College Hill was named one of "10 Great Neighborhoods (You'll Want to Call Home)" in the May issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Following is most of the article ...

That disaster has become an opportunity. On those sites, and on the former CVS and Masonic Eastern Star Home properties, will rise Linden Park. Phase one will replace Shuller’s with a three-story building with retail and office space at street level and condos above. "It’ll give a real charge to the neighborhood," Lyon says.

That’s exciting, but there’s more here than just a business district. The variety of housing stock on streets like Wittekind, Teakwood, Hollywood and Loiswood means young families and empty nesters can live side-by-side in houses that range from Norman-inspired to basic brick ranches.

"It’s easy to get caught up in houses, but a neighborhood is really the people," says Lyon. Here, the people are pushing their neighborhood into the future.

Cincinnati Public Schools is asking every community to help plan and design the new or renovated school facilities being built. These will be more than just school buildings, they will become centers of neighborhood activity as Community Learning Centers.

A Core Planning Team of volunteers from College needs your input to create a shared “vision for continuous learning.” Our question is: What do we want to create together that would make THE difference in College Hill schools?

Click either of the links below to give the Team the benefit of your views.

• To read more about the Community Learning Center concept and the work of the Task Force and then take the survey, click here.
• To go directly to the survey, click here.

For more information, contact Helen Habbert (HBH@QRC-Associates.com or 513-731-5951).

More than 2100 people gathered at The Encampment on Easter Sunday, and not just for services. A day of local and national gospel performances, highlighted by the Rev. Bobby Jones and his Nashville Super Choir, was taped by The Word Network for a series of broadcasts.

Easter Sunday was a large celebration at churches throughout the city. But perhaps you noticed several large gatherings of parishioners outside St. Clare Church before Easter and wondered what was going on.

It's no mystery. In the Roman Catholic Church, the week before Easter (Holy Week) includes a number of celebrations and commemorations, two of which involve processions.

On Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, Catholics process around or into their churches, carrying palms and singing "Hosannah" to commemorate Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. At St. Clare, we gather in the yard outside the church and enter together, singing and waving our palms.

Holy Thursday begins the solemn "Triduum," a Latin word for the three-day commemoration of Christ's Passion.

• On Holy Thursday, to commemorate the Last Supper, parishioners wash each other's feet as Jesus washed his disciples' feet.
• On Good Friday, Catholics venerate a replica of the Cross and listen to a Gospel account of the Crucifixion.
• Saturday brings another procession, and another gathering outside. We gather after dark on the lawn around a small bonfire--the "new fire" the priest uses to light a special candle that stays lit throughout the Easter season. Carrying candles lit from this fire, we walk singing into the darkened church for the Great Vigil of Easter. We remember God's actions in history by singing psalms and listening to readings from the Old Testament and end by celebrating the first Eucharist (Communion) of Easter.

Everyone is welcome to worship with us, or just to come in and see what has been going on for the last 2000 years. (If you are not a Catholic, you cannot share our Eucharist because you are not in communion with the Church.)

Gail Deibler Finke contributed this story.

The College Hill Business Association named Sheena Parton as their new President and Ron Hickson as their new Vice President at the annual dinner meeting earlier this week. Phyllis Schoenberger and Karen Hartman were named to continue to serve as Secretary and Treasurer.

Outgoing President Gayla Price and Vice-President Joe Lechler were recognized for their contributions

Our favorite things in College Hill are:

• The wide variety of homes on Belmont Avenue...
• Monthly wine tastings at Piazza Discepoli...
• Excellent workout equipment at College Hill Recreation Center...
• Wonderful mature trees everywhere!

--Sandra & Paul Bush

Share a few of your favorite things in College Hill with the editor here.

The four-man group, "Those Guys," will perform at the College Hill Coffee Company on April 29 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. The members are all graduates of Aiken High School’s first graduating classes and have remained friends and occasional musical conspirators for decades.

Come and join in the fun. Kick back, reminisce and enjoy some great music with friends.

Are you curious about the College Hill Fundamental Academy's historic building, the brand-new Pleasant Hill Academy building, or the Aiken High Schools campus? Visit them and any other Cincinnati Public School building during the "CPS Pride Showcase" on Saturday, April 29.

