Last Friday, College Hill more than lived up to its motto of “A Diverse and Neighborly Community” as approximately 200 residents attended the Second Annual College Hill Forum Community Pot Luck Dinner at the College Hill Presbyterian Church.

While residents filled the auditorium, Tom and Missy Strothers kicked off the evening playing a variety of music on mountain dulcimer.

The food was delicious and plentiful. Many of the Pot Luck dishes were samples of recipes from the new College Hill Cooks Cookbook.

More entertainment for the evening was provided by College Hill Fundamental Academy choral group, directed by Dr. Robert Hauck. Dr. Hauck included traditional songs from Africa, songs with double entendre during the times of the underground railroad and patriotic songs as a symbol of unity in America. The students did a great job. Even the audience got into the act singing along with Kumbaya.

College Hill showed its generosity by donating a van load of personal care items for use by students at Aiken’s College and Career and University High Schools. Many asked if this was to be an ongoing project. The answer is, “Yes it is.” Additional information will be provided soon in the eNewsletter and Currents.

All of College Hill's civic groups were present and sporting badges encouraging inquiries into the various opportunities for community involvement. The College Hill Gardeners and CHCURC had information tables.

Thanks go to the Forum and a long list of volunteers headed by Phyllis Schoenberger, Amy Finnegan and Juanita Canfield.

Contributed by Tom Strothers.

In a note to the College Hill Citizens on Patrol, Police Chief Tom Streicher writes, “I want to thank the members of the College Hill Citizens on Patrol for the fantastic job you are doing. Words cannot describe our appreciation for the exhaustive effort you are contributing to this great neighborhood. I can tell you your efforts are making an incredible difference and the entire command staff is profoundly impressed with your program. Your group is a shining example of what “making a difference” really means!”

Call the Forum number, 513-591-3555, to get more information about College Hill Citizens on Patrol.

Three additional Neighborhood Police Officers were introduced at the College Hill Forum meeting this week. They are Officers Michele Cameron, Steve Mittermeier and Darren Sellers. They augment the efforts of long-time Neighborhood Officer Herb Noble, who remains assigned to College Hill.

To reach our Neighborhood Officers any time, any day, call 513-352-3903.

The Forum presented awards to two exceptional public servants at this week's meeting. The awards are named after members of the police and fire departments who died in the line of duty.

The Kevin Crayon award was presented to Officer Darren Sellers. In his remarks, District Five Captain Tom Johns called Officer Sellers “the hunter,” because of his exceptional ability to find people who don’t necessarily want to be found. Officer Crayon’s mother Barbara Albright and step-father Herbert Albright were present to congratulate Officer Sellers.

The Oscar Armstrong award was presented to Firefighter Michael Stephens by Mr. Armstrong’s brother, Omar Armstrong. In his remarks, Captain Rob Hart noted Mr. Stephens’ friendliness and respect when dealing with the public in difficult situations.

The Reverend Dan Weyand-Giese and Marty Weldishofer presented Christ's Community in College Hill’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., award to Amos Robinson at this week’s Forum meeting. This award is presented to the person in the community who best exemplifies the ideals and practices of Dr. King.

Cincinnati Public Schools is involving College Hill residents in plans for transforming all three College Hill public schools into centers of neighborhood activity as true Community Learning Centers.

CPS has hired Helen Habbert of the Community Building Institute at Xavier University to coordinate this effort in College Hill. Under her leadership, about 35 volunteers representing every interested civic group and all three schools in College Hill are forming a Core Planning Team to develop a process for collecting community input, evaluating community assets and assessing community needs. The entire community will be invited to participate in creating a vision for continuous learning, determining priorities, and identifying needed partners. This process will involve a series of meetings, surveys, focus groups, and/or other efforts to generate data and discussion over the next six months or so.

There are lots of ways to participate in this exciting process! To learn more, contact any of the following:

• Barbara Gordon (CHFA Principal)
  gordonb@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or 363-1690
• John Copenhaver (Pleasant Hill Principal)
  copenhj@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or 363-4390
• Donna Perzigian (Aiken University Principal)
  perzigd@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or 363-6890
• Eric Thomas (Aiken College & Career Principal)
  thomaer@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or 363-6790
• Marianne Puntenney (College Hill Forum Education VP)
  mp515@msn.com or 541-7009
• Helen Habbert (Facilitator)
  HBH@QRC-Associates.com or 731-5951.

Contributed by Helen Habbert.

