| The College Hill eNewsletter |
| Telling
the story of "A Diverse and Neighborly
Community." |
July 18,
2008
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Dear Reader,
Is it hot or is it just us?
No
matter, the heat hasn't stopped many College Hillians from
getting out and improving their homes with paint or beautiful
flower gardens. Send us pictures of folks improving
their properties and we'll give 'em credit in the eNewsletter.
Gail Finke & Ken Lyon, co-editors
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College Hill Citizens on Patrol is #1
Of Cincinnati's 52
neighborhoods, 23 have active Citizens on
Patrol groups. College Hill is not the oldest, but is
certainly the most active--walking more than 900 hours in the
first half of 2008 alone.
The next most
active group is Westwood's, with slightly more than 600 hours,
followed by Mt. Airy, Madisonville, and the Lunken Airport
groups, with about 500 hours.
C.O.P. are the "eyes and
ears" of the police department, patrolling our communities and
providing information that the police might not otherwise
receive. In eight and a half years, the College Hill
group has provided more than 13,500 patrol hours and more
than 22,000 total volunteer hours counting community
meetings, training, and the "court watch" program--tops
in the city, by far.
College Hill C.O.P. has been
instrumental in starting groups in Mt. Airy, Spring Grove
Village, North Avondale, Clifton, within the city, and in
North College Hill and Forest Park to the north. They
share their information with other communities and
organizations as well, through contacts with NCH, Mt.
Healthy, Colerain and Springfield Townships, Hamilton County,
and recently the FBI.
Citizens on Patrol would like to
have you join them. Get an application by coming to a College
Hill Forum meeting (the next one is July 22 at 7 pm in the
College Hill Recreation Center) or by contacting Officer Terri
Windeler at(513-352-3533, Terri.Windeler@cincinnati-oh.gov).
Story provided by Jim
Bodmer. |
Firelytes Perform for Fountain Square Rally
 The Firelytes Steel Drum Band, led by
neighborhood resident Tracy Wilson, warmed up for Barack Obama
on Fountain Square this week. "The Firelytes Steel Drum Band
got the crowd PUMPED UP and on their feet!" says
Tracy. The presidential candidate wasn't on the square
in person--the Fountain Square Jumbotron played his address to
the NAACP Convention. Firelytes peforms an "energetic
'groove-explosion' of cross-cultural music" drawing from
Calypso, Latin, R&B, pop, classical, jazz, and just about
any other influence. They are available for parties and
events, and bring their own limbo bar for dancing! For
information or booking, call (513) 541-1697 or email firelytes.steeldrumband@fuse.net. Thanks to Tracy Wilson for this
story. |
 Farm Market Report: New Vendor, Performer
Dead Sea Scrolls, purveyor of all-natural
soaps, lotions, and oils, joined the College Hill Farm
Market last week.
In food news, the tomatoes are
beginning to turn red, the green beans are plentiful, and
Father George's honey is back.
This week's market
featured Lady J. Born and
Raised in Cincinnati, Janine Nash (aka Lady J) is a lyricist,
poet, and singer whose vocals blend soulful R&B and Jazz
with thought-provoking, inspirational spoken word. She's a
favorite at the College Hill Coffee Co.
Story provided by Dee
Pittinger. |
| You Might be from College Hill If....
Inspired by last week's list of "You Might Be
From College If ..." list, Claire Pancero sent us this list of
"things College Hill people know."
- You remember Heller's Bakery and the wonderful
butterscotch cookies.
- You sat for over an hour after school at Visconti's soda
fountain where Ralph had mixed your favorite phosphate.
- You waited at the Central Trust Bank for the jitney to
take you to North College Hill.
- You were one of the Girl Scout Troops that sang
Christmas carols over the loudspeaker at the Central Trust
Bank.
- You remember when St. Clare's basement church was
finally topped with a real church building.
- You know that streetcar rails are buried under Hamilton
Avenue.
- Stang's Deli was the best place to buy lunch meat.
- Whitie's was the place to buy toys and greeting cards.
- Twin Towers was a peaceful place on the hill and no way
connected to 9/11.
- When chlorine was put into the pool at Town Hall all the
kids sat on the edges and kicked the water.
