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From the AP, 1/25/07: Kucinich renews pitch for a universal plan The Cleveland Democrat's proposal is a keystone of his presidential campaign. CLEVELAND (AP) — U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, whose anti-war views have gained wider acceptance since he ran for president in 2004, hopes a similar public opinion shift will boost chances for enacting universal health care. Kucinich, a Cleveland Democrat making his second run for the presidency, was one of 42 co-sponsors of a bill reintroduced by Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., Conyers aide Alexia Smokler said. More at http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/294422964413919.php

From the 12/28/06 Athens News: Kucinich runs again, on one big issue: Bring the troops home By Daniel Sturm Athens NEWS Contributor Friday, December 28th, 2007 When I first interviewed U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich during the 2004 presidential primaries, anti-war protesters were admiring him as the sane voice of the Democratic Party - a man who actually read books and gave intelligent speeches. To his opponents, Kucinich was a small man on an ego trip, much "too radical" to be electable. The Ohio congressman was the only one of nine Democratic Party candidates to vote against the war in Iraq. His 90-day plan to end the occupation was dismissed by mainstream elements within the Democratic Party. Kucinich ultimately came in fourth in the primaries, despite Internet polls that had placed him second (behind Howard Dean, who MoveOn.org chose first). Three years and 2,500 American (as well as several hundred thousand Iraqi) casualties later, Kucinich is once again aiming for the nation's top job. This time around, the White House faces a Democratic majority in the Congress. What hasn't changed is the war in Iraq, and Kucinich is more relentless than ever about the urgency of withdrawing troops. "My country calls me to action," he told a cheering audience as he announced his second bid on Dec. 12 in Cleveland. In this exclusive interview, I asked Kucinich what he meant. Sturm: The Toledo Blade has called you a "diminutive Cleveland congressman" with a "giant-sized ego." How do you respond? Kucinich: I'm not going to dignify this with a comment. You know, there's a war going on. People are losing their lives. And what are they doing? I would ask The Toledo Blade to join me in challenging this unjust war, and to tell the people of Toledo that the war was based on lies. I would ask them to call for the troops to come home. They ought to be joining me. I was right about this. And everything I've said has become mainstream. I'm not speaking from the margins. This is why I expect to be elected president of the United States. The media fought the war wholesale, and I didn't. I'm one of the few members of Congress who has consistently challenged the war, and consistently voted against it. Sturm: Six weeks ago, you were re-elected to the House. Now you're running for president. What made you change your mind? Kucinich: We took back Congress on the issue of Iraq. But when we had our first caucus meeting after the break, some of our leaders hinted that they wanted to continue funding the war. I was kind of surprised by that. Then House majority leader (-elect) Steny Hoyer, D-Md., spoke up in favor of continuing to fund the war. To me, this represented a colossal mistake that needed to be challenged the only way one can challenge these kinds of things - by running for president. I led the effort in the House, in 2002, in challenging the Bush administration's march toward war. I organized 125 Democrats to vote against the resolution that authorized Iraq wars. I may have given hundreds of speeches in the Congress challenging the authorization for war, not only offering a plan to get out of Iraq, but also challenging each and every appropriation of the war. Sturm: Republican Sen. John McCain thinks withdrawing troops from Iraq would create chaos and breed terrorism at home. Is there any truth to that? Kucinich: John McCain is a war hero. I respect him. He's a friend of mine. I was in Vietnam last year, where they have a prison where he was kept. But it's possible to be a war hero, and also be wrong about the next war. The worst thing in the world is for us to send more troops to Iraq. More troops means more casualties. The war cannot be won militarily; everyone knows that. So what in the world are we doing sending more troops? It's just antithetical. And there's another dimension - the cost of the war. The economist Joseph Stiglitz has projected that the cost of the war will go up to $3 trillion. That's extraordinary. The White House's surge proposal is going to escalate the war, on top of the already huge cost. The American people will not accept this. Sturm: You're a co-sponsor of House Resolution 4232, which would stop funding the war. What's the plan? Kucinich: The basic path is recognizing that we appropriated $70 billion on Oct. 1. We're spending that money at a rate of about $8 billion per month. We should recognize that we have sufficient time, right now, to bring the troops home and also money to bring the troops home. We have sufficient money in the pipeline right now to help fund an international peacekeeping force, and begin funding the process of reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq. So if we know the war can't be won militarily, what in the world are we doing, staying there? Well, there's another dimension as well. If Congress votes to appropriate another $160 billion for Iraq in the spring, we'd essentially have given George W. Bush the money he needs to carry the war through the end of his term. That would bring the total war cost, in 2007, to $230 billion. George Bush has been unequivocal about Iraq, and anyone who's missed this has not been paying attention. He has no intention of getting out of Iraq. He intends to keep our troops there until the end of his term. And that's a death sentence for a lot of Americans stationed over there. Sturm: Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the Democrats in Congress "will not cut off funding for the troops." And Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., dismissed your bill as "silly." In this type of climate, what are the chances of getting the bill passed? Kucinich: Listen, I think that the American people, who spoke very clearly in November, will again have the final word on this. I'm the only Democratic candidate for presidency who's voted against every single appropriation for the war. A leader must not only have hindsight, but also foresight. I've demonstrated an ability to be right that can't be matched by others in this presidential campaign. Sturm: You say you're opposed to all wars. The U.S. operates more than 700 military bases in 130 countries. If you were elected president, would the role of these facilities change? And how so? Kucinich: We live in an era where we need to act upon international cooperation. We cannot run the whole world as a world police. This is very dangerous. I'm talking to you on my cell phone in a plane right now that's flying to Europe. The world is interconnected. Policies of unilateralism are antiquated. They're a part of the 18th century. We're in the 21st century, and we should be pursuing the science of human relations. I don't know if anyone else is saying this. But I'm going to give the American people a real hope that their children will be able to grow up in peace. I understand that terrorism is a factor. But I also remember that after 9/11 the American people discussed the need for reconciliation. One needs truth first, and then reconciliation. I think we're capable of doing that. Sturm: Some critics called you and Al Sharpton a "dog-and-pony show" in the 2004 primary campaign. Candidates who were tolerated by the Democrats, but not taken seriously. You eventually endorsed the pro-war candidate John Kerry. How do you reconcile this? Kucinich: I didn't endorse John Kerry's position on the war. As a matter of fact, at the same time the convention was going on, I attended rallies challenging the war. I was never silent about my opposition to the war. I didn't agree with him on that, and I made it clear. I also expect Democrats who disagree with me to support me at the convention. That's the way it works. Whoever wins the nomination people will get behind. If there'd been the leadership in 2004, we could have been out of Iraq years ago. But now the people are ready, the message is ready, and the candidate with that message is ready. This time, there'll be a pro-peace candidate who the American people can rally behind. Sturm: There's much hype about Barack Obama running for president. So far, his public statements about Iraq have been vague. What do you think about him? Kucinich: My position is going to be very clear when all the candidates are vetted. I am not only the only candidate who voted against the war. I am also the only candidate who voted against any appropriations for the war in Iraq. You cannot claim to be against the war when you've voted for appropriations. I'm in a singular position. Sturm: Where are you flying to in Europe? Kucinich: I'm going to London, to meet with various leaders in England. But I'll be in Ohio during the campaign next year, speaking in Athens, Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus. As you know, Ohio is very important in this campaign. Editor's note: Daniel Sturm is a German journalist who covers under-reported social and political topics in Europe and in the United States. Some of his work can be seen on the Internet at http://www.sturmstories.com. He recently moved to the Athens area. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26930

