Miami University honored active College Hill resident Jim Bodmer with the Admiral Sidney W. Souers Award on April 1. Miami presents this annual award to an Naval ROTC grad who has distinguished him or herself within their chosen field of endeavor. Admiral Souers was the first director of the CIA.

Previously, in 2005, Miami University had awarded Jim the Jim Grant "7th Man Award", for his enthusiastic support of the Miami hockey team. Jim is known around the Miami community for his famous "Go RedSkins!" chants prior to each game.

For over almost 40 years, Jim has been an active volunteer in College Hill, serving in various capacities in the Forum, including five terms as Forum president. He organized and now coordinates the Citizens on Patrol Program, the Community Problem Oriented Policing Team and the Court Watch program. He works closely with the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) to reduce crime. He currently serves on the CPD strategic planning committee and has received several awards from CPD. His neighborhood crime tracking and reporting system has been adopted as the model for the city of Cincinnati and other departments.

Jim has also served College Hill Presbyterian Church in a number of offices.

Outside of College Hill, Jim was awarded a citation for Outstanding Service by the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education while president of the Parent Board of Walnut Hills High School.

Jim was commissioned an Ensign and graduated from Miami University in 1960. He served on the carriers Oriskany, Ticonderoga and Ranger as Communications Watch Officer, Assistant Communications Officer, and Assistant Staff Tactical Watch Officer. Upon release from active duty, he continued to serve in the Navy Reserves until his retirement in 1986.

In civilian life, Jim pursued a successful career at Kroger and the Sara Lee Corporation.

Jim and his wife of 45 years, Mary, have two daughters and four grandchildren.

At March's Forum Meeting, Nominating Committee Chair Mary Bodmer announced that all the sitting officers for the College Hill Forum had agreed to be nominated to run for another term. They are: Elizabeth Sherwood, President; Marianne Puntenney, Vice President; Amy Finnegan Secretary; and Jim Bodmer Treasurer.

There is still time to nominate yourself or your neighbor for any of these offices. Last-minute nominations can be made until April 13. To make a nomination, send or take the nominee's name and 22 signatures to Mary Bodmer at 1631 Harbeson Avenue. But don't think you can surprise a neighbor-- the nominees must agree to be nominated.

Officers will be elected at the next Forum meeting on April 25 at the Recreation Center.

Eric Thomas, Principal of the Aiken College & Career High School, has announced a "Fourth Quarter Rally" for the high school.

Now that testing is over and only months remain of school, some students contract "senioritis" and slack off on schoolwork. To combat this, a major thrust of the Rally is attendance, and Aiken will be awarding weekly prizes to the two first-period classes with the highest attendance.

Volunteers will also be calling each absent student's home between 8:30 and 10:30 am to let parents know that their children are not at school.

If you'd like to help contact parents or donate items for the class prizes (money toward a pizza party, restaurant gift certificates, 15-20 items kids like, etc.) call Mr. Thomas (513-353-6760).

Students' staying in school helps our neighborhood and our city, and more importantly, improves the rest of their lives.

In the Sound Of Music, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings" were a few of Maria's favorite things. What are yours?

These are a few of your editor's favorite things in College Hill:

• A Bacall's Margarita on ice with extra salt. Sweet, sour & delicioius!
• The Fried Catfish at Sister's. Crispy & moist. Mmmmm.
• The Espresso Shake at the Coffee Company. A sweet jolt!
• Chung Ching's Szechwan String Beans. A little spicy, a lot garlicy--just right!

What are a few of your favorite things in College Hill? They don't all have to be about food, like your editor's. eMail the eNewsletter; we'll include what we can in future issues.

For many years, McAuley’s National Honor Society (NHS) has participated in the Adoptive Granddaughter Program at Llanfair Retirement Community. This year, the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio selected McAuley to receive the 2006 Council on Aging John Wycliffe Fleming Youth Award.

Representatives from the McAuley NHS received this award at a dinner on March 21. In addition to a beautifully engraved plaque, the NHS also received a $100 LaRosa’s gift certificate to use for a pizza party.

Seen in the photo:
From left to right, bottom row: Briana Elsen, Gina Palluconi, Michelle Torbeck, Melissa Young
Middle row: Mrs. Beth Merk, Alison Damon, Katie Vogt, Alyse Kordenbrock, Laura Bergmann, Rose Kramer
Back row: Mrs. Shirley Frey, Carmy Forney, Nicole Battle, Jill Lennon, Kristen Ruffing, Sarah Kemme, Jennifer Hodapp, Kristen Proctor

The Aiken classes of 64-65-66 held a reunion this past July at the Cincinnati Museum Center. The web site created for the occasion has some interesting pictures from that era, as well as of the reunion.

Thanks to John Britton for bringing this to our attention.

"Cincinnati Wild! Nature through Art" will celebrate nature art on Sunday, April 30, at LaBoiteaux Woods.

Adults who would like to display their art should contact LaBoiteaux Woods Director Pat Agnew (513- 542-2909) or visit the Nature Center.

The show will also include the work of children who have participated in art classes at LaBoiteaux Woods.

In addition to the art show, professionals will be on hand to demonstrate techniques. Children will be able to try an art project and everyone is invited to spend the afternoon enjoying and recording the beauty of nature with their camera, sketchbook or paints.

Self-defense expert Debbie Gardner will be presenting an educational seminar at McAuley High School on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 7:00 pm.

Ms. Gardner’s focus is that real self-defense requires the courage to control oneself, and, if properly done, the courage to control someone else will follow. Women, men and teens are welcome to attend.

The program will be held in the McAuley gymnasium and is free. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, contact Peggy Hock, school nurse (513-681-1800 x 1126).

College Hill residents may now drop off hazardous waste items at Environmental Enterprises Inc., 4650 Spring Grove Avenue, at the intersection of Spring Grove Avenue and Winton Road. Materials may be dropped off on Tuesdays between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm and on Thursdays and Saturdays between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Items accepted include paint cans, motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, solvents and thinners, lawn and pool chemicals, household and car batteries, prescription drugs, fire extinguishers, mercury thermometers, florescent bulbs, gasoline, anti-freeze and thermostats.

This is the perfect opportunity to do some real spring cleaning in the basement and garage.

Posting your garage sale, animals lost or other posters on street-side poles could cost you. It has been brought to our attention that the Cincinnati Code prohibits this.

The ordinance applies to any signs placed in the easement area or right-of-way. For more detail than you'd ever want, see the Cincinnati Municipal code at the link below,specifically chapters 1427-07 and 1427-09.