- Your school uniform was cleaned at Desh cleaners, and
your school shoes came from Ludwig's.
Says Claire,
"These are a few of my favorite things: College Hill was self
contained, and we did not lock our doors."
Send us your
list here.
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| How to Pay for Retirement Living
 If
you're wondering how you or a relative can pay for life in a
retirement community, a free seminar at Llanfair will help you
out.
Llanfair Retirement
Community will hold a program about the costs of
retirement living on July 23 at 11 am. It will cover typical
costs, the differences in cost between living in a retirement
community and buying a condominium, what different sorts of
retirement communities offer, and similar
topics.
Seniors, children of seniors, clergy,
attorneys, financial advisors, and all others interested in or
involved in a retirement living decision are encouraged to
attend. Although Llanfair representatives will offer
information about the community, people interested in other
communities or just beginning to investigate their options are
welcome.
A complimentary lunch will be provided. To
register, call Kimberly at
513-591-4567 by July 22nd.
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| How Aiken Improved Graduation Rate
Together, all CPS high schools have boosted
their graduation rate by 26% in the last year.
State
grant money at the two Aiken high schools allowed them to hire
a staff person to work with at-risk students, particularly
freshmen, to help them get back on track. Other programs at
Aiken have also made a difference, the Enquirer reported last
week.
Principal Eric Thomas pointed to a team of
faculty who works with at-risk students, calling home when a
student misses class, ensuring that homework gets done, and
assigning tutors to keep students from falling
behind.
Freshmen attend graduation, Thomas said, to see
their peers graduate and give them a concrete goal. Older
students mentor younger students. And a unique program to help
young men learn from other men is pulling in help from around
the city--see the article
below.
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100 Men Mentoring at Aiken College & Career
A new mentoring program at Aiken College
& Career High School is aimed at helping young men grow to
be good men.
The 100 Men Strong Mentoring Program is
designed to bring successful men into the lives of struggling
young men to give them "a constructive vision of who and what
they can become." Monthly, four-hour activities give men and
youth a chance to interact in a positive way outside the
classroom.
The program begins in August, and mentors
can sign up now. Here are the first four months of
activities:
- Aug. 28: Welcome Bar-B-Q (meet students and their
parents at Aiken).
- Sept. 14: See the Bengals vs. the Titans at Paul Brown
Stadium.
- Oct. 17: Night of Bowling.
- (date TBA): Attend a Cleveland Cavaliers
Game.
All activities are free for mentors. If you're
interested in helping change a young man's life, call Paul
McMillan at 513-363-6760 or 513-487-0551, or email mcmillanpa@yahoo.com.
Story provided by Paul
McMillan. |
Celebrities with College Hill Roots
Even the eNewsletter runs a little
celebrity feature now and again!
 Singer Nick Lachey, who
grew up in College Hill, is back on network television with a
new reality show. " High School Musical:
Get in the Picture" debuts Sunday on ABC at 8 pm. High
School students from around the country will compete to win a
contract with ABC, a recording contract with Walt Disney
Records, and a starring role in a music video to run during
the end credits of the third "High School Musical" movie.
Lachey is also appearing in Cincinnati Bell television
commericals shot downtown.  A new biography of
Doris Kappelhoff, known to most as Doris Day, hit the shelves
this spring. The Enquirer celebrated with a
long interview with
author David Kaufman and a page of
interviews with people who knew her as a child--including
George Pelzel, 86, a neighbor from her childhood when she
lived on Elkton Place and attended College Hill School. (Do
you know what house she lived in? If so, email us at enewsletter@collegehillohio.org.) Doris
has retired from entertainment to concentrate on her passion,
animal welfare, but remains America's top female box office
star of all time.
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| Northside Gateway--Plus Skate Park?
 The intersection of Virginia,
Colerain, and West Fork Road near the Northside entrance ramp
to I-74 will be revamped into a "Gateway to Northside,"
Channel 9 reported
recently.
Northside Community
Council President Tim Jeckering confirmed that the gateway
project will reconfigure the entrance to Northside (and thus
to College Hill) from the I-74 exit. It will be built in three
phases and will straighten the zigzag route from the highway
to Hamilton Avenue. He expects the first phase to begin this
year.
