than pleasant today, as we watch the death toll counter continue to rise to incomprehensible levels as a result of yesterday's devastating storms. But the rain provides us some solace with this evening's double rainbow (look closely for the 2nd arch portion).  The rainbow is the symbol to us of God's Promises.  While we may not be able to understand His Plan at all times, we have faith that all things happen for a reason.  We are thankful that all we know are safe. Our prayers are with those who have suffered loss. Liz and Bill aka BLiz 04/28/2011

All Aboard the Easter Bunny Express, A Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad Special Event!Love to ride the rails?  Looking for a special treat for your Easter activities?  Have we got a Warren County Ohio attraction for you!  The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad terminal is just a block south of the nationally famous Golden Lamb in historic downtown Lebanon Ohio! The LM&M Railroad is running special event rides April 16, 17, 22 & 23.  Runs are scheduled for 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. (The 2:30 ride on the 17th is already SOLD OUT).  Train rides are approximately 5 miles in each direction in a 1930's vintage railroad car and last approximately one hour & 45 minutes for this event.  WARNING:  There are NO restrooms on board, so make that pit stop BEFORE riding the train!     For t... 04/15/2011

Lebanon School Tax Levy Increase on the Ballot May 3rd It's been rumored for a bit, but the Lebanon School district has confirmed a request for a tax levy increase for the first time since 2005.  Now I know NONE of us enjoy taxes, and especially don't enjoy paying MORE in taxes. But the good news is the Lebanon School District has been one of the most financially responsible districts in Ohio AND have the results to show for it.  Right now the Lebanon Schools are rated Excellent with Distinction, and don't think that doesn't affect the desirability of our area AND your home valuation.  And as a REALTOR(R) team and serving Warren County and Lebanon School District homeowners, we have direct interest in seeing property values maintained! We've all watched the ongoing drama with the Little... 04/11/2011

Wordless Wednesday:  Get the Hail Off Our Lawn!! Spring is here!  The crocuses are in full bloom, the daffodils started opening today and more blooms are coming! We're getting plenty of Spring showers, and the temps are fantastic! But a few of our spring showers having been throwing in a bit extra for us to contend with! Today, several minutes of pea sized hail coming down.  Some of our flowers were rudely treated by Mother Nature!  No spoken word in the video, just the sounds of Mother Nature at work :) Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,Liz and Bill aka BLiz 03/23/2011

Do You Know Where the Largest YMCA Is?  Lebanon Ohio!! You might be surprised by that fact, but at 218,000 square feet, this is one BIG YMCA!  Located at 1699 Deerfield Rd in Lebanon right off the SR48 Bypass, this facility is convenient to anyone living in the Lebanon area and beyond!Boasting both vast indoor and outdoor facilities, this YMCA probably has what you need!  Indoor AND outdoor Olympic sized pools (along with another 4 indoor pools and 2 outdoor pools), fitness centers, indoor and outdoor soccer complexes, indoor running track and outdoor baseball fields, volleyball, outdoor skate park...the list just goes on and on!!                     Whether you're already proficient, or need classes, they have a program that will fit you!  Want to learn to roll a kayak?  Got you covere... 03/15/2011

Paying It Forward:  Supporting Historic Downtown Lebanon!It's a Win-Win for us to work with our local support organization!  Downtown Lebanon (our county seat) has a quaint downtown shopping area, and Candace Lee is the Executive Director in charge of promoting local activities.  She's launched a Lebanon oriented website, gets the press releases out in the papers and does a fantastic job creating buzz for our area! But one thing Candace doesn't have is a blog to add extra promotion to the events, and there's only so much any ONE individual can do! And of course, what to we have?  Hmmm...our blog www.LizSpearTeamNews.com and Google Juice to spare! So we're working with Candace to get blog posts out on local Lebanon events, get some front page Google placement and hopefully get a few extr... 02/17/2011

Historic Downtown Lebanon Hosts Let's W(h)ine About Winter February 26 2011!Tired of winter?  Don't fib now....we KNOW by now you're wishing for lots of sunshine and something to break the stranglehold of this LOOONNNGG winter!! Well Historic Downtown Lebanon, Inc. has got something to help smack those winter Blahs around and have you feeling chipper again! Attend the "Let's W(h)ine About Winter" event Saturday February 26, 2011 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the  Lebanon Convention & Banquet Center (121 S. Broadway in Lebanon, two doors down from the Public Library). You may ask, what IS this event??  Historic Downtown Lebanon has been soliciting recipes for a new cookbook featuring favorites from Lebanon area residents.  So guess what will be served at this event?  You guessed it, the recipe... 02/15/2011