The next MUSE concert--New Spirituals: Singing Solidarity—will be here in College Hill at the House of Joy. On Friday & Saturday, March 10 & 11 at 8:00 pm, MUSE—The Cincinnati Women’s Choir— welcomes Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir from Oakland California to share the stage.

Tickets can be ordered on line at www.musechoir.com. They cost $15 . For more information, call (513) 221-1118.

MUSE is a women's choir dedicated to musical excellence and social change. MUSE commissions and seeks out music composed by women--pieces that enhance the sound of women's voices and songs that honor the enduring spirit of all people.

The McAuley High School Alumnae Association will sponsor the fifth annual Lenten Evening of Reflection for Women on Thursday, March 9, 2006. The theme for the evening is “Healing: the journey in chaos and grace.” Sr. Rosie Miller, O.S.F., professor of theology at Xavier University, will be the presenter.

There will be a simple soup supper available in the McAuley cafeteria from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. The presentation will be held in the McAuley chapel from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

The price for the program is $15 . All women are welcome to attend. Make reservations by calling (513) 681-1800 x 1150.

That’s right—come and grow with us each Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Aiken High School Greenhouse. All materials supplied, and expert instruction given—all green thumbs, guaranteed! You’ll have fun working alongside your neighbors while chasing away the winter “blahs.”

Come for the entire session, or for an hour or half- hour; work weekly, or not—fit it into your schedule. Someone from the Greenhouse Team will be in the greenhouse, so you’re never alone.

Greenhouse workshops begin on March 8 and continue weekly through the end of May. Plants grown are installed in public green spaces maintained by CHG volunteers. They are sold to members and at the Plant Sale and Farm Market while supplies last. This effort is led by Susan Osborn and Kevin Corcoran, who are in their third season of growing in the greenhouse.

Email collegehillgardeners@cinci.rr.com with any questions and for directions to the greenhouse on the campus of Aiken High School.

Contributed by Beth McLean.

McAuley High School was the only high school represented at the University of Cincinnati’s African-American Read-In on February 6. The UC program consisted of poetry and prose readings by African-American poets and authors, a poetry writing workshop for the high school students as well as some college students, and a cultural dance demonstration by UC’s Black Arts Collaborative.

The McAuley students were generously treated to lunch in the brand new recreation center on campus and were given a short campus tour.

The participating students were juniors Rikki Bell, Taylore Che, Destiny Lattimore and Inna Smith, and seniors Nicole Battle, Aria King, Janelle Vaughn and Jahe Woody. They are most grateful to Dr. Greg Stewart, Interim Director of the Center for Access and Transition at UC, for the fine program and his hospitality.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the beautiful American Chestnut tree dominated our eastern forests. Its delicious nuts and rot-resistant wood made it one of the mainstays of the Appalachian economy. By 1950, however, a deadly chestnut blight had killed every tree it touched. Today, only a few mature trees remain.

Come to LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Center and find out how Dr. Steven Rogstad, Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati, is involved with efforts to restore this once eminent tree to our forests. Dr. Rogstad's program is the featured event of the Northside Greenspace Annual Meeting, and will follow a short report on Northside Greenspace Inc.'s activities for the year and the election of new board members. The meeting takes place Wednesday, March 8 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Northside Greenspace Inc. is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization founded to identify, preserve and restore natural areas in Northside and surrounding Cincinnati communities. For more information call 513-541-9119.

Contributed by Anita Buck.

Announcing a New Series: Radical Acceptance: Embracing our Brokenness in a Culture of Perfection Sunday Mornings at 9:00 am on March 12, 19, & 26 in the College Hill Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

We are all disabled in one way or another. Yet, living in a culture that equates brokenness and suffering with weakness, we often pretend, even to ourselves, that we are invulnerable, invincible, and in control. Jesus turns that cultural belief (that vulnerability, pain, and suffering are to be avoided at all costs) upside down. Christ challenges us, both through His teachings and His death on the cross, to face and embrace our own brokenness, as well as our neighbor’s brokenness, so that God’s power might be released.

Kathleen Bolduc, author of His Name is Joel: Searching for God in a Son’s Disability, and A Place Called Acceptance: Ministry with Families of Children with Disabilities, will share how living with disability has deepened her spiritual journey. She will invite us to contemplate the way our wounds, once we name and accept them, become God’s vehicle for grace; and ways in which we can reach out to embrace one another’s brokenness.

Come and also invite your friends and neighbors! Coffee, doughnuts and other refreshments will be available. There is no charge for this program.

