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The Columbia Journal June 2009
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CT Calendar June 15: CTCC meeting, 7 p.m. Riverview East Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
June 25: CT Mural Fundraiser Crayfish Boil at Allyn's, 7-10 p.m.
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June 15 Monthly Community Council Meeting
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Riverview East Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
This month's meeting will update you on available information for an Ohio inter-city passenger rail project that could impact the eastern riverside communities, including Columbia Tusculum. Also, we will have a speaker from the Hamilton County Public Library system. As one of the highest volume library systems in the country, they need help from us.
Don't miss the June 25 Mural Fundraising event: Crawfish Boil at Allyn's, 7 - 10 p. m. Can't make it? We're happy to receive your tax deductible donation going towards the mural. See below for details.
CTCC is on holiday in July. No CTCC monthly meeting. We next meet August 18 at the old Lincoln School at Delta and Golden Avenues. (RiverviewEast is closed for the summer.) |
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| Columbia Tusculum Community Council News |
Columbia Tusculum Celebration: Support a Mural in Columbia Tusculum & Allyn's 18 year anniversary
Allyn's - Crawfish Boil
Thursday, June 25th, 2009, 7-10pm 2009
# Columbia Tusculum has been awarded a mural through Muralworks, a program sponsored by Artworks. The Railroad Overpass at Delta & Eastern Avenues will be brightened with scenes profiling Columbia Tusculum. # This mural fund raising event will introduce the artist, Pam Kravetz, and the mural to our Community. Pam is also a CT resident on Morris Place. # Join us to enjoy a Crawfish boil, beer truck, and white wine at Allyn's. # Each person is asked to give $25 to support the mural. Donations above that amount are certainly appreciated. Cost of Mural is roughly $41,000. The Columbia Tusculum Community is responsible for raising at least 20% of that, or $8,200. # Please RSVP to mackermann@fuse.net if you will be attending so we can order accordingly for this special menu event. If you can't attend, but would like to support a mural in your community, please send a check to: CTCC, P.O. Box 26085, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. The check should be made out to Columbia Tusculum Community Council. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to CTCC are tax deductible. Allyn's Café has been supporting the local area for years and thanks everyone for their patronage! CTCC thanks Allyn's for hosting & contributing to this event.
May CTCC Notes
Police Report:
o Eight crimes reported during April; Five are thefts from autos.
o Visible cell phones, GSM's, computers, purses, credit cards, etc. are too often the cause of break-in's. And so easy to prevent! LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS and DON'T LEAVE VALUABLES IN IT.
o One business break in occured at Dalton Roofing on Eastern Avenue.
o One burglary at 510 Stanley started and the robber took off upon seeing the homeowner.
o Crime peaks during summer and Christmas season with peak time 9 p.m.-.6.a.m., and probably most occurring 2 a.m.-5 a.m. For the summer season - be careful leaving your windows open.
Note, a new Police surveillance Officer has been assigned in the area to catch speeding. Be aware, as he is known to accept "no excuses."
Will Sherman Memorial The tragic loss of former CT resident Will Sherman in a 2008 car accident was remembered by Will's family and friends with an event held at Lunken Playfield June 7, with music and food. Will was an engaging and fun loving guy, always interested in helping the community. Will's parents introduced their interest in planning a future event for June 2010, like a 5K Run and community event to bring out local merchants in a street festival.
Laure Quinlivan's City Council race announced Laure, a resident on Kroger Ave., joined our May CTCC meeting to announce she is running for City Council. Her chief goals are to make the City "cleaner, greener, and smarter." Laure is a former I-Team investigative reporter. She is endorsed by the Cincinnati Democratic Party.
You can learn more about Laure and her campaign at her fundraiser planned for June 24, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Grammer's restuarant in Over the Rhine. Or go to her website: lqreportingtoyou.com
CTCC Spending approvals We learned the Neighborhood Support Program we found does not allow us to pay for a capital expense if it's not available for general use by the community. The project to purchase a refrigerator for Parkside Church Outreach Center approved in April needed to be modified. Instead, we will move this $500 approved under NSP to Beautification, and pay the $500 for the new refrigerator out of CTCC general funds. This was approved with 10 Aye's, 0 opposed or abstaining.
