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MSO fundraiser set for Saturday

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By Rick McCrabb, Staff Writer 6:44 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — Elizabeth Lolli — who graduated from Madison High School, taught in Middletown City Schools and now is superintendent of Monroe Local Schools — is using those connections to her advantage.

She isn’t pitting the communities against each other, rather embracing them.

When asked if the rivalry between Middletown and Monroe has negatively impacted her fundraising campaign for the Middletown Symphony Orchestra, she said: “I haven’t felt that at all. Everyone has been great.”

Lolli is competing against T. Duane Gordon, executive director for the Middletown Community Foundation, for the honor of leading the symphony for one song during the Nov. 19 concert at Towne Boulevard Church of God.

Last week, Gordon, preparing for his last fundraiser, said he wanted to beat Lolli by $1.

“I want to beat him by $2,” she fired back with a laugh.

Her last fundraiser of the campaign will be a Sons of Italy spaghetti dinner Saturday night at Monroe United Methodist Church.

Like several of her events, Lolli said the dinner will be family friendly and will include students from Monroe and Fenwick high schools.

While the high tea and talent show — two of her fundraisers — attracted traditional symphony supporters, she said the scrapbooking class, quarter auction and the spaghetti dinner will introduce people to the musical arts.

There also will be a large contingent of Lolli family members there Saturday. She is expecting about 65 relatives from her family, which is long associated with Fenwick High School.

Lolli and her husband, Gene, superintendent of Springboro Local Schools, returned to the area three years ago after being away for 13 years.

She said it’s “refreshing” to see that the Middletown community still supports the arts.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

how to go

what: Sons of Italy spaghetti dinner

where: Monroe United Methodist Church, East Avenue

when: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday

how much: $8 for adults; $4 for children 12 and under. Tickets available at the door

If you go

What: Middletown Symphony Orchestra’s Guest Conductor’s Auction Pops concert

Where: Towne Blvd. Church of God, 3722 Towne Blvd.

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 19