High temperatures didn't deter over 500 who came out to enjoy the third annual National Night Out Monday night.

The event helped residents to meet new friends and neighbors, talk to police that patrol our streets and show the neighborhood that we support a clean, safe and prosperous College Hill.

Our community cookout was a treat: grilled hot dogs and chips from Llanfair Retirement Community, baked beans from Goodies BBQ and cookies from our own College Hill LaRosa's--all free!

Live music was provided by three groups of College Hill residents. Tom and Missy Strothers entertained with their dulcimer skills. Then Dave Hawkins sang and played some of his famous music.

Finally, "Those Guys," a group who attended Aiken High School a few years back, played and sang some oldies and even got some folks dancing.
 

Several community organizations and businesses hosted information booths--including the newly revived College Hill Historical Society. St. Clare Church graciously opened their new gym for the public to see for the first time.

We were visited by the Cincinnati Police K9 unit, the Mounted Patrol and bicycle police.

Mayor Mark Mallory, Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell, and City Council members Cranley, Crowley, Monzel and Thomas came to enjoy the festivities, as did Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich.

The College Hill Block Party runs through Friday night. Wednesday was Big Band night including Cornhole, games and an ice cream social. Thursday is the ever popular 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, moved to the Recreation Center due to the hot conditions. Friday is Youth Night, with food and entertainment.

Article by Amy Finnegan.

On July 27, fifteen College Hill community residents made a little history of their own--they met at Twin Towers to resurrect the once-“happening” College Hill Historical Society.

This informal group, led by Amy Finnegan and Sarah Mann, included residents who have lived in College hill 40 and 50 years as well as newer residents. One homeowner just moved to College Hill two months ago and is already enraptured by the history of our neighborhood. We were also pleased to see a college student in attendance, proving that history isn’t just for the old-timers.

As we went around the room introducing ourselves, each attendee told a little bit about their house or about why they were interested in College Hill’s history. Soon the stories were flying: the longest- running post office was on Pasadena; there was a grocery store on Belmont; where exactly was the tollbooth for Belmont Avenue?; a quarry down Hamilton provided much of the stone for our houses.....

We also had to get down to business discussing the status of the organization, the archives at PNC bank, and ideas for future projects. We got organized enough to plan to host a booth at National Night Out, and many folks dropped by to peruse some interesting pictures, maps and other artifacts.

All are welcome to come to the next meeting on Wednesday, September 13, at 6:30pm at Twin Towers. Email the Society at collegehill history@yahoo.com to get on the contact list.

Article contributed by Sarah Mann.

College Hill resident Kasmira Oar is an avid gardener who recently started an online plant swap group on Yahoo Groups. The group's purpose is to facilitate plant and seed swapping among members in the Cincinnati area. Membership and participation are free. There is no commercial connection other than the ads Yahoo places on their pages.

Members of the group post messages that go to all members of the group listing plants and seeds they have and those they'd like to trade for. Group members then make their own arrangements for exchanging plant materials.

Get more information and/or join the group here.

How well do you know College Hill? Can you place this?

Your editor mixed up the dates of some upcoming performances by local talent Dave Hawkins in last week's issue. To atone, we're including here Dave's upcoming schedule.

• On Friday August 4 at 8:30pm, Dave is at the Southgate House Ballroom in Newport opening for the Lab Monkeys.
• On Saturday and Sunday August 5 & 6, Dave is at the Dublin Irish Festival, Dublin/Columbus, performing with Northside Theater celeb Bet Stewart's Intuition Theater on the Wendy's Wee Folk Stage. The festival is an all-day event both days.
• On Friday August 11 at 7:30pm, Dave Hawkins performs with Peg Buchanan at the Dilly Deli in Mariemont. Dave says that the food alone is worth the drive.
• On Monday August 14 at 7:00pm, Dave is at the Ronald McDonald House at Cincinnati Children's Hospital performing solo for kids and families dealing with more stress than kids and families should have to.

In September, Dave starts racking up the SkyMiles. He's in New York City for three days, then home to the Cincinnati area for the MidPoint Music Festival, then on to Nashville for the Americana Conference.

About 35 volunteers serve on the College Hill Forum's Quality of Life Team. Some have areas where they just pick up litter on a regular basis. Others are QOL reps. They take a street, build relationships, and send Dear Neighbor letters. They educate regarding litter, junk cars, deteriorating houses and all of the quality of life issues make a big difference in a neighborhood. We work closely with Litter Control and Buildings and Inspections as well as the Health Department.

The Quality of Life team will soon begin a volunteer project of painting, repairing, mowing, cutting weeds, etc. for some of our elderly homeowners whose property is not looking good and for working folks who are trying hard to be good homeowners but have limited resources. These good residents deserve the community's help.

We are also beginning a housing rehab program in the near future and will need volunteers for demolishing some structures as well as outside work.

If you think you might want to improve the quality of life in College Hill by working with these committed volunteers, contact Phyllis Schoenberger (513-542- 3498), who Chairs the Forum's Health & Safety Quality of Life Team.

Information provided by Phyllis Schoenberger.

It's Sweet Corn Season!

Cliff Dziech of Granpa's Garden Produce is one of the vendors offering fresh sweet corn at the College Hill Farm Market. After Cliff graduated from college, he returned to the Ruoff family farm in Colerain Township.

Cliff's locally grown produce also includes beets, green beans, zucchini, eggplant and peppers. This week Granpa Cliff is featuring just-picked sweet corn and four kinds of tomatoes: Supersonic, Better Boy, yellow and grape.