Approval was also requested for the purchase of portfolios for the Riverview East Academy graduating class, costing $499. This was approved with 11 Aye's, 0 opposed or abstaining.
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| Public Art, not just Painted Ladies |
We all know Columbia Tusculum is a beautiful and desireable place to live and work. We want our community to now be known for public art, not just Painted Ladies. CTCC has been working on two projects to bring public art to Columbia Tusculum.
The Columbia Journal previously reported on the Artworks Mural. Come for the June 25 fundraiser June 25 at Allyn's to meet local resident artist, Pam Kravitz and see her mural design for images profiling Columbia Tusculum. This project will be completed and installed on the railroad overpass at Delta and Eastern Avenues by end of August 2009.
Residents Matt Ackermann and Frederic Pissarro introduced a proposal at the May 18 CTCC meeting for a larger public art project being planned for Columbia Square. This is intended to develop the public seating area at the Square into an attractive gathering place for residents and visitors alike with distinctive three dimensional art work.
 City funding is available to communitities to improve neighborhood business districts through the Neighborhood Business District Improvement Project fund. Projects of the type we plan are limited to a maximum of $30,000.
A group of interested residents met with Matt and Frederic to start developing concepts for the project. Frederic, a Handman St. resident and local artist, teaches at the Cincinnati Art Academie and has paintings on display at Cincinnatian Hotel. He presented 4-5 potential designs for the project.
The group agreed on a basic design concept for Frederic to further develop that could fit within a $30,000 budget. They liked Frederic's creative designs for elevated metalworks that could catch breezes and dance in the wind so much, they encouraged him to further develop a more involved "plan B." This may result in looking for additional funding and/or fundraising.
Neighborhood Business District Improvement project applications are due by the end of June. We will compete with other neighborhoods to be funded, with money for approved projects available for use in 2010. Stay tuned for more news on this project designed to help cultivate Columbia Square as the "place to be."
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.... High Speed Ohio Passenger Rail Service comes to Cincinnati - and Columbia Tusculum??
State level Stimulus funds have been approved for a 3C Corridor high speed passenger rail system. "3C" refers to a connecting rail service between Cincinnati - Columbus - Cleveland. This is a State level Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) project. Terminal station location is one decision left for the local level. The project appears to be on a fast track, with a Cincinnati station location decision said to be made by City Council by the end of August.
Stimulus Money needs to be spent in an 18 month time frame, so use of existing rail lines is essential to the project. The end point preferred by most Cincinnati stakeholders would be Union Terminal. But freight rail traffic there is apparently quite congested with many delays. Amtrak is not now using Union Terminal as their passenger station for these reasons.
Instead, the Oasis line, managed by SORTA, is being proposed as one of the best available lines to get 3C passengers as close to downtown as possible. This line runs from the Milford area, down to the Beechmont Levy, along Lunken Airport, and then continues as the line we see along Eastern Ave to the Montgomery Boathouse. Another option is ending the 3C project north of the city at Sharonville.
Hence, the concerns of riverfront communities about bringing a high speed diesel train through our residential neighborhoods, continuing as far as the Boathouse. CTCC has joined with the East End Community Council (EECC)in developing a joint position on the 3C project for approval by our respective community council members.
An EECC led committee brought in the leaders of the Riverside Drive condo associations, who are in touch with Towne Properties, a large investor there. Arn Bortz of Towne Properties has written to Mayor Mallory supporting the 3C project, and recommending Lunken as a short term station proposal to start using Stimulus funds, while the City continues to work on a long term Union Terminal plan. Riverside Drive property developments represent the biggest group of recent investments made in the City outside of downtown.
CTCC President, Arlene Golembiewski called the Lunken Airport manager, Fred Atherton for information he has available. As part of the City Dept. of Transportation & Engineering, Fred was able to confirm the above information. The practical location for a Lunken station would likely be across from the main Control Tower, but no details have been established until final decision on a station location is made.
If a Lunken passenger rail station goes forward, this could serve to stimulate further development for Columbia Tusculum, Linwood and East End communities. At issue for us is what system is set up to connect Ohio rail passengers with Downtown Cincinnati.
Signifcant increase in vehicle traffic is likely if connection via surface roads is used. No information has been available on options for connection service. A bus system connection would be a low cost option that would also reduce surface road traffic.
