Mary Cinquina reports, "I'm really happy with Kevin Ward and the young men of Christ Community's Clean Cut Initiative. I have a rather large lot--over 700 feet long--and a weedy house next door. They came, they buzzed, they conquered--did exactly what I needed done.

"Their enthusiasm, charm and work ethic are inspiring. I had a blast talking with them about how I've been working on my property with the help of my brother, showing off my six dogs, drowning them in caffeine-free tea, and chatting with them about my trees, my pond, and all the cool stuff I get to do here. I think they really enjoyed themselves! I plan on working with them again."

The College Hill Clean Cut Initiative was created to provide summer employment for our teens. Professionals in proper lawn care, equipment safety and business management train each teen. Clean Cut offers fair pricing, quality work and excellent customer service. You can support this initiative by contacting Kevin Ward, director of Christ's Community in College Hill (513-541-0303, ccch@cinci.rr.com).

Linda Bailey writes, "I am enjoying a wonderful book that I bought at Schwartz Jewelers. It is the College Hill edition of Images of America by Gail Deibler Finke, with fascinating historical photos of many places in College Hill.

"I was dumbfounded to learn that there was a College Hill Railroad in the ravine beneath Glenview Avenue!"

This book is available in several College Hill stores.

"You asked me to name a few of my favorite things in College Hill. That's easy," Carol Lyon responds.

• "The diversity of our people,
• our attractive housing stock,
• our mature trees and
• our very own LaBoiteaux Woods."

Click here to name a few of your favorite things in College Hill.

Food and wine were the stars of Core Behavioral Health Centers’ sixth annual Gourmet Gala April 29 at the Bankers Club. Attendance reached 170, and the event raised over $55,000 for uninsured and underinsured clients of Core Behavioral, a College Hill non-profit agency serving adults with severe mental disabilities and those in need of general counseling services.

The Gourmet Gala, sponsored in part by National City Bank, featured a five-course meal presented by Certified Master Chef John Kinsella, The Bankers Club Executive Chef Joseph Dawson and sommelier Suzanna Morse of Heidelberg Distributing Company.

Pictured above are Core Executive Director Dr. Alan Mabry; Dr. Michael Oberdoerster, winner of the Donna Ferneding Award; Suzanna Morse of Heidelberg Distributing Company; The Bankers Club Executive Chef Joseph Dawson, Certified Master Chef John Kinsella, and event co-chairs, Peggy Roudebush and Maria Cholak.

We were pleased to learn that we have a celebrity piano tuner living in our midst on Belmont Avenue.

To see a nice Enquirer article about tuner Roy Peters, click here.

"The evening was filled with fabulous refreshments, warm conversation and a visual feast," says Cynthia Allen of the May 5th art opening at the Feldenkrais (R) Within movement studio in Northside. The show is called Emerging, and the opening reception drew sixty art lovers from around the city.

Allen and her husband Larry Wells are College Hill residents who own the studio and an associated company, Future Life Now. They are holistic health practitioners specializing in Feldenkrais(R) movement, which originated in Germany.

Feldenkrais(R) is popular with artists and musicians, so the couple offered a gallery show to their artist clients. Of the eight artists participating, three are also from College Hill: Leslie Alexandria, Ali Hansen and Marilee Panna.

Emerging continues through August 31 at 4124 Hamilton Avenue. "We invite our College Hill neighbors to drop in at any of the studio's public events," says Wells. Your next opportunity is the studio's open house on May 20, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. For more information on this and other events, call 513-541-5720.

Gail Finke contributed this article.

Wilma Jackson, a dynamic singer of soul, blues, rock and gospel, makes her first appearance at the College Hill Coffee Company Saturday, May 20, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

Come early for dinner and then kick back with coffee drinks and dessert for the concert. Free parking is available in the well-lighted lot behind the restaurant.

The Upper Room Authority performs at The Rock Café on Friday, May 19, at 7:30 PM.

Parking is available in the back of The Rock and Behind the House of Joy.

Over 100 people have already submitted their ideas and registered their preferences--have you completed the survey to help transform our new public school facilities into Community Learning Centers?

The survey deadline is May 20, so that results can be compiled and reported at the College Hill Forum meeting on May 23. Helen Habbert, our facilitator in this planning process, will also lead those at the Forum meeting in a discussion of our educational vision and potential partners to help College Hill achieve that vision. A community-wide planning team has been working hard on this for the past several months.

You can participate in these two easy ways:

1. Click here to link to the online survey--it only takes about 3 minutes to complete.
2. Come to the May 23 Forum meeting to talk more about how we can create "schools of choice" for Cincinnati students and the College Hill community.

The next Cincinnati Homeowners Meeting will be Monday, May 22, at 7:00pm at St. Peter and St. Paul United Church of Christ, 3001 Queen City Ave (corner of Ferguson) in Westwood.

This Months' Speaker is City Council Member Chris Bortz, who will address two issues facing our neighborhoods: With all the news about the crackdown on crime and blight in Over The Rhine, how can we be sure that none of the problems will migrate to our neighborhoods? How can we use zoning, planning and HUD funding to reverse the years of neglect in our neighborhoods?