From the 12/28/06 Record-Courier: Arsenal to raze wartime buildings No plans to burn structures December 28, 2006 By Mike Sever Record-Courier staff writer The last buildings that supplied hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and other munitions for American armed forces in World War II are coming down. The U.S. Army has contracted to take down 110 buildings at three load lines at the former Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant east of Ravenna during the next two years. "None (left), that's it," said Irv Venger, acting facility manager. "We will have some foundations to take out in due course, but the buildings are done." http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/1248182

From the 12/18/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Former Reds owner Powel Crosley Jr. built the English Tudor mansion it, seen here from the rear lawn, for about $750,000 in 1927. PHOTO: Powel Crosley Jr. PHOTO: The estimated 2,000 people who toured the mansion during a rare public opening for a book signing discovered that much of the interior was as Crosley built it. PHOTOS BY CARA OWSLEY / THE ENQUIRER PHOTO GALLERIES Photos: Crosley mansion The house that Powel built Powel Crosley's Pinecroft mansion - a 'hidden treasure' on the Mercy Hospital Mount Airy grounds - could see its glory restored BY JOHN KIESEWETTER | [email protected] The grand parties like the ones Powel Crosley Jr. threw at Pinecroft estate could return to his old Mount Airy mansion next year. "This is a hidden treasure. We want to restore this place, and turn it into a community asset," says Paul C. Hiltz, president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Mount Airy. The hospital was built on the Kipling Avenue land after the 1961 death of the 74-year-old Crosley, Cincinnati industrialist, WLW-AM founder and former Cincinnati Reds owner. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061218/LIFE/612180302/1025/rss05

Those are fantastic, man. I really like the fifth one and the first skyline shot after PNC/Carew. The steam from the buildings really shows up well.

From the 1/18/07 Pulse-Journal: South Lebanon, Union Twp. Officials figuring out fire future Rivers Crossing brings opportunities — and headaches. By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Thursday, January 18, 2007 Phase I construction on the mega-retail shopping center Rivers Crossing will soon break ground, bringing nearly 2,000 jobs and commerce to the South Lebanon area. That future Bear Creek Capital development has put a strain on South Lebanon and Union Twp. officials, who have different ideas on fire and EMS coverage to Rivers Crossing. ... http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/18/pjl011807bearcreekcrossing.html

From the 12/28/06 Pulse-Journal: All signs are a go for Rivers Crossing Kohl's submits plans; boulevard to be named for Corwin Nixon Wednesday, December 27, 2006 By Linda Scott Contributed Writer It will be written in stone. Rivers Crossing — straddling both sides of Ohio 48 south of Interstate 71 in South Lebanon — will be identified by a 40-foot illuminated pylon of stone approved recently by the village. ... http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/27/pjl122806riverscrossing.html

