Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Vandalia’s new squad trucks change emergency responses near Dayton?
Happening soon: New Year's Eve Silent Disco & Ball Drop on the Dayton Patch calendar
Good morning Dayton! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Vandalia’s new squad trucks change emergency responses near Dayton?
- Dayton residents’ California trip ends in tragedy—what we know so far
- How worried should Dayton families be about this new flu variant?
Also on today's calendar: New Year's Eve Silent Disco & Ball Drop and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Daytonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Daytonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Cold with clouds and sun, with a high of 28 and low of 25 degrees.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 34, low: 21.
- Thursday: Low clouds may break; chilly, with a high of 28 and low of 20 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Vandalia Fire embracing new squad program to improve call-handling, response times (wdtn.com) — Vandalia Fire, serving residents just north of Dayton, is rolling out a new squad program on January 1 that uses smaller pickup-style vehicles for non-critical calls, cutting response times by about 90 seconds. By reserving full-size trucks and larger crews for major emergencies, the department expects to reduce vehicle wear, handle overlapping calls more efficiently, and keep more firefighters ready for serious incidents. 
2. Two Indian-Origin Women Killed in California Car Crash; Family seeks MEA help (indicanews.com) — Two young women originally from Telangana, India, who had been living in Dayton were killed when their car plunged into a gorge near California’s Alabama Hills during a holiday trip. Their families are seeking help from Indian authorities to return the bodies home, while friends in the U.S. are raising funds online for final rites.
3. Flu season spike: New variant hits children & elderly hardest (wdtn.com) — A new flu strain is driving an unusually sharp spike in hospitalizations in Dayton and across Ohio, especially among children and older adults. Local doctors urge residents to watch for fever, aches, and respiratory symptoms, stay home when sick, and get vaccinated, stressing that shots can dramatically reduce kids’ chances of ending up in the ER as schools return from break.
4. Military Quote of the Day by Albert Einstein: ‘The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking…' (19fortyfive.com) — Dayton gets a brief spotlight through a photo of the ‘Fat Man’ atomic bomb replica at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, but the piece mainly explores Albert Einstein’s limited scientific role and larger political influence on the Manhattan Project. It also reflects on his later regrets and the ongoing moral debate over nuclear weapons and deterrence.
5. Ohio task forces seize $75 million in drugs in 2025 (wdtn.com) — From Dayton, state officials report that Ohio’s organized crime task forces seized over $75 million in illegal drugs, firearms, and cash in 2025, including a major cocaine bust in the Miami Valley. Local agencies like the Montgomery and Clark County sheriff’s offices played key roles, aiming to keep dangerous narcotics and weapons out of area communities.
📸 Around Dayton
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Dayton
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Noon Year's Eve
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
11:30 am - New Year's Eve Silent Disco & Ball Drop
The Brightside Music & Event Venue , 905 E 3rd St , Dayton
8:30 pm - New Year Blind Box
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek - Wii Play Day
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
12:30 pm - Wolf Moon Howl
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
6:00 pm - Baby Story Time
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
10:30 am - Everyone Can Exercise!
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
12:30 pm - EPA Lead Renovation, Repair & Painting (RRP)
Dayton, OH Calendar Dayton, OH
8:30 am - Toddler Story Time
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
10:30 am
Wednesday December 31
Thursday January 1
Saturday January 3
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
📣 Dayton Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Noon Year's Eve
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
11:30 am - New Year Blind Box
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek - Wii Play Day
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
12:30 pm - Wolf Moon Howl
Beavercreek Community Library , 3618 Dayton-Xenia Road , Beavercreek
6:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
Thursday January 1
Saturday January 3
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- First off I just want to Thank everyone who was so nice and supportive during my dark time.
It was a lot to bare with my health on top of the stress of him ,and if you saw my last post you know who him is. I think I'll be ok for now. I'm… (Nextdoor Burkhardt) - Anyone missing a pup near E,4th and Hedges?
My son saved it from getting beat by a neighbor. It is a male brindle pit or appears to be. He has it for now but it needs to go asap he can not keep… (Nextdoor Burkhardt)
- RamClean posted a job opening for Part-time Cleaner / Janitor - Dayton, OH in Dayton. Apply here.
- B and B Maintenance, Inc. posted a job opening for Bank Route Cleaner in Dayton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Dayton here.
Ok Dayton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
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