If you don't like the art, come for ice cream.

Discover the Avenue, a new art project for Hamilton Avenue, launches this Saturday -- and UDF will provide ice cream from a 1940s delivery truck!

Based on a successful project in Seattle, Discover the Avenue will fill six business windows with murals depicting the sorts of businesses College Hill residents would like to have. The mural at 5838 Hamilton Ave. will depict an ice cream shop.

The College Hill Business Association is sponsoring the project. The first window is sponsored by Cincinnati Children's College Hill Campus/Division of Psychiatry. Painter Katie St. Clair, who grew up in College Hill and is once again a resident, was commissioned for the piece.

The second project, at 5923 will be supported and sponsored by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. Stay tuned for details.

Unveiling is scheduled for 2 pm. Be there!

Reds pitcher and rock 'n roller Bronson Arroyo will kick off McAuley High School's new performing arts campaign.

Arroyo will perform with his band at the school's theater on December 3. The concert marks the beginning of The Future is Golden, a $3.2 million campaign to raise money to transform the theater into a state-of-the-art performing arts center. It will also be the start of an endowment for scholarships.

McAuley High School is a Catholic girls' school run by the Sisters of Mercy. An open house for prospective students will be held Nov. 19.

Bronson Arroyo joined the Reds in the 2006 season and is already a popular performer around Cincinnati. Only 900 tickets are available to the 3 pm show. Tickets are $20

For reservations call 681-1800, ext. 1120, or click here.

Friday's Sobriety Checkpoint at the intersection of Hamilton Ave. and North Bend Road was a joint effort.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol partnered with the Cincinnati Police Department, the College Hill Forum, and the College Hill Citizens on Patrol for the 11 pm - 3 am operation. The results:

Three Operatinge a Vehicle While Imparied arrests; .13 average Blood Alcohol Content (.08 is the limit in Ohio); 73 seatbelt citations; 9 other traffic citations; 7 other arrests; 5 warrants served; 267 cars through the checkpoint.

Capt. Dan Gerard of CPD acknowledged College Hill's support and specifically commended our Citizens on Patrol team for doing a fantastic job under adverse weather conditions. The OSHP Command Staff was pleased with the assistance received, and commented favorably on our neighborhood's support.

The College Hill Forum extends thanks to the men and women of the OSHP, the CPD, and our own Citizens on Patrol for this successful effort to reduce crime and increase safety in our neighborhood.

Story contributed by the College Hill Forum.

If you're glad the political ads are over, so is Aiken University High School Senior Crystal Hines. She met with other students and Enquirer reporter Krista Ramsey for a lunch featured in Sunday's Enquirer.

"I just want the candidates to be real and be honest and say what they stand for," she said.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Signs in yards throughout College Hill Tuesday reflected several hotly contested races and ballot issues.

Political signs help make a vibrant democracy. But after an election, political signs make a mess. Please remember to throw away your signs!

Aiken University High School is looking for students from the College Hill and Northside areas who love to read, write, do math, and explore science.

And the staff has good reason to look here: One hundred percent of current students with a GPA of 3.0 and above are from College Hill and Northside, most of them from College Hill. Of the top 5% of the Senior class, all but one are from College Hill.

This year, 42% of AU students are from College Hill and Northside. It's time for Cincinnati seventh graders to start choosing their high schools, and principal Virginia Rhodes invites College Hill students looking for a college prep program to look right here at home.

The ideal candidates, she says, are determined to work hard for a GPA that will win them college scholarships. "You don't have to be a straight A student, but you have to love to read and be willing to work."

Dr. Rhodes, like many of the staff, lives in College Hill and is excited to work with local students. Students interested in Aiken University High School can check it out at Thursday's Schools of Choice Fair, 4-7:30 pm at Xavier University's Cintas Center.

Story contributed by Virginia Rhodes.

College Hill's newest business invites you to its grand opening Saturday.