From Upper Arlington News, 1/31/07: Regency promises some news soon Target store remains central to company's redevelopment plans. By LYNDSEY TETER Regency Centers officials now are saying late February or early March. Owners of the Kingsdale Shopping Center said Monday they are "inches away" from submitting a plan to city staffers for a revitalized center -- fitted with a Target store. Despite the fact that a "90-day" promise has stretched out to almost a year, David Birdsall, regional officer for the company, said revised plans were expected at his office this week. He "just needs a few more weeks" before he's ready to make a big announcement, he said. Retail in general -- and a Target store specifically -- remain the focus of the redevelopment proposal, Birdsall said. A related plan was floated to City Council almost a year ago, whetting the appetites of residents and officials who hunger for something positive to happen at the city's centrally located retail center. It has struggled to find tenants ever since voters in 2002 rejected a tax increase for a city-funded community center to be located on a portion of the property. Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS1-31/1-31_uakingsdale.html

From New Albany News, 12/27/06: Arts center's new name pays tribute to late resident By LISA AURAND Ask John G. McCoy about his wife, the late Jeanne B. McCoy and he still tears up. "We were married 64 years, and it wasn't long enough," he'll repeat, as if to himself. He'll points to her portrait, a colorful oil painting that hangs on the wall in the pastel dining room. "Lovely. She was lovely." Jeanne McCoy died July 18, but her influence is palpable within McCoy's New Albany home. Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS12-27/12-27_namccoy.html

From ThisWeek Westerville, 2/1/07: Board approves letter of intent with OhioHealth Thursday, February 1, 2007 By MACKENZIE WHITE ThisWeek Staff Writer The Westerville Board of Education approved a letter of intent Monday night to enter into a sublease agreement with OhioHealth, despite concerns of a Children's Hospital doctor who worried the plan will give OhioHealth an unfair advantage in providing services to the district. The district plans to use space in the medical campus that OhioHealth is building at the corner of Polaris Parkway and Africa Road as a welcome center for incoming students. Under the proposed terms of the sublease, Westerville schools would rent about 2,000 square feet for $1 per year. The lease term would be five years. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020107/Westerville/News/020107-News-298673.html

From ThisWeek Westerville, 1/18/07: Westerville Schools OhioHealth to provide space for welcome center Thursday, January 18, 2007 By MACKENZIE WHITE ThisWeek Staff Writer An idea nearly two years in the making took a big step toward becoming reality Tuesday. Westerville City Schools and OhioHealth announced a partnership that will include a welcome center to be housed in the OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus currently under construction at the corner of Polaris Parkway and Africa Road. The welcome center is meant to streamline the district's enrollment and withdrawal process, as well as provide other services to students and their families, including those whose first language is something other than English. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=westerville&story=sites/thisweeknews/011807/Westerville/News/011807-News-292191.html

From ThisWeek Olentangy, 1/18/07: Busy year ahead for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Thursday, January 18, 2007 By KELLEY YOUMAN TRUXALL ThisWeek Staff Writer Last year was a record-setting one for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, but a number of planned improvements mean 2007 won't be a time for the zoo to rest on its laurels. The zoo ended 2006 with a record of more than 1.5-million visitors and set a single-day record when just under 23,000 people passed through the gates on Saturday, Dec. 16, for Wildlights. Work has started on the former Wyandot Lake site, which the zoo purchased in October from Six Flags. The water park will remain closed during the 2007 season for a $15-million makeover and is expected to open in May 2008 under a new name. Demolition will start on portions of the 23-year-old park "within the next 60 days" Borin said, with major construction slated for spring. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=powell&story=sites/thisweeknews/011807/Powell/News/011807-News-292876.html

From the 12/30/06 Dispatch: PHOTO: Aquila, a 14-year old male, will be loaned to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from the Louisville Zoo. LOUISVILLE ZOO GRAPHIC: A room with a view Polar attraction Columbus Zoo among venues warming up to bears again Saturday, December 30, 2006 Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Polar bears are white-hot. The Arctic bears are in vogue again, a decade after many zoos, including the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, decided it was too costly to keep the giant carnivores happy and healthy in firstrate habitats. The Columbus Zoo is finding it tough to acquire the bears as it prepares to break ground on its $18 million Polar Frontier attraction. The exhibit opens in 2008, 14 years after polar bears last resided at the zoo. http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/30/20061230-D1-06.html

From the 12/27/06 Dispatch: Zoo breaks attendance record 1.5 millionth visitor crosses turnstile, topping 1992 mark Wednesday, December 27, 2006 Lavonna Allen took her granddaughters Melanie, 6, and Sabrina, 8, to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to see Colo on the gorilla’s 50 th birthday Friday. Allen ended up getting the biggest birthday surprise, though. When she walked through the front gate, she became the 1.5 millionth visitor to the zoo this year. It’s the first time in the zoo’s nearly 80-year history that it has topped that mark. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/27/20061227-C7-04.html

