So, even as we're transitioning to a blog with a more local flavor, I wanted to keep some of the focus on entertainment news and Hollywood stories. We've all been saddened lately by a string of high-profile celebrity deaths, the most recent of which was the passing of TV and film star Patrick Swayze.

Patrick and I became acquainted when I was a young girl, watching Dirty Dancing on TV with my mom. I remember how desperately I wanted to be Baby, and how on every family vacation from then on, I expected to meet a handsome dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks.

That, unfortunately, never happened, but I still can't pass a staircase without wanting to shimmy down the steps in my pedal-pushers and Keds, or hear "She's Like the Wind" without feeling a little wistful.

Seeing Patrick's battle with cancer was both difficult and uplifting. His health began to decline around the time my grandmother began her battle with terminal lymphoma. She lost that battle just a few months ago, and in that silly way we have of relating so closely to celebrities we've never met and don't really know, I became much more invested in Patrick's illness, and his brave struggle to stay healthy, and keep working until the very end.

Now, for all of us who have witnessed the courage and the strength it takes to fight cancer -- whether it's someone in our own lives, or someone we know only as a character on the screen -- we have the opportunity to give back, while celebrating the life of one of Hollywood's most memorable bad-boys-with-a-heart-of-gold.

This weekend, the Dixie Twin Drive-In Theatre on N. Dixie Drive in Dayton will be showing a Patrick Swayze double feature... and one dollar of every adult ticket will be donated in Patrick's honor to the American Cancer Society.

The shows start at 8:00pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-27. Up first on the big screen is the 1990 Oscar-winning romance Ghost, followed by Road House at 10:20pm.

And even if that's not your thing, you can catch the flicks on screen two -- John Carpenter's Vampires and Killer Klowns from Outer Space -- and still have a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefit the American Cancer Society.

And while I'm promoting cancer-related charities, be sure to be a part of the "Light the Night Walk" on October 1st at the Fraze Pavillion in Kettering, benefiting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. For those of you who listen to our sister station, K99.1, you know that morning personality Steve Kerrigan has been battling multiple myeloma, and is now in remission (yay, Steve!). Come celebrate and help support leukemia and lymphoma research at the Fraze. Click here to make a donation, or for more details: http://pages.lightthenight.org/soh/Dayton09/KerrigansKrusaders

First, I must apologize for my lack of entries in recent months. Two hand surgeries and a death in the family kept away from the blog (and away from the keyboard altogether) for quite some time.

I am thrilled to be back, and thrilled to announce that some big changes, they are a'coming. I won't spoil it entirely just yet, but suffice it to say this blog will have a new look, a new title, and a new angle very soon.

This entry should give you a hint -- a taste, if you will -- of what's to come.

So, without further ado, allow me to promote an event happening today, that might just get you inspired to get out of the office for lunch, or head for drinks with the girls (or guys) after a long day at work. And the best part -- you can lend your support to one of our fantastic community theatres at the same time!

Today, September 21st, all day long, a portion of anything you purchase at the Applebee's on Delco Park in Kettering will be donated to the Dayton Theatre Guild, which just opened its new home on Wayne Avenue!

All you have to do is take in the flier, which you can download and print at the Guild's website, here: www.daytontheatreguild.org. Just give it to your server, and 10% of your bill goes straight to DTG! So go ahead, have that dessert you're craving, or that second (or third) drink... it's all for a good cause!

Oh, and this also includes Applebee's Carside to Go, so if you're in a hurry, you can always go that route. Just don't forget to bring them a copy of the flier when you pick up your food!

And for those of you who don't know much about DTG, or much about the local theatre community, I urge you to check out the website, too. Having performed in a couple shows at DTG, I'm a bit biased, but I think the Guild is doing some of the best theatre in Dayton. And as I mentioned before, they've just opened their new facility at 430 Wayne Ave. (the old Dayton Gym Club), and believe me, it's definitely worth checking out!

Hope that gives you more of an idea of what you'll be seeing in the future here on my little corner of the Web. I promise to update more often now that all ten fingers are working as they should... IF you promise to hit up Applebee's and support local theatre today!!