Interest in reviving old proposals for connecting light rail commuter trains using the Oasis tracks could be revived. Adding commuter light rail service would be another added cost that does not appear to fit in the current Stimulus project budget. But a 3C project could lend credence for reviving old plans for light rail commuter service to downtown now or at a later time.
Until a final decision is made on the Cincinnati station location for a 3C Corridor rail project, connection plans to downtown remain speculation.
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Public Library seeks public's support
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For the first time in its more than 150-year history, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is considering asking the community to contribute to the Library's funding through a local property tax levy.
Throughout this tough financial time, library use has continued to grow at unprecedented levels. Already one of the Top 10 circulating libraries in the country, our library saw circulation grow to an all-time high of 15.6 million items in 2008. Reference questions, visits to the library and program attendance also grew in 2008. Computers are in use all day every day, and our Main Library was recognized as the busiest library building in the country.
Demand isn't slowing, library leaders say. Checkout of materials is already up nearly 355,000 through April. Yet funding continues to drop. "Without the additional income a property tax levy would provide we will be forced to make additional cuts including further reducing hours, cutting staff and closing branch libraries."
The library does not get money from the City of Cincinnati or the county; nor does it get local tax funding. Unlike other well known institutions like the Cincinnati Zoo, which has some funding through a property tax levy, the Public Library is dependent on state funding and small grants. Its state funding keeps shrinking with the economic downturn. After making many cuts, the library system is still facing more than a $10 million budget gap this year.
"Libraries are more crucial than ever for those who need access to our public library for free library materials, programs, homework centers, services for the homebound and elderly, and computers for job seekers, children and teens. We simply cannot allow our Library's services to be reduced at a time when the need for our services is greatest,'' said Raymond Hils, library director of facilities, services and security.
Come to the June 15 CTCC meeting to hear more from the Public Library and understand what they need for us to continue enjoying the first class services they provide.
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Annie's Night Club settlement agreement: a correction
In the May Columbia Journal we reported Annie's application for a dance hall license from the City of Cincinnati was denied earlier this year at the recommendation of the Cincinnati Police Department. We stated incorrectly this was based on the high number of liquor license violations occurring at this Kellogg Avenue establishment.
Annie's corrected us indicating they have had no liquor license violations. The initial dance hall license was denied based on the large number of "incidents" occuring at Annie's, including those involving the Cincinnati Police.
We apologize to Annie's for misrepresenting the nature of the offenses occuring there.
Riverview East Academy celebrates 1st senior graduating class
Rivervew East Academy closed a successful academic year with the graduation of its first senior class on May 28.
 Principal Eugene Smith led a procession around the school at the graduation ceremony honoring the graduates. The procession complete with Tom's bagpipers added a flourish to make this a memorable event for students and the community.
Younger students comprising a new elementary choir sang the academy's new school Alma Matar, "We Rise and Soar," written by the students and teacher Ms. Barbara James.
CTCC members TIm Jones, Garry Walker, Matt Ackermann and Arlene Golembiewski joined in the festivities by presenting graduates with a zipper "padfolio" imprinted with the CTCC "vase of flowers" logo at their dress rehersal.
We congraduate all graduating seniors. Columbia Tusculum is proud to see each one of you receiving your diploma!
We also congradulate everyone at RiverEast Academy for completing your third year at this new k-12 school and moving students in the all-new high school grades successfully through to the first ever graduating class. Well done!
Pink Ladies of Mt. Lookout ??!
Ever heard of the "Pink Ladies of Mt. Lookout?" Neither have we. And the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce apparently hasn't heard of Columbia Tusculum.
If you saw Cincinnati Magazine's recent annual "Cincinnati USA City Guide 2009," you might have caught the Regional Chamber's half page ad covering pages 54 and 55, touting the pleasures of living in the greater Cincinnati area. To visually depict these, the largest and most prominent color picture in the ad was a sweeping view our own Tusculum Avenue.
However, the caption on the picture said "Pink Ladies of Mt. Lookout." Immediately below this was a second picture of Tusculum Avenue among a row of other area neighborhoods. Again titled "Mt. Lookout."
Cincinnati Magazine at least gave a nice description of Columbia Tusculum in their eastside Neighborhoods section. We were covered as an equal among other "charming neighborhoods" of the eastside. They blew it, however, in editing their advertisements.
