The Feast of Love, an ecumenical ministry run through the College Hill Presbyterian Church, invites everyone to a free Thanksgiving dinner 1:30 4:30, Thanksgiving Day.

If you need transportation, or if you need to have a meal brought to you (or if you know someone else in need) call Kathy at 242-9574.

Have dinner plans? The Feast of Love can still use drivers for Meals on Wheels (11:30 am) and to deliver flowers (2 pm). Only a little effort will be a great help to neighbors! Call CHPC at 541-5675, ext. 167, to help out.

The Feast of Love is already planning for Christmas dinner! Keep checking here for more information.

Hometown Hero winner Midge Bateman.

Judging by the boxes of awards College Hill brought back from Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s annual award ceremony, our neighborhood is the fairest of them all.

College Hill residents Betty Schuermann and Beth McLean were each awarded a coveted Five Star Volunteer awards for their many hours of community service. Marty Kamrani, Faculty Advisor to the Aiken Student Leadership Team, presented Midge Bateman with the Pam Gibson Hometown Hero Award for years of exemplary work at Aiken.

Betty Schuermann and presenters.

Beth McLean and Karen Hartman accepted a first place award in the Business District/Gateway Project category, on behalf of the CHBA, the Forum, CHCURC, and the College Hill Gardeners. Kevin Corcoran and Mary Cinquina accepted the second place Mini Project award (which recognizes an activity or one-day event) for the Gardeners' traffic island project. Diane Bare accepted a Second Place award for Vacant Lot Beautification, on behalf of the Gardeners’ Farm Market team coordinated by Diana Porter. Phyllis Schoenberger also accepted a second place On- going Project award for the Forum's Quality of Life Team.

Betty Schuermann accepted a Third Place Large Project award for the Gardeners, on behalf of the Garden Tour. The Forum received and Honorable Mention in the same category, for the Rhythm Race.

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s awards were presented at Just Desserts, a reception held at H.J. Benken Florist and Greenhouse.

Becky Ewalt Tossey contributed to this story, and provided the photographs.

Phyllis Slusher alerts passing motorists.

How bad does College Hill want an ice cream parlor?

Bad enough for 150 rugged souls to brave 40 degree, windy, damp, bone chilling weather to stand in line for a cup of ice cream!

On Nov. 11, United Dairy Farmers brought a 1940s ice cream truck to 5838 Hamilton Avenue (next to LaRosas) for the opening of the first Discover the Avenue fantasy art mural. Part of a new project initiated by the College Hill Business Association and designed to depict the sorts of businesses residents want in the neighborhood, the mural covers the windows of a vacant storefront with scenes from an ice cream parlor.

The CHBA was fortunate to find artist Katie St. Claire, a recent Art Academy of Cincinnati graduate who lives in College Hill, to do the first mural. Katie’s painting style was perfect for the project. She was valedictorian of her Art Academy class, spent the summer studying in Europe, and returned to College Hill just in time for the mural.

Our sincere thanks go to Linda Holterhoff of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and to Brad Lindner of United Dairy Farmers, for providing the truck and the much sought-after ice cream. Special thanks goes to Children’s Hospital’s College Hill Campus for providing the funding for this mural.

Story and photos contributed by Phyllis Schoenberger.

Six Acres, the city’s best bed and breakfast!

Cincinnati Magazine gave College Hill two “best of” citations this month.

No, it isn’t the annual Best Of issue: these citations are for “favorite things.” Out of 101 Favorite Things in the city, the magazine staff chose Just Dance, a class offered at Town Hall by the Contemporary Dance Theater, as Best Dance Class, and Six Acres Bed and Breakfast on Hamilton Avenue as Best B&B!

Isn’t it time you checked out these favorites? And speaking of favorites... what things from College Hill would you put on your “best of” list? Write the eNews and let us know!

Just when we started to wonder what had happened to Linden Park, two huge signs went up in the old Shuller’s lot. Things really are moving along.

Next to arrive, according to College Hill Director of Development Marty Weldishofer, will be a trailer the developers will use for meetings with prospective buyers. Keep an eye out for it!

CHCURC and ARCH have teamed up with St. Clare Church for a benefit concert featuring Russian pianist Natalia Lepeshkina.

Ms. Lepeshkina, whose son grew up in College Hill, will perform on the church’s grand piano. Formerly with the Moscow State Philharmony, she is a concert pianist who has entertained audiences around the world.

Opening for Ms. Lepshkina will be Billy and Brandon Phillips, young College Hill residents who study at the College Conservatory of Music. Billy (11) and Brandon (9) come by their talent naturally -- their grandfather, who also lives in College Hill, is a professional pianist.

The concert is free, but all donations will go to CHCURC (for neighborhood redevelopment projects) and ARCH (for neighborhood arts programs). A “Meet the Artists” reception will follow the performance.

For information call Kate at 681-4210.

Next time you drive down The Avenue, check out the new look at LaRosa’s!

Owner/operator Bruce Soldano is working toward his 2010 concept for the restaurant, which includes new paint, new awnings, and new lighting in the parking area. Part of the funding is coming from the new College Hill Building Facade program.

And what’s happening with the former dining area? College Hill Shoe Repair is expanding to that space. Bruce plans to add a new front door there, so look for that next.

Steve is early for the party.

The College Hill Library invites local teens and their parents to a special after-hours party Friday, Dec. 8.

It’ll be just you and the books -- nobody to disturb the fun! Teens, bring your parents. Parents, bring your teens. Enjoy food, games, contests, prizes, and Dance Dance Revolution.

Rumor has it that family competitions will be in store, so come together for a special evening. Party hours 6 - 8:30 pm. Ages 12 and up only!

Residents and drivers along North Bend Road will be glad to know that the sidewalk project is finished.

According to the DOTE, the sidewalks between Hamilton Ave. and Collegevue Place on the north side of North Bend Road were replaced after a new 24-in. water main was installed. The Department of Urban Forestry plans to replace the trees next year.

Likewise, the Metropolitan Sewer District informs us that the Aster Place Sewer Replacement project, at $57,800 project replacing 16 ft. of deteriorated combined sewer with new “gravity sewer and appurtenances” was finished in late October.

Both projects are great improvements to the neighborhood, and especially to Aster Place and North Bend Road.

The College Hill Forum and the City of Cincinnati contributed to this story.

Pleasant Hill Academy is looking for volunteers to work at its student store.

The store will be open Dec. 13-15, and will allow students to buy gift items for their families with credits earned all year for good behavior. The school is also looking for donations of the gift items, the sort typically sold at “secret Santa” booths.

Pleasant Hill is a CPS elementary school for Kindergarten through grade 8 located on North Bend Road. To volunteer or donate, call Tia Yisrael at 363-4342.

Dave Hawkins at the Coffee Co.! Saturday night's concert features College Hill's own folk/rock bard, Dave Hawkins, with special guest "Lost Jim" Ohlschmidt. Celebrate the holiday weekend with a night out in the neighborhood. Concert 7 - 9 pm. (??)

The Bronson Arroyo Concert! There are still seats left for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s Dec. 3 concert at McAuley High School. Tickets for the 3 pm concert are $20 For information or tickets, call 681-1800, ext. 1120.

Your Luminaria! Light Up College Hill night is just around the corner! You can make your own luminaria, or order kits from the College Hill Gardeners. While you’re at it, why not be a street captain and collect orders for your block?

The Christmas Bazaar! The annual Recreaction Center Christmas Bazaar will be held Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 am - 3 pm. You can buy crafts, food, and seasonal decorations; pick up your luminaria kits (you have ordered them, right?), and even visit with Santa. For information call 591-3555.