In the January "Best of Ohio" issue, Ohio Magazine recognized the Fantasy Ice Cream Shop mural on The Avenue as the "Best Way to Dress up a Wall."

The mural was created as part of a fantasy business public art project titled Discover the Avenue sponsored by the College Hill Business Association. CHBA's Arts Committee is commissioning storefront murals that depict the kinds of businesses that residents want to see in the neighborhood.

Linda Holterhoff and Robin Henderson of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful assisted with the project, and funding was provided by Children's Hospital.

Members of the CHBA Arts Committee are Linda Susman (Hamilton County School Employee's Credit Union); Joan Burger, (Children's Hospital College Hill Campus); Lisa Buck (College Hill Contemporary Dance Theater); Kate Weldishofer (Arts Revival in College Hill); Phyllis Schoenberger (CHBA Secretary) and our own College Hill artist, Katie St. Clair.

Ever thought about bringing ice cream back to College Hill? Stimulate your thinking by Googling the words
ice cream store franchise.

The College Hill Ministerium invites everyone to the annual community Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Sunday, January 14 at First United Church of Christ on Glenview Avenue.

The evening begins at 5:30 with a unity march from Llanfair Retirement Center to First UCC. Join the march, or come directly to the church at 6:00 pm for a program of dynamic music, talks and prayer led by area ministers and guest speakers. Refreshments will follow.

The celebration is an opportunity for people of all races and religions to come together to celebrate the memory of a great American and for members of local congregations to meet and better understand each other to foster a better neighborhood and world.

College Hill will participate in other MLK celebrations as well. The Cincinnati Mass Choir co-led by Dr. Catherine Roma and Rev. Todd O'Neal, which practices at the House of Joy, will sing at the Freedom Center on Monday, as will the College Hill Fundamental Academy choir.

Story contributed by Gail D. Finke.

The College Hill Branch Library has two events planned to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

• 2:30 pm Thursday, January 11: Get Crafty! Crafts for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All ages. Sponsored by Friends of the Public Library.
• 2:30 pm Monday, January 22: Movie Time celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. All ages.

For more information, call 513-369-6036.

LaBoiteaux Woods has announced the featured painter and photographer who will appear at the Cincinnati Wild! art show and celebration in March.

• Painter Mary Louise Holt will paint throughout the day at the Nature Center, and talk to aspiring artists about painting.
• Nature photographer Robert J. Miller will be there to talk to photographers about techniques and equipment.

Cincinnati Wild! will celebrate art and nature Saturday, March 10, from 2-5 pm at LaBoiteaux Woods.

Mary Jo Corrado will lead a children's art project. Pieces by children who have taken nature art classes at the center will be on display as will works by adults. Artists and photographers are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and cameras and be inspired by the festivities.

There is still time to enter your own works inspired by the beauty of nature. Entries are due March 2. For entry forms and information, call 513-542-2909 or click here..

Story contributed by Gail D. Finke.

Here is the latest from Andy Carter, Senior Engineer with the Department of Transportation and Engineering, about the upcoming Glenview construction work. This large project is in direct response to the concerns raised by College Hill residents through the Forum.

"Construction for the Glenview Avenue Project will begin on January 15th. The road will be closed to traffic on the 15th and will be closed for approximately 105 calendar days. Weather permitting, the road will likely reopen at the end of April. Between Tanglewood and Kirby we'll construct a pier wall, install guardrail and perform storm sewer repair. We'll resurface Glenview from Belmont to Kirby after all other work is complete. Please feel free to contact me (513-352-5272, andrew.carter@cincinnati-oh.gov) if you have any questions or concerns."

At December's College Hill Business Association meeting, Joan Burger of Children's Hospital Medical Center reported that all of Children’s psychiatric services are to be located at the College Hill campus site. That will bring 500 employees and many families looking for services to our community.

One local business is already seeing the impact of that move. Children’s is contracting with Six Acres B&B for accommodations for visiting families. Joan is providing an information rack at Children’s to direct families and visitors to shops and restaurants on the Avenue.

In news which may or may not be related, on January 2, Cincinnati Children's Hospital had 544 jobs posted on Yahoo's hotjobs site.

The College Hill Business Association meets next on January 16 at 8:00 am at the Twin Towers Gulden Center. Come and learn about plans to invigorate business in College Hill.

Strategy for Mothers, a 20-year-old ministry at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, is selling a cookbook compiled by past and present members. The cookbook contains 371 recipes, and costs 14 dollars. To buy one, stop by the front desk at the College Hill Presbyterian Church during business hours.

For 26 years, Strategy for Mothers has offered local moms a time to get together, learn about parenting and pray. Children are babysat so that their mothers can get the most from the classes and fellowship. Strategy for Mothers meets twice a month and also works on service projects. To join, or for information about dates and times, call Janet Dumford at 513-541-8281.

Responding to last issue's eNewsletter article about the new Kirby Road Trail, six hikers hiked Kirby Road Trail West on December 27.

Diana Porter reports that, "It was great fun and a beautiful trail. Jim Godby told many stories of building the trail, identified trees and showed us wildlife habitat. We discussed having a public opening when the East trail is done in June."

The Hilltop Press named College Hill resident Lois Smith one of eight "Neighbors Who Care" last week.

Ms. Smith works with disabled people for Jewish Vocation Services. Mark Walpole of West College Hill Neighborhood Services nominated her, saying, "I've seen her at the center, and you can see how she genuinely enjoys what she does and makes sure her clients are having fun."

Teachers from China will present "Ni Hao! Say Hello to China!" for grades 2-6 on January 19 at 2:30 pm at the College Hill branch library. Call 513-369-6036 to register.

The after-school program teaches kids about Chinese culture, including games, songs, folktales, dances and more with teachers from Cincinnati's Sister City, Liuzhou, China.

From an article by Allen Howard in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Schools of Choice, the CPS magnet school program, begins regular enrollment for 2007-08 on January 8.

All new students for any CPS magnet elementary school may apply (high school applications are handled under a different process). Parents apply in person at the school of their choice.

Some CPS magnet elementary schools are open to the whole city; most are assigned by quadrant.

• College Hill's quadrant Montessori school is Winton Montessori (Winton Place).
• Our elementary college prep school is Pleasant Hill Academy.
• Our Paideia school is Carthage Paideia.
• College Hill Fundamental Academy is also open to this quadrant.

For information on these or other schools, and on application hours, call the schools directly. For information on the CPS system and its schools, call 513-363-0020 or click here.

Gail D. Finke contributed this story.

Some phone numbers have changed at Cincinnati Police District 5.

• The emergency number remains 911, of course.
• The non-emergency number (the police general dispatch number) remains 513-765-1212.
• The District 5 Desk number has changed to 513-568-8500. This is the number you can use to contact any police officer, to receive information or to follow up on a problem. For CPOP or community issues, call this number and ask for Officer Katrina R. Neal.

Peaceful. Ancient, New. Janice Trytten Sunflower captures the expressive sounds of the Native American flute as she coaxes the vivid and the soulful from these timeless instruments. Beautiful to see and exciting to hear in this performance she calls "Visitor from the Plains." Janice will be at the College Hill Coffee Company and Casual Gourmet from 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm on January 6.