Charles Williams, a popular school superintendent in Warren County for years, is trying something new in retirement.

        He is helping organize an arts festival.

        The Waynesville Area Arts Festival will be May 19 in six different places in the village. The show will include adult and children's visual and performing arts, artist demonstrations, lectures and a community-event sculpture.

        Mr. Williams has been impressed by the cooperation from citizens and organizations.

        The idea came from last year's “Arts in the Park” program, held by the Rotary Club.

        The idea — recognize performing and creative arts in the community — received such a favorable response that the club plans to build on its original theme this year. Members will enlist the help of the Waynesville Area Heritage and Cultural Center and many local groups.

        Organizers need volunteers from a broad segment of the community.

        Mr. Williams said the event will be something like a Chautauqua. “It will be much bigger this year,” he said. He hopes that in 10 years the event will still be going and automatically connect the Waynesville area to arts and antiques.

        Activities will include quilting, wood-carving and woodworking, pottery, stained glass, sculpture, painting and children's art.

        An appraisal fair, similar to the TV show of the same name, also will be held.

        During the festival, the cultural center will open its first museum room. It will feature an exhibit showing how the building looked in 1905.

        A number of community groups will assist, but donations will be gladly accepted. Send checks to Friends of the Park, c/o the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce, 10 N. Main St., Waynesville, OH 45068.

        Details: 897-8855.

        A recent column item about the new Butler County Fallen Firefighter and Emergency Medical Service Provider Memorial brought a question: Who were the men who died?

        The sculpture, which will sit in the park next to the Memorial Building on Monument Avenue, will include the names of 15 firefighters who died in service in the 20th century.

        Their names are:

        John M. Hunker, Hamilton, 3/13/12; William M. Love, Hamilton, 3/14/12; George P. Fritz, Hamilton, 3/14/12; Lt. Don Howard, Hamilton, 3/5/41; George J. Kramer, Hamilton, 1/2/46; George R. Schneider, Hamilton, 6/29/46;

        Clifford F. Peters, Hamilton, 6/23/53; Gene Kadle, Liberty Township, 10/25/60; Moss F. Prueitt, Hamilton, 12/21/59; Paul Cook, Hamilton, 7/3/67; Ralph I. Thomas, Hamilton, 7/6/68; Stanley M. Meyer, Hamilton, 8/9/71; Robert M. Landenwitsch, West Chester Township, 9/1/79; William Gray Sr., Fairfield Township, 6/2/89; Charlie Young, Ross Township, 10/18/99.

        Lt. Kelly Mayer, of the West Chester Fire Department, said the three officers killed in 1912 had died in the disastrous Butler County Courthouse fire.

        The memorial will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. March 25 at Monument Park, at Monument Avenue in Hamilton.

        The names will appear on a life-size bronze statue designed by George Danhires of Kent, Ohio.

       Randy McNutt's column runs on Saturdays. He may be reached at 860-7118 or at The Cincinnati Enquirer, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

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