Jail foes picket expo But protest angers some exhibitors Two dozen people protested Saturday against a proposed Kenton County jail site, but they weren't the only ones angry during the demonstration. Picketers stood outside the Northern Kentucky Home Builders Association's 2007 National City Home Products Expo because county Judge-executive Ralph Drees' family business is Drees Homes, a home-builder. Carrying signs with messages such as "Drees Builds the American Nightmare" and "Drees Builds Jail Next to Schools," they picketed for an hour outside the Northern Kentucky Convention Center against the proposed new location, which is along a new section of Ky. 17 south of Pelly Road. At least one exhibitor inside was dismayed, and went outside to say so. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/NEWS0103/701280371/1077/COL02

River beautification plans bring channel out of hiding at UT By JOSHUA BOAK BLADE STAFF WRITER A University of Toledo commission announced plans to beautify the stretch of the Ottawa River cutting through its main campus by building a boardwalk and landscaping a meadow along its banks. The commission’s report estimates the total cost of upgrading the area around the river at $8.2 million and identifies private donors and government research grants as potential funding sources. “If the university is more attractive, it’s more appealing to potential students and gives us a shot at recruiting a larger percentage of those students,” said Dick Eastop, the retired UT administrator who is chairman of the commission. More at link above: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/NEWS21/61227013/-1/NEWS

From the 2/11/07 Enquirer: Uno's will join restaurant lineup BY JENNY CALLISON | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER ANDERSON TOWNSHIP - The vacant space in the Anderson Towne Center formerly occupied by Michael G's restaurant will soon house an Uno's restaurant. Todd and Becky Wilber, who own and operate the Uno's in West Chester's Union Centre area, will open the new Uno's franchise in late April or early May. Becky Wilber said they had been scouting another restaurant opportunity and heard about the available space. "We really liked the trade area and are excited about it," she said, explaining that a Uno's was located in the old Beechmont Mall, and was successful there. The new restaurant will offer an expanded menu, including steaks, seafood, sandwiches, pizza and pasta. The Wilbers also own 11 Taco Bell restaurants in Greater Cincinnati. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/BIZ01/702110362/1076/rss01

From the 1/10/07 Enquirer: Progress seen on Anderson project BY STEVE KEMME | [email protected] ANDERSON TWP. - An obstacle that has delayed a $40.5 million movie theater and condominium project might soon be removed. The announcement of the Anderson Towne Place development occurred in May, but construction hasn't begun. Anderson Township officials had believed Sears Holdings Corp., the parent company of Kmart, was responsible for the holdup. The development would be built over what are now about 70 parking spaces next to the Kmart in the Anderson Towne Center at Five Mile Road and Beechmont Avenue. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070110/NEWS01/701100348/1056/COL02

From the 12/27/06 Blade: Donations keep COSI doors open - for now Turndown of levy put future in doubt By JENNI LAIDMAN BLADE STAFF WRITER Donations are keeping COSI Toledo alive. Officials at the hands-on children’s science museum warned at the start of this year that it would be closed by Sunday without an operating levy, which Lucas County voters narrowly rejected last month. Although the hands-on children’s science museum will end 2006 with a measly $35,000 in its operating budget, contributions amounting to “a couple hundred thousand dollars” from The Anderson Foundation, KeyBank, and others may keep the institution operating long enough to forge a future, said Dr. F. Michael Walsh, chairman of COSI’s executive board. Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/NEWS16/612270425/-1/NEWS

From the 12/27/06 Gateway News: Complaint seeks to halt Wal-Mart Defendant calls legal filing 'baseless' December 27, 2006 by Bob Gaetjens Editor Streetsboro Three citizens have filed a legal complaint seeking to halt construction of a 203,000-square-foot Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Assigned to Judge Laurie Pittman's courtroom at the Portage County Court of Common Pleas, the complaint alleges proper procedure wasn't followed in creating zoning permitting a business integrated plan for Streetsboro Commons, a 125-acre retail and commercial development of which Wal-Mart is the anchor store. http://www.thegatewaynews.com/news/article/1261571

