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The Columbia Journal September 2009
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September 21 Monthly Community Council Meeting
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Jim Coppock, Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering, will update us on current and proposed changes to bike trails through Columbia Tusculum .
CASE (Cincinnatians Active to Support Education) will review the levy for Cincinnati Public School operation up for renewal in the November election. |
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CT Calendar
September 21: CTCC meeting, 7 p.m, Riverview East Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
September 30: Candidates Forum (City Council candidates answer neighborhood questions), 7 p.m., Cintas Center
October 8: City Open House to create Bicycle Master Plan, 7 - 9 p.m. McKie Recreation Center in Northside (1533 Chase Ave).
October 19: CTCC meeting, 7 p.m., Riverview East Academy, 3555 Kellogg Ave.
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| Columbia Tusculum Community Council Notes |
August CTCC Meeting Notes
Councilmember Chris Monzel spoke on how to address unmaintained properties, a growing issue in the neighborhood. See more information on how to handle these issues below.
Captain Weisman notified us that Annie's has canceled their Sunday night dance. The 17 officers that were to be laid off in District 2, as disscussed at the meeting, have retained their jobs. Crime overall in District Two is down 10%. The highest frequency crimes here continue to be burglaries and thefts from autos.
Cameron Ross, City Planning, gave us an overview of the process the City is engaged in to develop their first new Comprehensive Plan in nearly thirty years. The Plan will identify the City's biggest assets and challenges, with priorities and recommendations defined.
Josh Phillips, CTCC Treasurer, informed us the current CTCC account balance is $37,707.
Fran Santangelo, CTCC Director and BeneFIT Studio business owner, announced she is organizing a new Columbia Tusculum Business Association. See article below.
Arlene Golembiewski, CTCC President, reviewed four key objectives the CTCC Steering Team identified for 2009-2010. These objectives are further described in an article below.
A motion was passed, 17-0-0, that CTCC request the City Planning Commission include deed restrictions with the transfer of land it owns that McKinley sits on. This is to initiate review by the City's Urban Conservator if any demolition, new construction or major exterior alterations are proposed for this 1876 building on the National Register of Historic Places. See more on McKinley School below. |
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CTCC Focus Areas
What does a Community Council do? The short answer is, we do what we choose to do. Community Councils are not a branch of city government. We are an independent, State of Ohio nonprofit organizations set up to promote and improve our neighborhood, and to address issues of concern to residents and business owners.
The CTCC Steering Team looked at overall objectives we've worked to address and projects now on our plate. This is a short review of the Council's focus areas identified for 2009-2010 and current projects. A few are legacy projects we maintain with long standing value to the neighborhood. Others are current initiatives.
This is by no means a fixed list. This is your chance to help shape the work of the Council and to get involved. Tell us what you think is important. Let us know of other projects you would like CTCC to consider sponsoring. Most of all, let us know where you would like to get involved in making Columbia Tusculum a better place to live and work. You can always reach us at ctcc@columbiatusculum.org.
Promote Columbia Tusculum as a community: A community newsletter and promoting the neighborhood with the biennial Historic Home Tour are both more than 25 years old. The newsletter went electronic last year. We now need to revamp our webpage and better use local media to publicize CT events and projects. We plan to install new neighborhood banners on the Parkway and use signage to announce events. We want to look at sponsoring other annual events like a local race to publicize who we are as a neighborhood.
Support Business Development: The growing group of Columbia Parkway businesses gives us a basis to kick off a new CT Business Association (see below). We've also applied for a grant to introduce another public art project; this one to bring attention to Columbia Square.
Clean, Safe, Green: Clean and green neighborhoods are inherently safer and communicate a sense of pride. CTCC maintains four beautification projects: two gateway sign parks, a pocket park at Eastern Ave. and Airport Road, and the streetscape trees and median strips around Columbia Square. We need help with some of these! With the recent uptick in crime, CTCC facilitates Neighborhood Watch groups and participation in Citizens on Patrol. We've initiated direction from the City on how to most effectively deal with unmaintained private property.
Promote consistency in zoning and integrity in building codes & public land use: We are one of the hottest neighborhoods for new construction and many of these involve zoning variance requests. CTCC is freqently asked to input to variance requests and provide letters of support. We play a watchdog role in maintaining the integrity of our historic district. City projects involve opportunities for us to input to public land use in our neighborhood: rail lines, park land useage, public view corridors, etc.
New residents and businesses have been asking how can they get involved in the neighborhood. This is our list. We welcome and need help in all four areas. New ideas are most welcome. Whether you want to lead or participate, contact us at ctcc@columbiatusculum.org. |
First Columbia Tusculum Business Association Meeting
Fran Santangelo, the Owner of BeneFIT Studio on Columbia Parkway, is heading up the Columbia Tusculum Business Association. The initial meeting will be held at Allyn's, Monday, September 28th from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The purpose will be to gather everyone's info, discuss goals of the association, and set future quarterly meeting times.