Contributed by Linda Crank.

Brandt Smith and Brenda Wolfersberger will play bluegrass and other acoustic music Sundays in March from 3:00 to 5:00pm at the College Hill La Rosa’s.

Brenda says, “We have been playing music together for over 20 years, but since having kids, we have found few opportunities to perform together in public. This is our opportunity to get back out there and do our thing. We're very excited about being a part of the College Hill community, and have even gone so far as to name ourselves the "College Hill- billies"! We hope the community will come out and support us and La Rosa's. If this is successful, it may be extended into future months.”

Where will you or your family be if a disaster strikes? You could be anywhere—-work, school, or in a car. How would you find each other? Would you know if your children were safe? Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning.

It is important that you and your family be prepared. Come join us and increase your knowledge base to stay safe, protected and prepared. Learn how to prepare for disaster on Saturday, March 18, at 10:00 am at the College Hill Recreation Center.

For more information contact Valarie Brown-Green, Community Police Partnering Center, at 513-559-5580 or vbrowngreen@gcul.org.

The City of Cincinnati repaired over 72,000 potholes in 2005 and once again needs your help identifying potholes to help ensure faster repairs. The City received over 4,300 requests from citizens for pothole service in 2005 and your continued assistance will help provide us with more inclusive, city-wide coverage. Your input is sincerely appreciated.

There are three ways to report potholes and by doing so you can become a Pothole Spotter.

1. Send an e-mail to POTHOLE@CINCINNATI-OH.GOV.
2. Report potholes on line at the City website.
3. Report potholes to the Customer Service Call Center at 513 591-6000.

Have you noticed the remodeling going on at the site of the former shoe store on the southeast corner of Hamilton & Cedar? That’s Ramon Norris, newest member of the College Hill Business Association, preparing to open the American Heritage Flooring Company on or about April 1.

This week’s Forum meeting voted unanimously to support his request to the city to move the bus stop and bench north about half a block to lessen congestion in front of his store.

It is with great pleasure that the Community Police Partnering Center (CPPC) introduces a new column titled “Crime Prevention Monthly”. This column will feature crime prevention tips, community-based initiatives, and resource information, all designed to help keep our city and neighborhoods safe.

For those who are unfamiliar with CPPC, we are designed to develop and put in place effective strategies to reduce crime and disorder while facilitating positive interaction and increased trust between the police and neighborhoods. To do this, we utilize Community Problem Oriented Policing– CPOP. CPOP teams are currently active throughout the city and doing great things. All residents and business owners are encouraged to join. For more information about CPOP teams in your area or on the various trainings we provide free of charge, please contact our office at 513-559-5450 or CPOPCenter@gcu l.org. We look forward to bringing you exciting topics and useful information. Have a safe month and make plans to read next month when our feature topic will be “What does suspicious look like?”. Contributed by Tracey P. Wilson.

We look forward to bringing you exciting topics and useful information. Have a safe month and make plans to read next month when our feature topic will be “What does suspicious look like?”.

Contributed by Tracey P. Wilson.

The College Hill Cooks Cookbook (the best cookbook you have ever seen) is now available for $15 at the following establishments in College Hill:

• The College Hill Coffee Company and Casual Gourmet
• Schwartz Jewelers
• Visconti-Lechler Pharmacy
• Llanfair Retirement Community (Larchwood and Terrace reception area)
• Piazza-Discepoli Wine Shop
• Six Acres B&B
• Bacall’s

Proceeds go to the College Hill Forum, your community council.

You may have heard rumors that a “big box development” is coming to the area between Winton & Gray Road in Winton Place. Forum President Elizabeth Sherwood assures residents that community representatives are watching the situation closely and are in contact with the Winton Place community council.

Apparently the Vandecar company is interested in acquiring the lower landfill property between Winton and Gray Roads for possible occupancy by a big box store (not a Wal-Mart) and some auxiliary smaller stores. Concerns have been expressed by some homeowners on Gray Road that their homes might be subject to eminent domain, but Mayor Mallory is on record as saying “no way.”

Tom Jackson of the city’s Department of Community Development and Planning points out that, technically, this land is part of Winton Hills, which happens to be the only one of the 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods that doesn’t have a community council. Efforts are underway to form a community council for Winton Hills to provide a focal point for that community's input to the development process.

Bottom line: Not much has happened so far, and Forum representatives will keep an eye out for future developments in this area, in case some action is indicated.