There will be fun for the whole family at the third annual College Hill 5K Rhythm Race Friday evening, August 18th at Pleasant Hill Academy on North Bend Road, presented by the College Hill Forum.

Hundreds of enthusiasts will run or walk through the historic tree-lined streets of College Hill in the 5K race. Kids will have their own fun run. After the races, they will be joined by hundreds of others for food, music and activities at the post-race Celebration Party . All proceeds go to community and economic development in College Hill.

Registration for the 5K race is at 6:00pm. The $25 day-of-race registration includes a race t-shirt and admission to the post-race Celebration Party. The 5K Race begins at 7:00pm with a new 2006 course that travels over North Bend, Hamilton, Wittekind, Devonwood, Teakwood, Hollywood, Loiswood, Oak Knoll and Edwood. This year’s celebrity race-starter is College Hill’s own Cheryl Meadows, recently named a “Good Neighbor” by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The free Run Spot Run Reading and Running Fun for Kids fun run for children 2 to 12 years of age starts at 6:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. Registration for the fun run is at 6:00pm.

The post-5K Celebration Party for the community begins at 7:00 pm. Tickets to the post-5K Celebration Party are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 17. Children 5 and under are free.

Live music will be provided by Soul Progression, Cincinnati’s premier funk/R&B/soul dance band. Also on the stage as emcee is College Hill’s own steel drum diva, Tracy Wilson.

Enjoy food from Bacall's, Pit to Plate Barbecue, LaRosa's, JTM, MaMe and Bruegger's Bagels.

For the kids, the “girlsCAN” organization will be on hand to help with games and reading and writing and crafting activities for kids, plus our own Ms. Arnice, Pleasant Hill Librarian, will entertain children with her famous storytelling sessions. Kids will help make a quilt and/or have their faces painted, too.

Aiken University High School seniors are pairing up with other seniors to support and prod each other to finish the year. Their motto: "77 in, 77 out."

Aiken is sprucing up! Both Aiken high schools teamed up to re-landscape the front areas of the campus so that arriving visitors, parents, and students will be greeted with an attractive, green welcome as the fall term begins.

Local College Hill neighborhood resources were tapped as Beth McLean of the College Hill Gardeners helped brainstorm for ideas and local landscaper Mark Scheurmann completed the new installation and trim- up.

Aiken University High School has a new Principal, Virginia Rhodes. Ms. Rhodes, who brings many years of experience to the campus, is a College Hill resident, former school board member and teacher who has made a commitment to build a strong college prep program.

Students must wear uniforms from the first day of school, and teachers will work in teams to raise student academic performance. Improved attendance is a key concern that will be addressed by the new Attendance Center.

This month's issue of Principles & Practices, a new enewsletter from the Community Building Institute at Xavier University, features Northside.

This issue looks at the Northside's efforts to create a land-use plan that celebrates the community’s strengths and provides a long-range vision for its future. Northside used asset-based community planning principles to take stock of itself. In the process, residents came up with priorities and a vision that everyone in this diverse neighborhood could share.

Six McAuley High School students participated in a two-day leadership workshop in Louisville.

College Hill Coverlets make great gifts for former residents of College Hill, or great keepsakes for current residents.

You can get your coverlets from Mary Bodmer at any College Hill Forum Meeting, or by calling her at 513-541-1631. $45 is the cost.

Everyone appreciates a sweet ear of corn, or a juicy tomato, or a crisp cucumber, or tangy rhubarb, or plump blackberries, or delicate squash. You can get some for your family this week at the Farm Market of College Hill on Thursday between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

This effort to bring fresh, locally grown produce to your neighborhood needs your support to remain a source of great nutrition and community exchange. An all-volunteer management team gives their time to recruit, retain and staff the market.

... and peppers, onions, cabbage, melons, greens, green beans.

... and honey and bread!

From the Farm Market Team and Farmers Cliff, Linda, Jennifer, Al and Phyllis, Debbie and Bryan.

Think you know College Hill? Do you know where these interesting figures are to be found?

Congressman Steve Chabot says he has never given so many medals before. He presented 13 medals to College Hill resident Ena Hillery Fletcher to replace the ones earned by her late father, Tuskegee Airman Sgt. Harold Hillery, which were destroyed in a flood.

Have you ever been told that you look like a celebrity? This could be your chance to live the dream.

St. Clare Church's "Evening for Excellence" fundraiser, to be held in October, is looking for Celebrity "Look-A- Likes." The church wants star look-a-likes to perform and/or have their photos taken with fundraiser attendees. They are looking for Elvis, Judy Garland, Austin Powers, Marilyn Monroe, The Blues Brothers... just to name a few. They need three or four acts to perform one song on stage. The other "celebrities" will mingle with the crowd through the event on October 28th, from 6:30 to 10:30pm.

Services must be donated, but St. Clare will provide Look-A-Likes with photos & video footage of their performances.

Auditions are August 26th from 10:00am to 5:00pm in the St. Clare Church basement. To schedule a time contact Ken Straub (513-702-5961, kstraub@theev ening.org).

Anna and Milovan Beljin make their first appearance at the College Hill Coffee Company Friday at 7:30pm.

Anna and Milovan have played together at the Queen City Balladeers concerts and other local festivals and concerts and a variety of other venues. It’s an evening of mellow entertainment and talent with acoustic guitar and vocal pop/folk music.

Amy Finnegan is co-hosting "Pirate Summer Wine- Tasting" party at People Working Cooperatively on Friday, August 25.