You probably know that the four-night College Hill Block Party 2008 started last night and continues every night through Friday in the College Hill Presbyterian Church parking lot.

Everyone is invited to join the 300+ folks that are expected each night. Children are invited every night to help create a community mosaic. Everything is free!
 
Last night, Tuesday, was National Night Out. National Night Out is a night for neighborhoods nationwide to come out and interact with community organizations in a fun and informative way. We had entertainment from Tonefarmer and Nate Holscher, lots of free hot dogs, pop and chips, displays from the police, fire department, the Metro, and several College Hill organizations. The free food and face painting seemed to be the biggest hits. See lots of pictures here. 

Tonight, Wednesday, features Eddie Love's Swing Big Band, the Senior Steppers, a Double Dutch Jump Rope Team, and an Ice Cream Social. CHPC's Tweens will be dishing out cool ice cream on this sizzling night. Eddie Love, playing lead trumpet with his Swing Big Band, puts his musicians through a repertoire from the early big band swing era through the top 40's and has a style of playing that is enjoyed by all ages. The group has performed with such notable artists as Nancy Wilson, Gladys Knight, Redd Foxx, Lionel Hampton, Tony Bennett, the Dells, and the Temptations. Come and dance!  

On Thursday, the Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament returns. Local threesomes compete for prizes under the leadership of Rick Schroer and Ron Whitt of the Recreation Center. Pick up entry forms from either The Rock or the College Hill Rec Center, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sherman Bradley of the City Gospel Mission will be leading praise and worship in another spot on the lot.  Also:  free pizza!

Friday features a Unity Walk leading to Praise & Worship with College Hill churches. If you can, meet at the old Kroger lot at North Bend and Hamilton at 6 pm to walk in unity with other members of the community to the church parking lot. Or come directly to the main event, where Chris Miller, Bryan Arvin (Christian saxophonist), David Minor and his praise team, and Brittany Edwards (praise dancer) will lead in an evening of praise and worship.   Also: free pulled pork!

See the College Hill Calendar for more information.

Dee Pittinger provides us with an update on College Hill Farm Market, which holds forth, with entertainment, every Thursday from 3 pm to 7 pm in the College Hill Presbyterian Church Parking Lot. 

Dee tells us, "I spent some time talking with Leroy Allgeier, the 'Blackberry Guy.' (Pictured right.) This is Leroy's first year on the neighborhood market 'tailgating circuit' and he says he takes a lot of pride in providing people with 'quality fruit at a reasonable price.'  He turned over one of his baskets to show me that they are just as plump and beautiful on the bottom as they are on the top.  He admits to being 'very picky.'  I can personally vouch for the taste: sweet and juicy!

"Leroy grows a quarter acre of blackberries (that's seven rows 150 feet long!) at his home in Colerain Township. He says that the original plants were started 50 years ago by his mother. who still makes the jam he sells.  What the birds, 'coons and 'possoms don't find first, he picks 7 days a week when the berries are in season.  He says he does it because he loves it.  'Sure ain't the money.'  He figures he makes about 10 cents an hour if you count in all the labor involved. 

"Leroy mentioned that there are probably only a few more weeks of berry production left, so folks should come buy them Thursday. 

"He also has a good sense of humor. When I asked him if there was anything else I should know about him, he said, 'There's nothing juicy about me but my berries!'"
 
All of the vendors tables are now overflowing with delicious local summer produce.  Last week there were mounds of tomatoes (some heirloom), sweet corn, melons, zucchini and yellow squash.  Dee herself bought some marvelous local peaches and some fresh dill she used in a salad. 

One vendor, Jim Schwartz, from Back Acres acres farm in Georgetown, Ohio, brings his refrigerated truck stocked with lamb, beef and chickens raised "the old fashioned" way  with no antibiotics or hormones.  

Also last week, Brandt Smith and Brenda Wolfersberger, a husband & wife duo from College Hill, entertained the crowd with their own brand of bluegrass tunes and folk music. 

On the 14th, chef Rhonda Clark will demonstrate some great ways to prepare summer produce and will pass out samples.  She was once Bengal Rudi Johnson's personal chef!

Beth McLean writes:

Several local families were part of a June mission trip to Honduras to install solar power.  You can read all about the trip in CHPC's Hot off the Press newsletter here.

The trip was organized by SonLight Power, a non-profit organization which uses solar panel technology and volunteer work teams to connect orphanages, medical clinics, schools and churches to a 30-year supply of electricity.  You can read more about SonLight Power in an Enquirer article here.

 

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 on "Submit an Event" below & let us know about it!

2008 Community Calendar
Submit an Event
August
5-8	Block Party 2008: College Hill Presbyterian Church Parking Lot.
5	National Night Out: College Hill Presbyterian Church Parking Lot.  Kick off the annual College Hill Block Party with a great evening of food, fun, and music -- free! National Night Out promotes police/community relatins. Meet neighbors, find out about how you can join community groups, enjoy a community cookout, and more. This year will feature live music by Nate Holscher and by the band Tone Farmer. And if it gets too hot, we'll move inside CHPC to air conditioned comfort. No charge; 6-9 pm.
6	The amazing Eddie Love Big Band will be back and swinging. Double dutch jumpropers will start off the night, and the Sister Steppers will dance. Also: four square, corn hole, free hot dogs and water. College Hill Presbyterian Church Parking Lot.
7	The return of 3 on 3 Basketball Night. Sign up at the Rec Center or The rock. Check-in begins at 5 pm, games at 6 pm. Sherman Bradley from the City Gospel Mission will speak; LaRosa's will sponsor free pizza.
8	Praise and Worship Night with College Hill churches. Learn about your neighborhood churches, enjoy free desserts, and see praise dancer Brittany Edwards, Christian Saxophonist Bryan Arvin, and Dave Minor and his praise team. Free pulled pork and slaw! College Hill Presbyterian Church Parking Lot. Josh Eagle, singer/songwriter/storyteller, has been preaching his positive sound through songs for the past  5years. The Cincinnati native's music echoes the early 1970's folk scene with influences from Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Carole King, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs to mention a few. Josh likes to classify his gentle voice and message as "sincere folk tunes." LaBoiteaux Woods: Vermicomposting Workshop. Learn how to use an indoor worm bin to recycle your kitchen waste and improve your garden. Your fee gets you a bin, worms, and an instruction booklet to help you remember what you learn at the workshop. $10; 7 - 9 pm. Reserve your spot by July 31 at (513) 542-2909.
9	Mary Kroner
15	College Hill Pool (Town Hall, 5660 Belmont Ave.): Dog Days of Summer. Bring your dog to swim at this one-day fundraiser for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and the SCPA. Friendly, well- socialized dogs only -- no pit bull breeds permitted. $15 first dog, $10 each additional dog. For information or other locations and dates, call 357-POOL. Only Makebelieve The music of Only Makebelieve is a very polished sound pulling from a style of fullness seen in the 1960's and 70's (but with modern appeal).  Founding members Samuel Atkinson and Wyatt Michael started writing music in the late 1980's at a very young age.  Later, experimenting in several really bad recording studios, they recorded three small demos and since developed a very strong songwriting style.  They put the experience to work and built their own recording studio.  Over a period of 5 years they recorded and produced their masterpiece debut album called Message From A Mockingbird.  Come and see Only Makebelieve perform as an acoustic duo to promote this ambitious release.
16	Sonshine House Consignment Store (1607 Llanfair): Storytime. Young children and their families can enjoy free storytime at the neighborhood consignment store (sales benefit 3Cs nursery school). No charge; 10:30 am.