College Hill Forum President Elizabeth Sherwood presented Phyllis Schoenberger with the annual Josh Weiser Award for Community Service at Tuesday's Forum meeting.

In her remarks, Elizabeth said, "If College Hill had a mayor, this year’s winner would be that mayor. Our winner this year does it all--no job is too big, too small or too dirty if it means making College Hill a better place. From picking up litter to demolishing a dilapidated garage to keeping tabs on the bad guys to making sure our kids get a better education to making sure that our community is clean and safe, Phyllis is active, involved, committed and passionate about College Hill.

"To list a few of her volunteer activities, she's a member of Citizens on Patrol and CPOP. She's involved in activities that support the kids and administrations of our local schools, working with principals and the LSDMCs. She's one of the three founders of the College Hill Gardeners. She's the driving force behind the Forum Quality of Life Committee. She's even an officer of the College Hill Business Association, though she doesn't own a business.

"By building one-on-one relationships, Phyllis probably knows more people in College Hill than anyone in our community. She is not just a volunteer--she is our best ambassador, an accomplished leader and the heart and soul of our community."

In accepting the award, Phyllis quipped, "The reason I'm a member of the Business Association is that I'm in everybody's business!"

Last Saturday, College Hill residents and friends tidied up the neighborhood. The College Hill Forum thanks all who volunteered at the event.

With a crisp fall day as background over 70 volunteers:

• Removed 150 bags of litter, 500 pounds of loose debris and 15 tires from the streets of College Hill,
• Planted 300 daffodil bulbs along the hill on Hamilton Avenue (watch for the flowers in the spring!),
• Carried out facade beautification in the business district with the Forum's Quality of Life team,
• Worked magic at the Banning/North Bend and Belmont/North Bend gardens with the College Hill Gardeners,
• Cleared away 200 feet of honeysuckle and debris that were blocking the sidewalk at the end of Hillcrest Road.

More cleaning fun is on the calendar for spring! Keep the happy thought of the 2007 Great American Clean-Up in mind as the chilly fall and winter winds howl.

Article contributed by Kathryn Kien.

The first storefront mural in the College Hill Business Association's Discover the Fantasy business art project will be unveiled on Saturday, November 11 at 2:00pm at 5838 Hamilton Avenue. This art project will fill vacant storefronts on Hamilton Avenue with murals depicting the kinds of businesses College Hill residents want to see in their neighborhood.

The first window depicts a fantasy ice cream shop painted by College Hill artist Katie St. Clair. Sponsored by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital College Hill Campus, the fantasy ice cream shop is the first of an anticipated six storefront art projects. The second project, at 5923 Hamilton Avenue will be supported and sponsored from Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

The Discover the Fantasy art project is part of a Discover the Avenue marketing strategy developed by The College Hill Business Association and the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation. The goal is to bring this stretch of Hamilton Avenue to life by putting art where it is hoped businesses will move in.

"Why sit around and dream?" asks Phyllis Schoenberger, CHBA Secretary and Arts Project Coordinator, "If we get creative, maybe that dream will become a reality."

The effort was inspired by a successful project in Seattle, Washington. The Columbia City neighborhood and the South East Seattle Arts Council painted a half block of vacant storefronts to depict what was wanted and needed in the community. The murals captured the imagination of a developer and several business owners. Within a year, all murals had to be removed because "real" businesses wanted to locate there.

First United Church of Christ on Glenview Avenue will be hosting the Second Annual Music Marathon Playing for Peace on November 5 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

Area music students and their families along with professional and amateur musicians will perform in a talent show format. Performers include the Fairview German Language School Choir and Band, Peraza's Music Workshop and the ABC trio. Join us and show your support of our young students as they share their musical talents and make the world a more beautiful place!

The concert is free to all, but a donation is requested. All proceeds benefit international peace efforts and disaster preparedness work of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent/Magen David Adom/Red Crystal organizations. Last year's concert raised over $3,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief.

For more information, contact Amy Weyand-Geise ( amyweyandgeise@cinci.rr.com, 513-317-2063).

The Recreation Center's Halloween Extravaganza 06 presents a plethora of attractions for would- be trick-or-treaters on Halloween from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Attractions include a haunted house, a s'mores fire pit, free food, games, a costume parade and a moon walk.

At the same time, Trunk n' Treat will have community members handing out candy from the trunks of their car in parking lot.

This Sunday October 29 at 3:00pm, meet at Collegevue and North Bend Roads (park on Collegevue) for a walk to the historic Gard Cemetery.

The College Hill Historical Society will be planning a future cleanup of Gard Cemetery, and in honor of Halloween, we are doing a "preview" walk. For more information email collegehillhistory@yahoo.com.

The Contemporary Dance Theater Presents Performance & Time Arts November 3 and 4 at 8:00pm in College Hill Town Hall. This performance consists of new works by Robert Denham, Tricia Gelmini, Jerry Judge, Carrie Rohman & Alessandra Lynch, Wonhee Shin, and F. Keith Wahle & Jodie Linver.