From the 12/27/06 Lorain Morning Journal: Plans for culinary school get downsized KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer 12/27/2006 LORAIN -- Plans to bring a renown culinary school to downtown Lorain have fallen through, according to officials, but work is still being done to bring another culinary program to the area. ''There's still a need for it (a culinary school),'' said Marcia Ballinger, vice president of strategic and institutional development for Lorain County Community College. ''It's the college's plan to find an alternative approach than what was originally envisioned.'' ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17637080&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From the 2/11/07 Enquirer: RENDERING: The Clarion Hotel & Suites on Pfeiffer Road will be renamed the Crowne Plaza Hotel after a $5 million renovation is completed April 1. It will have a restaurant, renovated rooms and meeting space. Photo provided Hotel gets face-lift, new name to boost business BY JEFF MCKINNEY | [email protected] BLUE ASH - The Clarion Hotel & Suites on Pfeiffer Road is getting a new name and look. The hotel will be renamed the Crowne Plaza Hotel after a $5 million renovation is completed April 1. The face-lift will bring the hotel a new restaurant, newly-renovated rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space. The new look will include a multi-purpose lounge that seats about 70 people and plans for new signage to provide greater visibility from Interstate 71 and Pfeiffer Road. The hotel also hopes the face-lift will help it attract more business and leisure travelers visiting the redeveloped Blue Ash Airport. Plans call for Blue Ash to buy more than half of the 226-acre airport site to develop it into a public park that would include a "municipal mall" and the city's performing arts center. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/BIZ01/702110357/1076/rss01 From the 2/10/07 Enquirer: Group hopes to lure stores BY SCOTT WARTMAN | [email protected] Some Fort Thomas residents and business owners don't see enough retail in their city and want to do something about it. About 40 residents have offered to help the Fort Thomas Renaissance Board. They believe relaxing the parking requirements and an influx of volunteers may entice more boutiques and coffee shops. A posting on a Yahoo message group at the end of last year by Marc Roth provided the initial spark. He moved to Fort Thomas last summer for the schools and the close-knit community. Roth, 35, became a renaissance board member in January and brought with him a number of people who want to help. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070210/NEWS0103/702100414/1059/rss13

From the 12/4/06 Dispatch: RENDERING: A rendering of planned changes to the Downtown Holiday Inn JONATHAN BARNES ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN CONSTRUCTION ZONE Owner to rejuvenate Downtown Holiday Inn Monday, December 04, 2006 Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Holiday Inn Columbus City Center has become a bit long in the tooth. The hotel’s new owner says he’s willing to put up more than $4 million to revitalize the property, which has reported low occupancy in recent years. It might not attract top acts, but it could be a star of its own right, said Ben Castera, president of Sound Hospitality of Miami. Sound Hospitality paid $6.1 million in July for the 240-room property at 175 E. Town St. Castera has brought on architect Jonathan Barnes to come up with a fresh facade and other exterior changes. Castera said that the lobby and restaurant also will be renovated, and new windows will be installed throughout the hotel. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/04/20061204-E6-00.html