Lebanon Ohio Quilt & Fabric Arts Show March 4 - 6 2011Love arts and crafts and looking for something different to do to break the winter BLAHS??? How about visiting the Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Arts Show to be held at the Warren County History Center?  Located at 105 S. Broadway in downtown Lebanon in the Old Post Office building (two buildings south of The Golden Lamb restaurant), there's plenty of free parking in the vicinity. The event features at least 30 vendors representing six states, displays of collectible quilts, new and antique quilts for sale, along with knitting and quilting supplies for sale also!  Admission is $6 and the event is open from 10 a.m - 5 p.m. Friday March 4 and Saturday March 5, and on Sunday March 6 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. As long as you're in the neighborhood, ... 02/14/2011

Silverwood Farms of Lebanon Ohio:  Convenient to Dayton and CincinnatiSo thinking about moving to the Lebanon Ohio area?  You've got quite a few choices for places to live.  You can go old Victorian style, especially in the historic downtown area.  However, if you don't have the desire for the upkeep for an older home, but want to stay close to downtown Lebanon, then Silverwood Farms on the southwest edge of Lebanon may be just right for you!  You're just around the corner from antique shopping, the Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad, and festivals galore! Silverwood Farms Key Facts Location Lebanon, OH 45036 School system Lebanon Local, Rated Excellent w/ Distinction Price Range 2010 Selling Prices:  $155,000 to  $230,000 Number of Bedrooms 3-4 Number of Garage Spaces 2 Construction Tradi... 01/12/2011

Paying It Forward:  Supporting Visionaries and VoicesBack in November we posted about Lucid Hair Salon in downtown Lebanon hosting an art show by the Cincinnati based Visionaries and Voices.  Visionaries and Voices is a non-profit Cincinnati organization with two studio locations specializing in Outsider Art.  Outsider Art refers to self-taught artists without the limitations and expectations of the "normal" art community.  Visionaries and Voices hosts Outsider Artists both with and without disabilities in a studio environment, providing a means to express themselves and their art, and develop friendships at the same time. We purchased two original artworks from the exhibit!  Since the show is still ongoing, the paintings are still on display at Lucid, so please excuse the less than phe... 01/07/2011

68th Annual Lebanon Antiques Show January 15 & 16 2011Ready for one of the Midwest's oldest antiques shows?  It's almost time for the 68th Annual Lebanon Antiques Show.  Open Saturday January 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday January 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  With dealers from 12 states, this is NOT a small antique show!  65 exhibitors with furniture, textiles, silver, art and much more!  If you're into American antiques, you can bet you'll find something there for you! Admission is $8 and will be held at Bowman Primary School at 825 Hart Road in Lebanon.  Take Route 48 north out of Lebanon and turn left onto Hart Road.  Proceeds benefit the Warren County Historical Society. Visit www.heartlandantiqueshow.com for further information about the show and a list of exhibitors! And runni... 01/04/2011

The Antidote!It's DARK when we go to work in the morning .It's DARK when we come home in the evening. The temperatures haven't broken above freezing in a few days and the snow isn't going anywhere anytime soon (MAYBE we'll have a white Christmas!!). If we're not careful, the gloom and lethargy will overcome us, but there's an antidote! Nothing like seeing the sun bursting through the clouds to give a quick mental pick me up! Hope you have a great weekend!Liz and Bill aka BLiz 12/18/2010

All Aboard the LM&M Railroad's North Pole Express!!There's snow on the ground and it's so cold you'd think you were at the North Pole!  Wait, did someone say North Pole??  Doesn't some fat guy in a red suit live up there? You got it, it's time for the Lebanon Mason and Monroe Railroad in downtown Lebanon Ohio to run it's weekend North Pole Express Train. This Saturday December 18, 2010 at 2:30 pm and 4:45 pm, and same times on Sunday December 19th!  The station is located on South Broadway just a block below The Golden Lamb. You get Santa and Mrs. Claus, a small gift from Santa for the kids, and hot chocolate with a holiday cookie.  And you know the elves do more than make toys?  They'll be providing entertainment while you ride the rails! Discount tickets are available if you purchase ... 12/14/2010

Time to Clear Your 2011 Calendar for Lebanon Ohio Events!If you've lived in Warren County for any length of time, you know they like their festivals and events in Lebanon!  As the county seat, Lebanon is the focus for the county's fun, and downtown Lebanon really lends itself to playing host!  With easy access from throughout the area, plenty of parking and a historic downtown area, what more could you want? So ready to get your 2011 Calendar set?  Here's some of the upcoming key events! January 15 -16   Antique Show March 4 - 6  Lebanon Quilt & Fiber Arts Show April 16 - 17, 22 - 23 Easter Bunny Express on LM&M Railroad May 30   Memorial Day Parade May to October:  Farmer's Market June 25  Warren County Festival of the Arts June 25 - 26  Lebanon's Annual Garden Tour July 3  Independenc... 12/13/2010