Every school building in the Cincinnati Public School district will be open from noon to 3:00 pm. See how your tax dollars are spent and how CPS students spend their days. For a list of CPS schools, programs, and locations, call the CPS Customer Help Center at 363-0123 or click here.

Three C’s Nursery School is pleased to announce that we will be opening a children’s consignment clothing store, Sonshine House, right across the street from College Hill Presbyterian Church at 1607 Llanfair sometime in the fall. All are invited Sunday, April 23, at 2:00pm to the Sonshine House dedication.

Our goals as an outreach Christian ministry are twofold:

• To serve the neighborhood by providing affordable used children’s clothing and toys and
• To support children’s programs in the College Hill area which minister to families and nurture a faith in Jesus Christ.

Contributed by Jenny Smith, Director of 3C's Nursery Co-op.

You can still contribute your ideas about Llanfair Commons--a new neighborhood public space for College Hill.

The city has awarded CHCURC a grant to make plans for a public space on the city-owned property at the corner of Hamilton and Llanfair. What we need from you is what you can imagine that corner to be. You can read the flyer and submit your ideas here.

If you have questions, contact Marty Weldishofer (mklweld@fuse.net, 513-681-4205).

Three residents of College Hill were recently honored by the Cincinnati Public School board as National Merit Scholarship finalists.

• Amy Fletcher, a senior at Walnut Hills High School, is the daughter of Charles and Ena Fletcher of Highcliff Court. Amy will be studying chemical engineering on a scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis.
• Margaret O’Connor is also a senior at Walnut Hills. She is the daughter of Terry Owen and Tim O’Connor of Wittekind Terrace. Margaret will be studying public policy but has not made a final college choice.
• Christopher Welsh, son of Dave and Annette Welsh of Wittekind Terrace, will graduate from the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Chris will be majoring in nuclear engineering and intends to minor in music concentrating on French horn. He is still considering several scholarship opportunities.

Each of these outstanding students is to be congratulated for this high achievement. All National Merit finalists are assured of a number of wonderful scholarship offers from leading colleges and universities from which to choose. The community applauds their accomplishments and wishes them much success in the future.

Contributed by Pat Brennan.

The College Hill Presbyterian Church invites you to join us for two fun-filled and enlightening Sundays at 9:00am as we take a fresh look at how our personalities influence our lives and impact those we live with. Led by author and teacher Anne Clippard, these classes, based on the Myers-Briggs personality research, will provide an engaging learning experience for you, your significant other(s) and friends.

• April 23: Exploring how your personality influences the way you live, love, and work
• April 30: Exploring the interaction of your personality with others in your most significant relationships at home and work.

The Cincinnati Northwestern Chorale, of which College Hill resident Pat Brennan is a member, will present “A Song Celebration” on Sunday, April 30, at 3:00 pm at St. Ann Church, 2900 Galbraith Road. Directed by Peter J. Morabito, the concert will feature choral settings of many favorite songs made popular by the bands and artists of the 30s and 40s as well as several selections by Stephen Foster. Admission is $7 at the door.

The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area is sponsoring an educational forum entitled, "Landlords, Tenants, and Neighbors," Saturday, April 29, from 9:00am to 12:30pm at Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Avenue. There is no charge for either event. The public is invited.

State Representative Steve Driehaus will give the opening address, "What Makes a Community Healthy?" Participants will have a choice of two workshops, "ABC's of Assisted Housing" and "Maintaining Property Quality in a Community." The closing session will be a general panel discussion, "The Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 Program."

Contact Helen Rhoad, League of Women Voters Housing Committee Chair (513-793-0473) or Elizabeth Brown, Director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (513-721-4663) for more information.

Are bags of yard waste taking up space in your yard or garage? The City of Cincinnati has resumed yard waste collection so you can haul them out on your next regular trash collection day.

If you're new to the city or a new homeowner, here are the regulations:

• Place leaves, grass, and other yard waste in biodegradable paper bags (available at most grocery and hardware stores) or in trash cans clearly marked "yard waste." The yard waste collectors will not take anything in plastic bags, and the trash collectors will not take yard waste with your other garbage.
• Tie up branches and brush with twine or fabric rope (no plastic or wire) into bundles 4 x 2 ft. or smaller.