CTCC President, Arlene Golembiewski sent the Regional Chamber a letter advising them of the "Painted Ladies of Columbia Tusculum" and giving a profile of all this neighborhood has to offer. It has yet to be acknowledged by the Chamber.
Thanks - once again - to Tarvin Plumbing
Tarvin Plumbing on Eastern Avenue once again came to the aid of CTCC with completing a required inspection of the water faucet we have at the Columbia Parkway gateway sign garden. They've done the inspection free of charge that would otherwise cost us $120. This is the second time in the last year Tarvin's has provided plumbing services without charge for CTCC operated water lines.
This family owned and operated plumbing business has long stood the test of time. They continue to show themselves to be community oriented. So, if you need a proven and trustworthy plumber, you know who to call.
Consider recycling, making local free trades -- NOT dumping
There's a nifty, nonprofit way to feel thrifty and ecological while helping others, as well as yourself, called Freecycling. The Freecycle Network -- www.freecycle.org -- makes it easy to find almost anything you need for free, or to find a good home for your old sofa or those old
tools cluttering the garage.
The idea started in 2003 in Arizona and has spread across the country. Members, who join for free, post items online that they need or items they want to give away locally. There is no limit to how much you can donate or ask for. The only rules are that everything posted must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages.
It's all about reuse, keeping good stuff out of landfills and helping the community. Each local Freecycle Network group is moderated by a local volunteer. Give it a try.
Green Dog Cafe - we can't wait
David Lyman submitted this description of soon to open Columbia Square eatery, Green Dog Cafe from Enquirer restautant critic, Polly Campbell in her online Food blog.
"New restaurant in the works
Posted by PollyCampbell at 5/29/2009 9:23 AM EDT on Cincinnati.com
Just the other day I was wondering whatever happened to Mary Swortwood, who created both The Brown Dog Cafe and Tink's, worked at a couple of other restaurants, and then disappeared from view, at least from my view. She's been teaching, it turns out.
Well, she's coming back, with a new restaurant concept that sounds very cool and new. It's to be called The Green Dog, and will be located on Columbia Parkway where the YMCA used to be, between The Precinct and Allyn's.
Yes, it will be as green a restaurant as possible, with lots of attention paid to recycling, waste, using green products in its design and building. Local food on the menu, with plenty of choices for vegans, vegetarians, people who don't eat wheat or dairy, as well as all the rest of us. Format: order at the counter, have food brought to table.
A few things that might be on the lunch menu:
Cider-brined pastured local turkey sandwich. Green Dog veggie burger made with oats, beans, mushrooms, Green dog fries. Grilled salmon wrap with goat cheese, black beans and cucumb er salad. Oaxacan turkey burger. . . It'll also be open for dinner and breakfast.
Under construction now, with plans to open mid-July. Will be open for three meals a day Monday-Saturday, brunch on Sunday.
I will let you know when it opens. " It's almost Father's Day ...
... a day first celebrated in 1910 to honor a widowed Civil War vet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Here's how fathers stack up today:
* Estimated number of U.S. dads: 64.3 million
* Married fathers with children under 18 in 2006: 26.5 million
* Single fathers in 2006: 2.5 million. That's up from 400,000 in 1970. And 19 percent of single parents living with their children are men -- 8 percent are raising three or more kids.
Here's to you, Dad.
And where do these data on U.S. Dads come from? The U.S. Census.
Mayor Mallory encourages us to become familar with the 2010 Census and be prepared to provide requested information. So many federally funded programs are based on current City population size, as reported in the U. S. Census. We increase our available federal funding just by accurately reporting the number of City residents in the Census.
The Census counting only occurs once every ten years. So, support your community and fill out and return your 2010 Census questionnaire when it arrives. For more information, visit www.census.gov.
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Revision to Historic Conservation Ordinance & McKinley School
Cincinnati Preservation Association and the Over-the-Rhine Foundation have proposed changes to the city's Historic Conservation ordinance. CPA and OTRF offer a holistic plan intended to help save more buildings and make preservation work better in Cincinnati.