Sycamore Twp: Kenwood Crossing Phase II and III Neyer Properties is seeking a major adjustment to the PUD zoning plan for its Kenwood Crossing plan, NW of the intersection of Galbraith and Kenwood roads. Phases II and III would consist of two new office buildings, one of 31,600 SF and the other at 40,000 SF. Pine Road would be extended and renamed Kenwood Crossing Way. (Township trustees do not appear to be behind this move.) This will appear before the Sycamore Township Zoning Commission on February 12. GOOGLE AERIAL MAP WINDOWS LIVE SEARCH BIRD'S EYE VIEW Symmes Twp: Primrose Grand Horizons is looking to develop a subdivision on 6 acres along the west side of Lebanon Rd, just south of Bent Creek Dr. The subdivision will contain 13 lots. Two of the lots will front on Lebanon Rd, but will be accessed from the new public street. Several of the end lots will be connected to the new street by a private drive. GOOGLE AERIAL MAP WINDOWS LIVE SEARCH BIRD'S EYE VIEW Round-up: City of Cincinnati BOND HILL/ROSELAWN Lease Signed and $750,000 Fundraising Goal Reached for New, Expanded Bond Hill/Roselawn Branch Library Cincinnati.com, 2/6/07 Charles D. Lindberg, President of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, today announced that the two major contingencies holding up the planned new, expanded and combined Bond Hill/Roselawn Branch Library have been met. With the signing of a lease and successful completion of fundraising to cover the costs of finishing the new facility, the project will now proceed. The Library has signed a ten-year lease with the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) for a 12,000 square-foot space in its building anchoring Jordan Crossing, formerly Swifton Commons. “As the CAA oversees programs for economic development and youth services, this is an ideal match for the library facility to reach CAA’s participants as well as students from nearby schools,” said CAA President/CEO Gwen L. Robinson. Major funding to cover the $750,000 cost to finish the space has been provided by a lead gift of $100,000 from Carl H. Lindner, a $100,000 Jacob Schmidlapp Trust challenge grant from Fifth Third Bank, and a $150,000 allowance from the CAA for building out the space. Additional funding was provided by a bequest in excess of $100,000 from Norma Holt, $25,000 grants from both the Farmer Family Foundation and an anonymous foundation, and gifts received from the Library Foundation’s Annual Fund. K4 Architects have completed design work for the facility and bids are currently out for construction. The new Bond Hill Branch project is on schedule for completion in August 2007. CARTHAGE Cincinnati Housing Partners is awaiting permits to begin a rehab on 7310 Fairpark Ave. CARTHAGE Cincinnati Housing Partners is currently rehabbing 6619 Vine St. EAST PRICE HILL A civil fine of $500 has been given to the owner of 2535 Warsaw Ave for failure to comply with orders. The code violations are too numerous to list. The owner is absentee, and there's no way anyone is living there (legally). EVANSTON 1624 Blair Ave was demolished after being devastated by fire. The house was vacant. SEDAMSVILLE 624 Steiner Ave (two-family, 1894) has been demolished. This went from being ordered vacant by the city to the lot being seeded and strawed in about five months, which is rather quickly. The absentee, out-of-state owners apparently made no attempt to save it. WALNUT HILLS 1112 Yale Ave has gone criminal and is in court versus the State of Ohio. The two-family, built around 1880, has been a code violation since at least 2001. Attempts to remedy the property's condition were futile and slow. This house will probably be gone by 2008. Round-up: Metro ALEXANDRIA County mulling options for A.J. Jolly Alexandria Recorder, 2/10/07 Campbell County Fiscal Court could ask the state to take over operation of A.J. Jolly Park. That was one of several ideas county commissioners discussed Wednesday, Feb. 7. The county has had to cover an operational deficit at the park's golf course for the last two years. Commissioner Mark Hayden proposed four options for changing the golf course's operations: * Do nothing. * Privatize the management of the golf course and make no improvements. * Make substantial improvements while maintaining county management. * Privatize the management of the golf course and make substantial improvements. BELLEVUE 424 Berry St has been rehabbed. BLANCHESTER Habitat houses planned in Blanchester Wilmington News Journal, 2/10/07 Rezoning was approved for two parcels of land in Blanchester during the regular Thursday night meeting of Blanchester Village Council. During a public hearing on a rezoning request, Ron McHenry, attorney for Tony Falgner, asked for the rezoning of property at Willow Drive and Ash Grove. "It's currently zoned R2 suburban residential and we're asking that it be rezoned R3 suburban 2 residential in order for Mr. Falgner to build a duplex on that lot," McHenry said. He said the lot is bigger than neighboring lots. "Immediately adjacent to it to the west is property owned by the village of Blanchester where the park is. There are no buildings on this lot (Falgner) presently. R3 suburban would allow two-family residences for conditional use." Falgner said he plans to build only one duplex on the property. McHenry said letters have been sent out to neighboring property owners and he has not received any response. BLUE ASH Two homes of the Reserves of Blue Ash are now on the market. Lot 1 on Myerdale Dr (pictured) is on the market for $1,167,900. The other, Lot 3, is on the market for $979,900. BLUE ASH Blue Ash contracts up for approval Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/8/07 City Council is set to vote on engineering and design contracts for major renovations at the Blue Ash Recreation Center and the city's municipal golf course. Council is expected today to approve contracts with both Michael Schuster Associates for the rec center expansion and Steed Hammond Paul for work at the golf course. The city will pay $55 to $150 an hour for design and engineering work. Construction should begin late this year or early 2008. CLEVES Income tax to be on ballot Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/8/07 The Three Rivers Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to place a 1 percent earned income tax on the May 8 ballot to build and maintain a pre-K through sixth grade school on the current site of Miami Heights Elementary. Three Rivers lost a bond issue in August to build two schools. COLUMBIA TWP Church agrees to buy Friarhurst Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/7/07 SonRise Community Church, a nondenominational church based in Milford, has signed a tentative agreement to purchase the Friarhurst, a former Catholic chapel and retreat house on a hillside along Wooster Pike. The Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, which owns the 11-acre Columbia Township site, closed Friarhurst at the end of 2005. SonRise has two months to decide whether it wants to finalize the purchase, said the Rev. Maynard Tetreault, building coordinator for the Franciscan Province. "It's not a done deal," he said. "I've seen deals come apart. But this one feels really good." Jeff Arington, SonRise pastor, said he's optimistic about working out the final details. Cincinnati Enquirer: Friarhurst