Last week's slushy weather rained out Light Up College Hill night. The rain date is Saturday, Dec. 22. Don't forget to set out those luminaria!

Thursday night was a thriller for Cincinnati as Team Lachey won Clash of the Choirs -- and $250,000 for Children's Hospital.

College Hill can be proud of singers Ellen Schnier and Shonda Fuller, members of the choir directed by pop singer (and former College Hill resident) Nick Lachey, beating Philadelphia's choir led by gospel icon Patti LaBelle.

Shonda, a nurse at University Hospital, lives in College Hill and went to the School for Creative and Performing Arts with Lachey. She is also a host of NXS, a music show on WBQC (channel 38).

Schneir now lives in North College Hill, but she grew up in College Hill and attended both St. Clare School and McAuley High School.

Team Lachey started Wednesday night, the last night of voting, with a jaw-dropper -- an a capella rendition of Flight of the Bumblebee that had the New York audience on its feet. Lachey said he had sung the song in high school -- which would be Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

It's no surprise that Lachey, whose band 98 Degrees sang in four-part harmony, would do well directing a choir. But as entertainment writer John Kieswetter says in his blog
a lot of credit also goes to Steve Zegree, a professor of jazz at Western Michigan University, who did all the arrangements in eight-party harmony and led the choir's 40 hours of rehearsals.

"If there is a Cincinnati concert -- and I believe there will be one -- Zegree should be there and honored too," Kieswetter wrote.

If there is a Cincinnati concert, you'll read about it here! Photo courtesy NBC.

This just in: Joan Burger from Cincinnati Children's Hospital writes to say. "Great news regarding Clash of the Choirs -- and Nick Lachey. The choir will be performing at Cincinnati Children's downtown soon.  I will keep you updated."

We'll let you know when we hear a date and time.

 

If you don't keep up with pop music, you may not know that singer Nick Lachey (pronounced "la SHAY") grew up in College Hill. He and his brother Drew attended Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Miami University, where they became half of the sensational boy band 98 Degrees.

Nick's parents and grandparents were all active members of College Hill Presbyterian Church, where Nick sang in the choir. Sam Stare, director of the CHPC Swim Ministry, says she taught him to swim. His grandmother still lives at Twin Towers.

Nick's entertainment career has included a reality television show on MTV with his then-wife Jessica Simpson, and he is currently a successful solo artist.

Fans of the Lachey brothers needn't worry that Nick is getting all the glory. Drew Lachey, who won Dancing with the Stars several seasons ago, will be here in January for the touring show, and will host Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, a 6-week series on ABC starting Jan. 7.

This and previous photo courtesy the Cincinnati Enquirer.

In more entertainment news WLW's Gary Burbank, one of Cincinnati's most beloved and original entertainers, signed off his daily radio program for the last time Friday. You can read tributes here.

That means the end for Gilbert Gnarley, Howlin' Blind Muddy Slim, Lars Peevey, Synonymous Bengal, and many of Burbank's characters -- but not Earl Pitts (pictured), who will continue to provide commentary from the "Redneck Nation."

Butler County declared Friday Gary Burbank and Gilbert Gnarley (G-N-A-R-L-E-Y) Day, which you can read here,   and Cincinnati Enquirer political cartoonist Jim Borgman contributed a tribute cartoon.

Powell Crosley, Jr., started WLW out of a room on the second floor of his College Hill home in 1922.

According to the City of Cincinnati Recreation Commission's Aquatics Plan, approved this fall, seven Cincinnati pools will close and 17 will be converted to spraygrounds.

College Hill Pool is one slated to become a sprayground -- a playground with water elements that spray, but that have no standing water. The neighborhood pools set to close are Avon, Inwood, West High, Krueck, Oskamp, Hoffman and Evanston.

The pool is located at College Hill Town Hall Park, and is a shallow pool that allows wading and water play, but no swimming. Cincinnati has had a difficult time funding and staffing pools for several years.

The College Hill Forum is not taking a position on the pool's conversion, but several Cincinnati neighborhoods with pools set to close contested the plan at a public hearing Tuesday.

To comment on the plan, or for more information, contact Karen Schoenig at the CRC by calling 352-4005 or email here.

Who knew that the Salvation Army Booth Residence, off Center Hill Drive on Townevista, was in College Hill?

Well it is -- and the seniors who live in the assisted living facility just got a $12 million upgrade. The City of Cincinnati contributed $750,000, according to Channel 9's story (see video here)

Mt. Healthy-based Megen Construction renovated the apartments one at a time during daytime hours so that the residents, many of whom have Alzheimer's Disease or other cognitive problems, didn't have to move out.

The Enquirer located the building just where your editor thought it was -- in Finneytown -- but the detailed story here explains how all the contractors managed the demanding job.

Above: Catherine Turner enjoys her new kitchen and bathroom. Photo by Michael E. Keating for the Enquirer.

The Aiken High Schools invite you to their first Community Day, Jan. 5.

The occasion is a double-header basketball game -- girls (against Taft) at noon and boys (against defending state champions Dayton Dunbar) at 4:30.

"We want as many College Hill residents and business owners to come to this game as possible," says Athletic Director Steven Rossi.

At least 50 grade school students will be present as special guests. Community Day will include door prizes, give-aways, and raffles.

For more information, or to donate a prize, call Steven Rossi at 207-0490.

Rachel Krabacher, a senior at McAuley High School, signed a letter of intent last week to play volleyball at the University of Dayton.

Rachel (pictured with her parents, Don and Bev Krabacher of Colerain Township), played volleyball for all four years at McAuley and set a school record for the most kills in a career.

Story and photo contributed by Kathy Dietrich, McAuley High School.

Life Line Screening will be at College Hill Presbyterian Church on January 9.

The company offers ultrasound screening for life-threatening problems: strokes, arterial disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The tests are non-invasive and are not painful. Because they are preventative (identifying future problems), they are generally not covered by medical insurance.

All three tests cost only $125, and an osteoporosis screening test is added free of charge. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-800-690-6495 to reserve a spot.

Lindsay Travis will play Mrs. Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the beautiful Carnegie Theater in Covington, KY, this weekend.

Lindsay's dad, Joe Goreman, says the actress and her husband are moving to New York City next year so she can pursue her stage career. Lindsay's mom, Kathleen, was one of the 10 Busken children who grew up in the house at the corner of Cedar and Saranac, recently purchased by St. Clare Church.

The show, by Jersey Productions, sold out last weekend. This may be your last chance to see Lindsay in Cincinnati before her big Broadway break! Get information and tickets here.

Due to the holidays there will be no eNewsletter next week. We at the College Hill eNewsletter look forward to 2008, and we hope you look forward to 52 weeks of reading about your neighbors and your neighborhood.

We wish those of you who are Christians a Merry Christmas; we hope our Jewish neighbors had a happy Hanukkah; we congratulate our Muslim neighbors on the end of another Ramadan fast; and if you celebrate another winter holiday (there is a great Kwanzaa celebration coming up December 28 with African drummer Charles Braddock at the College Hill library), we hope you enjoy it!

See you in 2008.