By ASHLEY STAMPER

Contributing Writer

Race Across America, a grueling bicycle race, will pass through Blanchester again this year. The race covers 3,000 miles, beginning in Oceanside, Calif., and ending in Annapolis, Md. The racers are expected to arrive in Blanchester between June 24 and 27.

“They were impressed with our town and the hospitality that they received and decided to come through again,” said Tina Fischer, a member of the Blanchester Parks and Recreation Board who became involved with Race Across America last year and had quite an experience meeting many people from around the world.

Fischer stays active in the community by helping create a positive atmosphere for the residents of Blanchester and visitors to the area, such as the bicycle racers. She got involved with the Parks and Recreation Board in late 1999 when the village council purchased a ballpark from the American Legion and created the board to oversee operation of the park.

The board is responsible for many events in Blanchester, such as the community Easter Egg Hunt, which involves about 6,000 eggs. Fischer recruits high school students to facilitate this event, which helps them fulfill their community service requirements for graduation. She also enlists students to help with the Halloween Boo Bash, featuring games, crafts, candy, refreshments, a maze and a haunted house. Another event that the board organizes is Breakfast With Santa and Hometown Holiday on the first Saturday in December. The breakfast is free for the community and collects food donations for the food pantry in Blanchester. Senior Social Hour is held the first Friday of the month and is sponsored by Blanchester Kroger and the Parks Department. The board’s newest event is FestiFall, during the last weekend in September. The festival features rides, games, food, and entertainment. “We were very pleased with the turnout and hope for it to be bigger and better this year!” Fischer commented.

In the months leading up to any one of the board’s community events, Fischer stays very busy. She and the other Board members strive to create memorable experiences for community members, their families, and people who are just passing through. “The most rewarding aspect of this job is to see the playground full of children and all the fields at the ballpark in use. All of our events have grown beyond our expectations, so I guess we must be doing something right,” Fischer said.

Her answers to this week’s profile questions are below.

Family: Husband Robert, sons Rob, 23, Jacob, 9, and Alex, 5

Hobbies: Gardening and cooking

Favorite food: Mexican food

Favorite movie: City of Angels

Favorite actor: Nicolas Cage

Dream vacation: To visit most of Europe

Best memory: The last Christmas my whole family was together before my father passed away

Best advice: Do not take family and loved ones for granted; you don’t know how long you have left with them.