Jeckering also updated your editors on a project
mentioned in the Channel 9 story, but only vaguely described.
The neighborhood is working on a proposal for a new mixed-use
development on the land left vacant for decades for what was
to have been a "Colerain Connector" bypassing Northside. So
far the development would include housing, commercial
development, and a skate park that is being designed by area
teens and professional skate park designers who live in the
neighborhood.
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Forum Meeting to Feature Personal Safety and Education
Jim Bodmer writes to say, "At
the next College Hill
Forum meeting, (Tuesday 22 July, 7:00 pm, at the College
Hill Recreation Center), Officer Governor Williams of the
Cincinnati Police Department will be presenting a short
program on "Personal Safety." Bring you friends and
neighbors and learn how you can help protect yourself whether
you are at the mall, on the street, or wherever, and whether
you are 18 years old or 80 years old." Phyllis Slusher
tells us that, at the same meeting, the Forum's Education
Committee and Dorothy Battle of UC will introduce "Closing the
Achievement Gap" forums for College Hill residents. Says
Phyllis, "The Achievement Gap forums invite you, your
neighbors, other parents, teachers at any school, and
all concerned residents to participate in open, frank,
moderated discussions about the roles of poverty, parental
involvement, spending levels, expectations and accountability
in student achievement--and different approaches to addressing
student performance--or lack thereof.
Should be
an interesting meeting! |
| McAuley Wins Foreign Study Award
 This spring McAuley High
School was named 2008 School of the Year by the EF
(Education First) Foundation for Foreign Study.
The EF
Foundation recognized McAuley with a plaque that states: "Your
faculty, staff, and student body have excelled in fostering
mutual and lifelong appreciation between people from different
cultures." Principal Cheryl Sucher and Guidance Counselor
Becky Crowe accepted the honor on behalf the school.
Pictured are Cathy Bruckert, Sherrie Bjurstrom and
Clyde D. Brown of the EF Foundation; Cheryl Sucher and Becky
Crowe of McAuley.
Story provided by McAuley High
School. |
| Help Make Mosaic at the Community Block Party
This year's College Hill Community Block Party
will leave a permanent legacy of the neighborhood: a mosaic
created by the community over the four-night festival the
first week of August. (See details of events, times &
dates in the Calendar.)
Volunteers Nora Howell and
Natalie Purcell have created a design for a four- to six-panel
mosaic that will be assembled from pieces of tile, dishes and
other ceramics, stones, and shells each evening. After
the Block Party it will hang in the College Hill Presbyterian
Church atrium, and will eventually travel to College Hill
businesses for display.
Stop by the mosaic assembly
area and help create a piece of history. Everyone ages
six and up can participate.
Do you have old dishes,
flat ceramics (such as lamps and tiles), or shells gathering
dust? The mosaic project organizers will take them off your
hands! Drop them off at the CHPC front desk through July
27.
Thanks to Chris
Miller for this story. |
End Zone Club Comes to College Hill to Serve Youth
 The End Zone Club is an educational
program that assists our youth with academics, college
acceptance, character development, diversity training, job
training, job readiness and the Road to Higher
Education. The End Zone Club offers a program in
College Hill on Wednesdays from 2:30 PM until 4 PM. This
program is called Hip Hop
Meets Old School. This program is offered at the Rock
Café, 5909 Hamilton Avenue. This program is FREE
and is produced in cooperation with Christ's Community in
College Hill. Check the End Zone Club
website, then call 513-751-2797 or email endzoneclub2@aol.com for more information.
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Coming Events in College Hill
Here is a selection of upcoming events from the College Hill
Calendar. Check the calendar for uptodate
information. If you know of an event that isn't yet on
the Calendar, click the link below & let us know about
it!
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2008.
Community
Calendar |
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Submit an Event |
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| July |
| 15 |
Llanfair Retirement Community:
Groundbreaking. The groundbreaking for the new
chapel and wellness center is invitation- only, but
neighbors will want to look on! 2:30
pm.