finds a buyer (2/6/07) COVINGTON 1052 Banklick St has been rehabbed. EDGEWOOD District replacing its worst building Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/6/07 The fall of 2009 seems far away, but the Kenton County School District is already gearing up for it. That's when the new Turkey Foot Middle School is scheduled to open. The district hired architects Piaskowy & Cooper of Covington last week to begin the planning. The company will spend the next six months talking to school staff and community members to determine what the new building should look like. "It's not like the architect does the design and says 'Here is your new school,'" Superintendent Tim Hanner said. "Everybody is involved with the vision of what it should be." The building is expected to cost $20 million to $25 million. FORT THOMAS Park, parking in streetscape plans Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/9/07 Streetscape plans for Fort Thomas' Midway District may net a better traffic flow, more parking and a green space with statutes honoring veterans. The improvements include a proposed realignment of the intersection of River Road and South Fort Thomas Avenue in the Midway business district. The city has proposed making River Road perpendicular to South Fort Thomas Avenue, said Assistant City Administrator Jay Treft. The realignment would put that section of River Road several yards north, where there's a public parking lot beside the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home next to Tower Park. Plans call for the city to buy property on the nursing home's campus off River Road to create a 32-space parking lot and small park with statues of veterans, including one of the city's namesake, Gen. George Henry Thomas, Treft said. "We feel like the concept and overall plan will enhance the Midway Business District from a functional standpoint and aesthetic standpoint and will provide a benefit to the businesses there to prosper and be more successful," Treft said. GREEN TWP Oak Hills buying land on Wesselman Road Western Hills Press, 2/9/07 The Oak Hills Local School District is buying property on Wesselman Road. The Oak Hills board of education approved a resolution at its meeting Monday, Feb. 5, to purchase a piece of land at 6454 Wesselman Road. The property encompasses about 0.73 acres. "At this particular point it will just be vacant property," said Oak Hills Assistant Superintendent Michael Amos. "The property backs up to Diamond Oaks." He said the district has an agreement with the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development that if Oak Hills ever needed to build a new school Great Oaks has about 7.25 acres behind its Diamond Oak campus on Harrison Avenue available for the district to use. GREEN TWP Family involved in lawsuit files request for zoning Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/11/07 Get ready for the next chapter in the Rack family versus Green Township saga. Dale J. Rack, on behalf of his family's firm, Monfort Supply Co., wants the Hamilton County Board of Zoning Appeals to approve a compatible nonconforming use certificate, allowing the sale of materials associated with the Racks' construction business. The company already stores earth-moving equipment on the site. Green Township officials oppose the request. Adam Goetzman, township development director, called the request "too vague" in detailing what will be sold and how much will be stored on the grounds. The site is the subject of a lawsuit. The township wants to take the property by eminent domain and turn it into a park. The certificate hearing takes place at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Hamilton County Administrative Building, 138 E. Court St., Room 805. HAMILTON Lot development deal hinges on price tag Hamilton JournalNews, 2/7/07 The price tag of six city-owned parcels could make or break a development deal that would result in a warehouse and two parking lots being built near the old Ringel's warehouse on Hanover Street. Bob Brown, president of Robert M. Brown Construction and Development, has reached a tentative agreement with the city to purchase land on the corner of Walnut Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to build a 4,000-square-foot warehouse and a parking lot. He already owns three lots to the south of the property and a parcel in between the city's land. The agreement includes the sale of a 12,000-square-foot undeveloped lot Brown owns on Hanover Street to Community Behavioral Health to build a parking lot. CBH — a subsidiary of Fort Hamilton Healthcare Corp. specializing in alcohol, drug and mental health treatment — purchased the vacant Ringel's warehouse in October for $350,000, according to the Butler County recorder. The agency currently operates out of six sites across the county. It plans to consolidate its services and administration into the warehouse and open next spring, said Jean Glowka, the president of CBH. INDEPENDENCE Input sought for small area study Kenton Community Recorder, 2/6/07 The city will hold a series of public meetings this month as they gather input from residents about the small area study being conducted of the downtown area. Mayor Chris Moriconi said the city mailed out surveys to residents, and is looking forward to the first informational session, to be held February 22 at city hall. The session will feature a presentation by Doug Harnish, an analyst with the Kinzelman Kline Grossman Firm, who is conducting the study. "Hearing what the residents have to say and knowing what they want for the city is important to this process," said Moriconi. "We're looking to lay the city out right, and to do that, we need to know what the people want. It's vital for everyone to get involved." There will be another meeting on Feb. 24 at St. Cecilia, where design teams will be available to work with residents on more specific areas of the city. Finally, on Feb. 26, there will be a video presentation at city hall from 7-9 p.m. that will showcase results of the public input and information sessions. KENTON COUNTY Dissolved Latonia Lakes transfers zoning to county Kenton Community Recorder, 2/4/07 The Kenton County Planning Commission recommended approval of the fiscal court taking over the zoning of the now dissolved Latonia Lakes. Residents of Latonia Lakes voted to dissolve the city in the November election, therefore becoming part of unincorporated Kenton County. To finalize the dissolution, the former city had to transfer their zoning jurisdiction to the county. "This won't necessarily change a lot as far as what the zoning entails," explained Michael Schwartz, the NKAPC Deputy Director for current planning. "The lots sizes are fairly consistent across the board, and this will merely enable the fiscal court to adopt the area and apply their zoning regulations to it." The fiscal court presented seven different zones that Latonia Lakes had. Of the seven zones, only one will be actually changed rather than transferred. Unlike Latonia Lakes, the fiscal court doesn't have a limited service commercial zone in their regulations, so that zone will now become a neighborhood commercial zone. Lance Wade, who owns an automotive business on the corner of Taylor Mill Road and Lipscomb Road, said he was concerned that the zone change would affect his property boundaries, as