St. Clare School celebrated its 94th and last eighth grade graduation on May 31. Five students made up the class: Eric Melton, Krysten Turner, Jake Miller, Brandon Reynolds, and Olivia Nixon.

Seventy students grades 1-8 finished the 2005-2006 year with a prayer service Thursday, June 1. "I'm happy that school's over, but I'm sad too," said Marshal Finke, nine, who will start fourth grade in the fall with many of his current classmates at St. Bartholomew.

St. Clare School, part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati school system, opened in 1912. Like many schools of the era, it was built before the parish church, which wasn't completed until the 1950s. Thousands of College Hill children were educated at the Salvia Street building, which has been enlarged and renovated over the years. Its most recent renovation was completed just last year.

Just before Christmas, St. Clare announced that its school would consolidate with St. Bartholomew School in Finneytown. Father George Jacquemin, pastor of St. Clare Parish, noted, “By collaborating with other parishes in the consolidation, we are able to offer Catholic education at a reasonable price. Our ministry to the school-age children of our parish continues--it will simply take place at another location."

You can learn more about St. Bartholomew School by clicking the link below, and then clicking on "school."

Last year, PNC generously supported the 2005 College Hill Rhythm Race, 5K Run/Walk at the highest title-sponsorship level. PNC’s support early on was an enormous boost for the event and a catalyst for support from other sponsors in College Hill and throughout the city. This year, PNC has again stepped up as top sponsor of the 2006 College Hill Rhythm Race in another display of support for College Hill.

Last year's Rhythm Race was the most successful community fundraiser for ongoing economic development in College Hill and this year's race is shaping up to be even better.

Recently, the Rhythm Race Committee and representatives of The College Hill Forum, which presents the race, happily accepted a check for $5,000 from PNC officials at College Hill Coffee Company. PNC said they recognized the value of the Rhythm Race to the community and to the bank. Last year, the event generated a positive publicity and excitement for the race, for College Hill and for PNC Bank.

Pictured left to right: Michelle Williams, Manager, PNC Bank College Hill Branch; Jen Schuermann, Rhythm Race Committee; David Pendl, Regional Manager, PNC Bank; Elizabeth Sherwood, President, College Hill Forum Community Council; Dr. Rea Waldon, PhD., Community Consultant, PNC Bank.

The Rhythm Race is coming August 18.

Historic Six Acres Bed and Breakfast has announced its second annual Sunday concert series. This beautiful home, once owned by the abolitionist Strong family and a stop on the Underground Railroad, welcomes music lovers for six outdoor evenings on the beautiful six-acre grounds.

Bring lawn chairs and enjoy jazz and reggae performed by local musicians. Meet your friends and neighbors out on the lawn and enjoy some light refreshments. Park in the Twin Towers lots and use the free shuttle service. Concerts begin at 6:30pm; tickets are $15

Here's the lineup:

• June 18: William Menefield Trio. Only 19, wunderkind William Menefield plays jazz piano with verve and inventiveness.
• July 9: Mister Creeper. Another young musician, this 25-year-old "Reggae Ambassador" brings his mellow sound to Six Acres.
• July 23: The Last Boppers. This phenomenal band combines improvisational jazz with ethnic sounds.
• August 13: Mike Wade Quartet. An exciting, creative jazz trumpeter, Wade is also a charismatic band leader.
• August 27: Kaan Shuz. Hear reggae and rhythm & blues from this perfect combination of veteran experience and fiery youth.

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt, using a GPS unit and coordinates from the Geocaching web site to find a hidden cache.

On Saturday, June 17, from 10:00am to noon, the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Cachers will present a short program and then help you hunt the special temporary caches hidden especially for the program. Bring a GPS if you have one or borrow one from the Cachers to try this family-friendly activity yourself. Start hunting some of the 100 caches hidden in Cincinnati Parks including five right here in LaBoiteaux Woods.

Reservations suggested. Call 513-542-2909.

Linda Bailey writes, "I love the beautiful tree-lined streets, especially on Savannah Avenue. I lived on Savannah when the old huge elms and oaks were cut down--it broke our hearts. I'm glad it's now tree- lined and pretty again."

"Walking down the street and actually seeing and chatting with neighbors," writes Mary SeGuin.

Send your favorite things about College Hill to the editor here.

Mary Bodmer reports that the College Hill Forum has already netted over $1000 from the Kroger Gift Card program. Forty-seven residents are using cards obtained from Mary to make their purchases at Kroger, and Kroger is returning 4% of all their purchases to the Forum for use in improving College Hill.

Here's how it works: You buy a Kroger Gift Card for $5 from Mary. See her at a Forum meeting or make arrangements to get your card by calling her at 513-541-1631. The card comes with $5 already on it, so it doesn't cost you anything to participate.

Then, prior to using your card to pay for your Kroger purchases--before the cashier begins to ring up your purchases--tell the cashier that you want to recharge your gift card. Choose whatever amount you want up to $500 to cover the purchases you expect to make over the next month or two.

Then, use the card to pay for your groceries until it is depleted, then recharge it again, and Kroger will keep sending the Forum 4% of all your Kroger purchases. It's a little trouble, but it's worth so much to your community council.

One additional thing: Mary reminds us to keep the card's magnetic stripe away from other magnetic things. That includes putting the stripe next to the stripe of your other cards. To protect your card, you can get a special little card envelope from Mary the next time you see her at a Forum meeting.

If you've seen the crew of Engine 51, College Hill's fire station, cruising the neighborhood streets in evenings this June, don't worry--they're not looking for work. They are out to prevent fire department work by distributing free smoke alarms and fire prevention tips. If you missed your visit, stop by the station on Marlowe Avenue and ask for a smoke detector.

Engine 51 would rather pay a social call than fight a fire.

Contributed by Gail Finke.

Here's an opportunity for you to help the community and at the same time treat yourself or someone special you know to a little indulgence. Tina Stoeberl, College Hill Coffee Company, and Diane Peterson, Silpada Design Jewelry, are collaborating on a special fundraiser for the College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC).

Tina is hosting a special sale of Silpada Designs Jewelry at her shop this Friday June 9, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Diane is donating 15% of her sales that night to CHCURC.

Silpada jewelry includes nickel-free sterling silver, hand crafted beads, turquoise, shell, freshwater pearls, coral, gemstones--and more.

How does it feel to be caricatured by Jim Borgman? Charlie Luken, who grew up in College Hill, and his dad Tom, who still lives here, told all Tuesday as part of a salute to the Enquirer's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist.

It's already time to sign up for fall soccer--the deadline is June 21! Soccer in College Hill is part of the national SAY (Soccer Association for Youth) program, headquartered in Cincinnati. There are teams for boys and girls ages 4 to 18. Call Angela at 513-931-2757 for information.