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| 18 |
Jeff Blevins and Sally McSpadden Jeff Blevins is a
contemporary folk musician whose baritone voice and
acoustic rhythms provide the backbone for his creative
and energetic storytelling. Originally from Columbus
Ohio, Jeff spent a great deal of his adult life on an
Indian Reservation in Oregon teaching students from the
Warm Springs tribe. It was on this reservation that Jeff
learned traditional storytelling and incorporated this
style into his music. On stage, Jeff quickly develops a
relationship with his audience and draws them into his
stories of life and the pursuit of understanding. Jeff
is accompanied by local musician Sally McSpadden adding
vocal harmonies and various instruments to an already
sure to please show.
 College Hill Branch
Library: Community Cookout. Come to this
popular annual cookout for free hot dogs, games, and fun
for all. No fee; noon - 3
pm.
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| 19 |
Davis &
Leigh is the duo of Mark Davis (vocals and guitar) and
Steve Leigh (vocals, bass, and guitar). They
perform an entertaining, acoustic mix of songs both old
and newer, as well as a few original tunes. Mark has
been gigging in various incarnations for the past twenty
years with such groups as The Pruett-Davis Group. The
Somebody Club and currently with 99iQ, a band that both
Mark and Steve play with. Steve has been playing
in the Cincinnati area since the '70s in such bands as
Bluestone Ivory and Stage Door Johnny. His current
bands are Toast and 99iQ (with Mark and a few refugees
from Toast.)
College Hill Branch Library: Meet the UC
Bearcat. Children 12 and under are invited to meet the
University of Cincinnati's famous mascot. A Readquest
event. No charge; 1 pm.
Harry S. Johnson Masonic Lodge (1650 North
Bend Road): Annual Corn Roast. The Masonic Lodge
invites all College Hill to its annual Corn Roast --
which all features hot dogs, metts, brats, beans,
saurkraut, soft drinks and dessert. This year there will
be a live band. Dinners are $8; children under 12 eat
free. All proceeds benefit Shriners Burn Hospital of
Cincinnati -- so eat, meet neighbors, and support a
great cause. The Corn Roast starts at 12 noon; for
information call Rich Dickerscheid at
319-3857.
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| 25 |
Raison D'etre -
"Reason for
Being" Three women who know
their reason for being are coming to share their pure
Kentucky blend (as in vocal.) RAISON D'ETRE, the
award-winning folk trio from Northern Kentucky, will add
a little jive to your java as they perform original
tunes, a cappella swing, and covers of song writers like
Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Jesse Winchester, and Dolly
Parton. Their sound has been described by CITYBEAT as
"some of the best three-part harmony singing you'll
likely ever hear." Violet Rae, Vickie and Roberta back
themselves on guitar, banjo, keyboard, and six-string
mandolin for an evening of swinging country folk.
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| 26 |
"Runnin' on
Empty" Duo returns --
Rick Endres and Laura Langland
The
RUNNIN' ON EMPTY Duo has been playing throughout the
area for the past eleven years in its current
configuration, and even longer in various combinations.
Rick Endres (vocals, guitars, harmonica) and Laura
Langland (vocals, keyboards) have a vast and varied
repertoire of classic rock, and occasionally slip in an
original song. Their sound features tight harmonic
vocals over a lush bed of acoustic guitar and keyboard.
Their playlist includes such stalwarts as James Taylor;
Eagles; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Carole King;
Fleetwood Mac; Bonnie Raitt; Seals & Crofts; Elton
John; Creedence Clearwater Revival; and Carly Simon, to
name but a
few.
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The eNewsletter is published every week or two by
the volunteers listed below. Our purpose is to help make
College Hill an even better place to live, play and do
business by publishing a broad spectrum of news for and about
College Hill, with an emphasis on stories of College Hill
people working together to improve our community.
The eNewsletter is
independently prepared and published by neighborhood
volunteers. It is not affiliated with the College Hill
Forum Community Council.
Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of any
College Hill or other organization--or even of the editor. The
inclusion of an article is not necessarily an endorsement. The
fact that something isn't in the eNewsletter is not
necessarily a lack of endorsement--it's most likely because no
one told us about it.
eNewsletter photos are often edited to remove
extraneous material.
Send us news that you think would be interesting to your
College Hill neighbors--and we'll very likely publish it.
Email to enewsletter@collegehilloh.net.
- Co-editors: Ken Lyon and Gail Finke
- Contributing Editor: Sarah Mann Wolf
- Backup Editor: Tom
Strothers
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