The July 20 meeting of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce was an elegant affair at The Inn at ONU. The sound of live piano music greeted the ear and the scent of hot coffee wafted to the entrance.

THE INN AT ONU
While the Ada Public Library is “home” for chamber meetings, director Lindsay Walden is open to visiting chamber members at their place of business. On this day, members met Meghan Violet, the new manager of The Inn. Violet announced that the fountain in the courtyard will be turned into a fire pit and that The Inn will soon have a new website. Violet invites all businesses to contact her about services at The Inn.

CHAMBER NEWS
Walden reported good feedback for the early July Sizzling Summer sidewalk and garage sales promotions. She had 20 garage sales register.

Preparations for the 6th annual Made in Ada Football Festival on August 27. Walden noted that the Cincinnati Bengals have donated a game worn retro jersey for the raffle. The Punt, Pass and Kick contest currently has 35 participants registered.

Preparations for the September 17 Harvest & Herb are also underway with about 100 vendors registered to date with plenty of new vendors.

PLAY IT BLUE
A program was provided by pianist Dean Altstaetter, who performs under the name Play It Blue. Altstaetter played a variety of songs while explaining the public and private events where he performs as well as his background in music.

Altstaetter was eight years old when he started playing the piano and a simplified version of Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer was the first song he learned. His enthusiasm for playing wasn’t always shared: his father established a practice curfew and eventually moved the piano into Dean’s room. Fast forward to his college years: Altstaetter had extensive classical and jazz training at Goshen College, The Ohio State University and Bowling Green State University.

Jazz and improvisation are Altstaetter’s current musical focus. As Play it Blue and working with multiple bands, Altstaetter has performed with regional and national acts. While playing “All Blues” by Miles Davis, he named Davis, John Coltrane, Branford Marsalis as favorites and pianists Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Art Tatum (from Toledo) as influences.

Following a discussion about melody, mood, grace notes, the walking bass line, etc. Altstaetter noted that music can also help a business tell a story. In addition to providing music for social and business events, Play It Blue performs in local businesses, helping bring in new customers.

Play It Blue will perform from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22 at The Inn at ONU, 401 W. College Ave.

NETWORKING
The meeting also included an opportunity for businesses and attendees to introduce themselves and make announcements.

Attendees included (in order of presentation) Gayle Altstaetter of Mercantile on Main, Dan Newkirk, Jill Simmons, Deb Curlis of Beatitudes, Rhonda McKinley of Cole Humphrey Insurance, Ric Johnson of Cap Builders, LuAnne Cook, Office of Governor Mike DeWine, Del Cogar, Morgan Ellis of Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance, Denise D’Arca of The Cask Room, Paula Scott of the Ada Icon and Becky Neville of Century 21 Sunway Realty.