The College Hill Farm Market is open every Thursday from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at the corner of Hamilton & Llanfair.

Article provided by Diana Porter.

If you need a relaxing break from hectic city life, you can't do better than a Larry Avenue garden featured in June's College Hill Garden Tour. Inspired by Asian gardens, the homeowners created an American "fusion" of color and greenery with typical Asian staples such as rocks, fences, and carefully placed sculpture.

After putting an addition on their home, the owners experimented with green and white plants in the rear yard, eventually branching out to plants in a range of greens, burgundies, and every hue in between. Ten years later, the result is a restful and beautiful retreat.

A Japanese-style redwood fence provides a neutral backdrop for the symphony of foliage plants. Carefully placed artworks and furniture provide contrast with the plants, while a winding pine-chip path is restful on the eye and the feet. Do you enjoy greenery but miss a garden without flowers? Not to worry--these homeowners indulge their own love for flowers with more traditionally American flower gardens at the front and sides of the home, insuring them a garden for every mood and season.

Contributed by Gail Deibler Finke.

Don't forget the concert and talk by The High Strung at the College Hill Branch Library Saturday. This up- and-coming band is making a library tour of the country, and College Hill will be its only Cincinnati stop! They'll talk about making albums and videos, and they'll make up a song on the spot--as well as putting on a concert on the library lawn. So head over to the library at 6 pm, or stay after the day-long used book sale, and rock into the evening.

The North Hills Swim and Tennis Club members are enjoying their new water slide. Added at the end of July, the "G-Force" water slide features a full 350 degree turn, and is already a hit with members.

"It's my favorite thing at the pool!" says one College Hill youngster. The slide is not for children only, although it can be a tight squeeze for adults: It's rated for users up to 250 pounds.

Located on Daly Road opposite McEvoy Park, North Hills is the closest private swim club to College Hill, and is popular with neighborhood families.

If you're new to College Hill and looking for a pool, here are more nearby options:

• College Hill Pool: The only public pool in College Hill, the shallow pool at Town Hall is great for splashing, sitting and wading. Dug by residents in the 1940s, the pool is now operated by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. You can get a summer pass for less than $10 at the College Hill Recreation Center.
• North College Hill Pool: The closest municipal pool outside the neighborhood is located behind the North College Hill City Hall, off Galbraith Road. Non- residents can buy summer passes.
• Colonial Racquet Club: Located off Hamilton Avenue just north of the North College Hill line, Colonial has a pool as well as tennis and racquet ball courts. It is a private club.
• YMCA: The closest YMCAs are Clippard (on Poole Road, just west of the Colerain Avenue exit off Cross County) and Powel Crosley Jr. (on Winton Road, a few miles north of the Winton Road exit off Cross County).
• Aiken High School: You may have heard a rumor that Aiken has an indoor pool. The truth behind the rumor is that Aiken had a pool years ago, but it was not used and is now not usable. Sorry!

Article by Gail Finke.

Tom and Missy Strothers of College Hill recently returned from Kentucky Music Weekend in Louisville where they sponsored the Kentucky State Championship for mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. Aside from sponsoring the competition, Tom and Missy performed a 30-minute set. This was the 31st year for KM Weekend and the best yet with nearly 4,000 in attendance.

KM Weekend is sponsored by the Honorable Kentucky Colonels and organized by Nancy Barker of Bardstown, Kentucky. Tom and Missy have been working with Miss Nancy for several years to promote Kentucky Music Winter Weekend in January, Kentucky Music Week in June and Kentucky Music Weekend. This year’s featured performers were the incomparable Jean Ritchie and an outstanding contemporary bluegrass group named Spontaneous Combustion.

John Brewster and Mark Hood grew up next door to each other on Larry Avenue and have been friends since childhood. Both are up and coming musicians/singers around town. You may have heard them last year at the Rhythm Race after-party.

They usually rock a little harder than they will Saturday night at College Hill Coffee Co. Saturday's performance is a tribute to The Man in Black, the late, great Johnny Cash. The recent movie about his life inspired them to pay tribute to his contributions to our culture and his legacy of integrity and compassion. Just in their late 20's, John and Mark represent a new generation of musicians who will keep the legendary Cash memory alive.

They start playing at 7:30pm. Come early and grab a bite.

The College Hill Coffee Company was the site of some of the key scenes in the "Prom Prince" episode of the MTV program "Made" that aired earlier this week. As it happened, Coffee Company waitress Margaret O'Connor played an important role in transforming LaSalle sci-fi nerd and honor roll student Jordan Rolfes into the king of his high school prom.

If you want to see our very own Coffee Company on national TV, see reruns of this program on MTV on August 4th at 2:30pm, the 5th at 9:30am or the 6th at 7:30am. Or come to the "Prom Prince" party at the Coffee Company on August 11 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, at which the episode will be continually played.

Quality of Life Team member Cheryl Meadows was recognized recently in Enquirer writer Allen Howard's column as a "Good Neighbor."

Myra Pucci writes to tells us that she conducts "Pilates for Every Body" every Monday from 7:45pm to 8:45pm at the Recreation Center. Her class focuses on strengthening core musculature and improving flexibility, posture and lung capacity. The class's small size and supportive teaching environment makes this an ideal group for all body types, ages and fitness levels.

You can start any time; the cost is $5 per class. For more information, contact Myra (513-312-2997, myrapucci@yahoo.com).