well as the conditional use permit he has to operate his business. LINCOLN HEIGHTS Millcreek Valley Habitat for Humanity has purchased the vacant lot at 613 Jackson St for $11,000. LOCKLAND This new construction at 623 Maple St is listed for $119,000. LOVELAND Loveland has deal if income-tax OK'd Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/9/07 Residents already have heard from city officials that Loveland can't afford a new swimming pool if a 20 percent income tax increase on the ballot May 8 doesn't pass. But what some have been wanting to know is how much of a discount they'll get on memberships at the proposed $9.5 million facility in exchange for supporting it with their tax dollars. The answer: no initiation fee and a 20 percent discount on memberships. The Y hasn't set its 2008 rates yet. But this year, the initial fee for a family is $150 and a family membership costs $71 a month. The discount amounts were revealed this week in the contract between the city and the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, which would operate the facility after the city builds it. City Council will consider the contract Tuesday. The YMCA board approved the deal Wednesday. The lease calls for the YMCA to pay the city $1 a year for the property for 25 years, with the option to renew after that. It also would require the YMCA to market it, repair equipment and maintain it. On major repairs, such as to the roof, pool plumbing and boiler, the YMCA would have to pay the first $25,000, with the city kicking in on the rest of the bill. That's for the first dozen years of the lease. Cincinnati Enquirer: Loveland Y details emerge (2/8/07) MADEIRA Campaign to replace field ramps up Suburban Life, 2/2/07 March 1 has been set as the date for receiving contribution commitments to replace Madeira High's half-century old athletic field with synthetic turf by the fall football season. With an estimated cost of $700,000, the turf installation is the first phase of a $1.5 million project by the Madeira Schools Foundation to renovate and upgrade Madeira Stadium. The Foundation recently began a mailing campaign to solicit donations for the project, which is depending on tax-deductible fundraising and in-kind contributions by businesses. The co-chair of the project, Terry Jacobs, said he is confident the donations will come once the Madeira community learns more about it. "We believe Madeira residents and alumni will do what they have always done - rise to the challenge and support the dreams of Madeira's children," he said. MASON Educational center set for Pine Hill Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/7/07 Mason's Pine Hill Lakes Park soon will have its own educational center. A house next to the park is being converted to a parks education facility. Called Pine Run Lodge, the building is on a 1-acre lot next to the park entrance on Kings Mills Road. The city bought the property last year and workers have been adapting the structure. The Parks Department plans to use the house and grounds for outdoor education, naturalist programs, and summer camps. The lodge should be ready this spring. MOUNT HEALTHY Mount Healthy making plans after levy passes Hilltop Press, 2/6/07 Officials in Mount Healthy are getting ready now for a massive building project: three brand new school buildings. The project is possible because district voters approved a bond levy Feb. 6. A similar levy failed in November. The bond issue passed with 1,548, or 54 percent, voting yes, and 1,319, or 46 percent, opposed. Officials said the voter turnout, at 17 percent, was likely hampered by more than 6 inches of snow that fell, but more than 2,600 made it to the polls. There were 190 who voted via absentee ballot. The district asked voters to support a 6.1-mill bond levy to pay the local share of school construction under the State of Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, which will be about $33 million over 23 years. OXFORD www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2007/02/06/FrontPage/Former.WalMart.Lot.Still.Empty.As.Realtors.Make.Plans.For.Sale-2699607.shtml?sourcedomain=www.miamistudent.net&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com]Former Wal-Mart lot still empty as realtors make plans for sale[/url] Miami Student, 2/6/07 More than a year and a half after the Wal-Mart store on Locust Street closed its doors, the building and parking lot remain empty, a common fate for many so-called "big box" style stores across the country. Whether they go out of business or simply relocate like Wal-Mart, the shells of these old super-centers, often more than 100,000 square feet in area, are often left to collect dust. There are several factors responsible for this trend, according to Miami University professors Jack Gifford and Dennis Sullivan. One reason is that the size of these buildings doesn't make them very adaptable or attractive to new businesses. "It's going to take an enormous amount of money to renovate it into something useful," said Sullivan, professor of economics at Miami. "It's a barn of a building." READING 131 Pike St has been rehabbed. Just getting rid of that awful siding would have improved the house 100%. SPRINGDALE Plans underway to build memorial Tri-County Press, 2/9/07 City Council plans to begin construction on a veterans memorial this year. The memorial will be built near the corner of Springfield Pike and Lawnview Avenue Jack Willard with CDS Associates Inc. presented preliminary drawings of the first phase of the veterans memorial at the Feb. 7 council meeting. The first phase of the veterans memorial includes a memorial wall, the primary landscaping and engraved bricks the city plans to sell to raise money to complete the project. Preliminary concepts show the memorial grounds as circular, with a walkway circling the grounds, a semicircular memorial with several standing stones, cascading fountains, and bronze soldier statues. SPRINGFIELD TWP Springfield Twp. road levy could be back on May ballot Hilltop Press, 2/1/07 Township voters may see a second request for a road levy on the May ballot. Trustees are expected to discuss the road levy at their Tuesday, Feb. 13, meeting. Voters turned down a 2.5-mill levy in November. "It was only by about 200 votes and it was the largest voter turnout since I've been here," said Administrator Mike Hinnenkamp. "I don't think the word got out about the levy. We can't promote it, by law, or spend money for signs or fliers."

From the 2/9/07 Blade: Panel: Lakes need accelerated action Group says more accountability needed By TOM HENRY BLADE STAFF WRITER The stakes are high for the Toledo area and other parts of the Great Lakes basin as a 98-year-old international board pushes for greater accountability in managing the world's largest collection of fresh surface water. The health of western Lake Erie, the basin's warmest, shallowest, and most fruitful for fish reproduction, affects the raw source of Toledo's drinking water, the tourism-based sector of its economy, and much more. The International Joint Commission, in its 13th biennial report on Great Lakes water quality that was released in Chicago yesterday, said the United States and Canada have been "good, but not exemplary, stewards of our lakes."... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070209/NEWS06/702090349/-1/NEWS