Cynthia Malcom is moving her Cheviot business, Hand Candy Mind and Body Escape, to Six Acres Bed and Breakfast (5350 Hamilton Ave.). From 12-6 pm, she'll be offering free chair massages, hand scrubs, hot cider, and pie.

Six Acres will also offer a oneñtime special of a oneñhour massage with a one-night stay for $149 Certificates will be good for six months after the grand opening, and Cynthia says they make great gifts.

Hand Candy offers massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, waxing, full nail sets, and fillñins. While Cynthia is happy to work with guests and the bed and breakfast, she welcomes anyone who wants pampering.

For more information click here.

Presbyterians from three area churches converged on College Hill last month to help with yard work for elderly residents.

The project was one of six local projects sponsored by the Presbytery's Mission Committee for PresbyMADE (Presbyterian Make a Difference Everywhere) Day.

Twenty people ages seven to 69, including eight from Milford and one from Northside, worked at seven College Hill yards. Then they tackled the yards at the Christ's Community in College Hill headquarters on Salvia Ave., a house on the CHPC grounds, and two other neighborhood houses CHPC uses for visiting missionaries and for emergency housing.

Based on an article by Barry Stare in the College Hill Presbyterian Church newsletter.

Our neighbors in North College Hill let us know that the North College Hill Senior Center, a Meals on Wheels Provider, is looking for volunteer drivers.

Meals are delivered between 11 am - 1 pm Monday- Friday from the Center (1586 Goodman Ave.). Each volunteer route takes about an hour to complete.

Routes are not limited to North College Hill -- currently 25 College Hill homes are on the schedule, and in 2006 the Center served nearly 6,000 meals to College Hill residents.

To volunteer, call the Meals Coordinator Brandy May at 521 -3462. And if you have neighbors who may be eligible for Meals on Wheels service, call the same number. They're ready to help.

Why wait for the Great American Smokeout? If you want to quit smoking next week, Grace Episcopal Church is ready to help you start Sunday.

The church's Health and Wellness ministry is sponsoring Smokeless Sunday. Stop by the church (at the corner of Hamilton and Belmont Avenues) or call Florence Poyer at 522 -9788 for kits, encouragement, and coupons.

On Oct. 29 St. Clare Church welcomed its biggest crowd ever to An Evening of Excellence, its annual fundraising dinner.

A capacity crowd of more than 300 packed the new Parish Center, which was transformed into a Hollywood gala for An Evening with the Stars.

Guests enjoyed a catered dinner by Sturkey's, bid on silent auction items, and eagerly awaited the grand prize in the Reverse Raffle: a grandfather clock donated by Schwartz Jewelers.

A live band, celebrity lookalikes, and a Tina Turner impression by a talented Roger Bacon high school senior were among the highlights. Channel 9 reporter and comedian Michael Flannery, who grew up in College Hill and attended St. Clare School, was the evening's MC.

St. Clare's Parish Center is available for sports and events. For information, click here.

Chris Haubner, a fixture at coffeehouses around the area, will perform at the College Hill Coffee Co. and Casual Gourmet this Saturday. Chris hails from this area and after traveling around the country during 2005, he's back home to entertain local fans. His distinctive guitar style and memorable original songs mean an evening of acoustic Americana music at its best! The concert begins at 7:30 and ends at 9:30 pm.

This just in -- The Divas of Gospel will be at The Rock Cafe tonight!

Join radio host, evangelist, and singer P. Ann Everson Price and friends Friday night to celebrate P.Ann’s move to MOJO 100.3. Fellow Divas of Gospel Karen Woods, Terri Anderson, Wilma Jackson, and others will be at The Rock (5909 Hamilton Ave.) from 6-10 pm.

Khrys Styles will host, playwrite Terri Bea will talk, Elder P will do comedy, and there will be CD giveaways. Catering by A Taste of Julia’s Home Style Cooking. There is a $5 cover charge.

Story contributed by Scott Engle