Performance & Time Arts is Cincinnati’s longest-running performance art series. It celebrates the time-based arts such as dance, performance, music and poetry and combinations and permutations thereof. Presented in Contemporary Dance Theater’s historic College Hill Town Hall Studio, PTA provides a forum for expression to artists working in experimental, time-based media, presenting mostly new work by talented, creative, original, accomplished and mostly local artists. PTA might be surprising, challenging, thought-provoking or (fill in the blank), but it always leaves the mainstream behind.

Admission: $12 (general), $8 (students & seniors). Call 513-591-1222 for reservations, driving directions, or other information.

Girl Scouts from four local troups kicked off the 2006-2007 year with a bang this week. More than two dozen Scouts and their families from the Airy Hills and Winton Hills areas gathered in the basement of St. Clare Church for a presentation by local entertainer and paper folder Jonathan Heart.

Mr. Heart, a past All About Kids Entertainer of the Year and Cincinnati Magazine Best of recipient, combines Japanese origami with entertaining and motivational speaking. He talked to the girls about creativity and gratitude, urging them to think about what they have to be thankful for every day, especially days when they are sad or depressed. At the conclusion of the evening, each girl received one of Mr. Heart's dynamic and original origami creations.

College Hill Girl Scouts plan various activities this year, including camping, service projects, a special study of Japan, and of course the famous cookie sale.

For information on Scouting call Janice Dovel at 513-542-2992. You can contact Jonathan Heart at 513-477-5259.

Contributed by Gail D. Finke.

First Baptist Church on Betts Avenue in West College Hill will be commemorating the first year anniversary of the ministry of pastor Charles L. King, Jr. and first lady Sister Angela P. King.

Celebration services will be held Thursday, November 2 at 7:00pm with special guest speaker the Reverend Thomas Ferrel of New Vision Church. The celebration continues on Friday, November 3 at 7:00pm with special guest speaker the Reverend Mark Flagg of Rose Chapel Baptist Church, on Sunday, November 5th at 10:45am with special guest speaker the Reverend Jeffery Smith of Floss Moore, Il, and at 4:00pm the same day with special guest speaker the Reverend Cecil Ferrel of St. Mark Baptist Church.

For information, phone 513-681-1011.

Hundreds of College Hill girls learned to dance with Nancy Brown Bauer, a pioneering Cincinnati ballet teacher who taught for decades at the Undercroft of Grace Episcopal Church and at Aiken High School. Now living at Twin Towers, Mrs. Bauer celebrated her 100th birthday on October 12.

A 1989 Cincinnati Enquirer Woman of the Year, Mrs. Bauer started to dance after a serious injury in her teens, and never looked back.

There's a nice article featuring College Hill Coffee Company owner Tina Stoeberl titled "College Hill Coffee Company--just like Cheers," written by Malinda Hartong in the Get Published section of Cincinnati.com.

How's your knowledge of College Hill? Do you know where this is?

Why cook at home when you can enjoy good food and good company at the First Friday Fish Fry at St. Clare Church from 5:00pm to 7:30pm on November 3? The menu includes traditional fried fish, delicious baked fish and deep-fried shrimp dinners with a variety of great sides at reasonable prices. To top off dinner, the Girl Scouts will be selling wonderful desserts. Don't miss out. Come and enjoy.

Article contributed by Pat Brennan, St. Clare "Fishin' Commission"

Bring your franken-friends and have a monster good time at the College Hill Coffee Company's "Spook- tacular" Halloween party on Friday, Shocktober 27 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Guests will enjoy special Boo-Brew coffee, pumpkin and trick-or-treat bag decorating contests, prizes and drawings, fun and games, and haunting music. Vote for the best server costume. Everybody named "Bob" will get an apple.

'Cause boys & ghouls just want to have fun!

The House of God Community Ministries on Marlow hosts Kids Night Out on October 28 from 9:00pm to midnight in an evening of fun, food, games and prizes. All are welcome.

The cost is $5 for kids 5 and up, $20 for a family of three or more children. Contact Pastor Anthony Hoskins at 513-542-3333 for more information.

Rob Thorp, General Manager of LaRosa's in College Hill, informs us that "As of October 30 our Dining Room will be closed for good. We had to make a very difficult decision to close the Dining Room or in a years time close for good. We went for the lesser of the two evils. Our delivery, pick-up and carry-out services will still be operating as normal and we look forward to seeing our friends at the counter."

The McAuley High School Fine Arts Department proudly presents its fall play, Break a Leg, by John O'Brien.

Performances are November 10 and 11 at 7:30pm and November 12 at 2:00pm, and are held in McAuley's theater. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens, and can be reserved by calling 513-681-1800 x 2276.

In the photo, juniors Monica Tenhover (left) and Julie Fledderjohn rehearse.

This Saturday's performance at the College Hill Coffee Company features a one-person show--and when it's Lynn Hermann, one is all you need. With just her voice and guitar, Lynn presents an evening of contemporary and classic folk music that's sometimes upbeat, sometimes moody, but always authentic, clever and real. She is a gifted writer and no less gifted a singer.

Lynn's on from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. There’s no charge, but tipping the performers is welcomed.