CPA states, "Cincinnati's Historic Conservation ordinance, which has helped save many buildings in the City's locally designated historic districts, needs to be updated and strengthened so it can be more effective. At present, it is too easy for owners to tear buildings down if they claim they can't afford to repair or reuse them. Nonprofits, which have a large presence in some neighborhoods, are treated differently under the law. They have only to demonstrate that a building does not meet their needs before they are allowed to remove it." CPA believes a higher bar is needed and with burden of proof put on the owner.
Last week, CTCC President Arlene Golembiewski sent a letter to City Councilwoman Roxanne Qualls strongly supporting proposed changes to Cincinnati's Historic Conservation Ordinance. CIncinnati Public School's auction of McKinley School is an important and timely case in point, she emphasized. Such unique historc buildings are key to economic development and making the city's neighborhoods sought-after places to live and work.
The 1876 building on Eastern Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places and Cincinnati's oldest remaining school. But this does not protect McKinley from being torn down or used in ways our neighborhood does not want.
The proposed Ordinance changes -- including requiring a public hearing -- would give historic buildings like McKinley a fairer chance of being saved than Cincinnati Public Schools is giving it. CPS did not inform our Community Council of the auction date, despite two phone calls to CPS requesting this, Arlene told Qualls. CPS also asked her to leave a pre-auction open house so CTCC could not distribute fliers about the school's historic value and the redevelopment potential of the community. Arlene initiated the flyer when she saw CPS had advertised McKinley for auction only as an 1876 structure zoned for "limited manufacturing."
McKinley School is about 100 feet outside the Columbia Tusculum Historic District. So, no review of the building by the City's Historic Conservation Board is required before major changes to the historic facade or demolition were to occur. Four other nationally registered buildings on Eastern Avenue, also outside the local historic district, have already been demolished since registered in 1979, she said.
CTCC agrees with CPA that we should encourage historic preservation and redevelopment of historic properties. Without this, CPA states "we risk losing an irreplaceable part of the City's character and potential for economic development."
To see the proposed changes to the Historic Conservation Ordinance or for information on how you can express support for the changes, contact ctcouncil@columbiatusculum.org. |
 In moments of economic crisis like now, tension increases and situations might get out of control and unsafe. If you or someone you know is going through domestic violence, stalking, or is a victim of sexual assault please consider an important local source of help - Women Helping Women.
Services are provided FREE of charge. Women Helping Women is a United Way Agency Partner. Check their website for more information: http://www.womenhelpingwomen.org Women Helping Women provides a wide array of services to both male and female residents of Southwestern Ohio. These include: ˇ A 24-hour Crisis Line ˇ Hospital accompaniment for rape victims ˇ Individual crisis intervention ˇ Court accompaniment and advocacy ˇ Support groups ˇ Date rape/dating violence prevention programs ˇ Community education From your neighbor and United Way Community Impact Volunteer, Eleonora Fusco |
Get involved in Columbia Tusculum
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If you would like to get more involved in your community and make new friends, consider volunteering. Newsletter and Website support continue to be our top needs!!
Your CTCC President has been serving also as both Columbia Journal editor and writer. She is running out of steam and needs help. Can YOU help?
Columbia Journal editor and support: Have ideas to improve the look and content of the e-Journal? Stories to contribute? We need someone to take over as Journal editor, as well as help in writing stories.
CTCC Website development: Help update the organization and maintain content for www.columbiatusculum.org.
Special project help: Is your time limited, but still willing to help on an ad hoc basis? We can match you with current needs. Let us know your time availability or the kind of skills you have to offer.
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It's easy to send us news. Do you have a local event to tell your neighbors about? Know of someone who's won an award, started a new business or some other noteworthy news? |
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Important phone numbers:
Emergency Calls: 911
Non-emergency police calls: 513-765-1212 (use this for most, nonemergency calls)
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.:
Officer Germaine Love, Neighborhood Liaison Officer 513-979-4480
Sgt. Cassandra Tucker, Unit Supervisor 513-979-4470
Lt. Joe Williams, 1st Shift Commander (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) 513-979-4438
Lt. Michael John, 2nd Shift Commander (1 p.m.-9 p.m.) 513-979-4437 Lt. John Rees, 3rd Shift Commander (9 p.m.-5 a.m.) 513-979-4439
District 2 Police Front Desk - 24 hours 513-979-4400
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