Please RSVP to Fran for this meeting and if you cannot make it please try to send a representative from your business.
Fran Santangelo
513-533-CORE
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Mayor Mallory and City Manager Dohoney visit Green Dog Cafe and Promote use of the Grow Cincinnati Loan Program
On September 10th, at 10:00 am Jim Neyer, Mayor Mallor, City Manager Dohoney, other city employees, business people, and community members met at Green Dog Cafe to celebrate their recent opening. The visit was also used to promote the availability of the Grow Cincinnati Loan Program to local businesses. The purpose of this fund is to encourage the expansion and increase the capacity of small business by providing "gap" debt financing and access to technical assistance. Loans are issued at prime plus 1.5%. Funding is available to successful growing or qualified emerging small businesses. Green Dog received a loan of $221,000 through this program. Another City small business financing program is the MicroCity Loan Fund Program, where loans can not exceed $35,000
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Bicycle Master Plan Process Kicks-off
Last week the City of Cincinnati kicked-off the planning process for a new Bicycle Master
Plan. The City's last bike plan was created in 1976. The City hopes to increase the
number of cyclists in the area by making it easier for more people to choose bicycles for
trips around town. The Bicycle Master Plan will provide the long-term vision for the
development of a citywide bicycle network consisting of bike lanes, trails, signed shared
roadways, and bicycle parking. The network will also be complemented by educational,
encouragement, and enforcement programs that will cultivate a cultural awareness of
bicycling as a viable means of transportation in Cincinnati.
"Our hope is that by building a citywide network of bicycle infrastructure, and
supporting it with educational programming, we can transform our culture so that
average Cincinnatians feel as safe riding their bicycles for daily trips as they do riding in
their cars," said Michael Moore, Interim Director of the Department of Transportation &
Engineering.
The planning process begins this week with a "rolling focus group" coordinated by the
Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Queen City Bike, a local bicycle advocacy
group. Staff from the Bike Plan project team will be riding city streets with local cyclists,
learning about existing problems first-hand, as well as hearing about improvements that
cyclists hope to see in the future. The Bike Plan Stakeholder Committee also meets this
week for the first time. The group is a diverse coalition of approximately 50 corporate,
non-profit, and community representatives.
The first public open house for the Bike Plan is scheduled for October 8 at 7pm at the
McKee Recreation Center in Northside. For more information, visit
www.cincinnati-oh.gov/bikeplan. |
City Council Candidate Forum
If you want to know who's best qualified to serve on City Council, then you'll want to come to the Invest in Neighborhoods (IIN) candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 30. IIN has been taping candidate answers to questions submitted by community councils, and the responses are quite enlightening. Those running for Council and the Mayor's office will state their positions and answer questions you have in this event which starts at 7 pm at the Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus. Gene Beaupre, assistant director of the Xavier University Institute for Politics and Public Life, will moderate. |
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City Hosts Streetcar Information Open Houses
The City of Cincinnati is hosting a series of 10 open houses throughout the city to provide information on the proposed modern streetcar system. City staff will be on hand to answer questions from the public and present information about topics such as what the modern streetcars look like, the economic benefits, the costs, how they operate, and the route.
Additionally, the public will be asked to provide comments on the system and particularly the "connector route" to Uptown. This is the path the streetcar will take from its downtown route to Uptown, which includes the area aroundthe University of Cincinnati, the hospitals, and the zoo. These are the city's two largest employment centers with about 130,000 workers everyday. The proposed system does not currently include a route that circulates through
the streets in Uptown.
The open house schedule is:
Tuesday, September 22, 5-7 pm, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street 45202
Thursday, September 24, 6-8 pm, Bond Hill Recreation Center, 1501 Elizabeth Place 45237
Monday, September 28, 11 am-1 pm, Fountain Square, Corner of 5th St and Vine St. 45202
Tuesday, October 13, 6-8 pm, Oakley Rec Center, 3882 Paxton Avenue, Hyde Park Plaza 45209
Tuesday, October 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, College Hill Recreation Center, 5545 Belmont Ave 45224
Tuesday, October 27, 6-8 pm, Corryville Recreation Center, 2823 Eden Ave. 45219
Wednesday, November 4, 6-8 pm, LeBlond Rec Center, 2335 Riverside Drive 45202
Tuesday, November 10, 5-7 pm, City Hall, Room 115, 801 Plum Street 45202
Wednesday, November 18, 6:30-8:30 pm, Price Hill Rec Center, 959 Hawthorne Ave 45205
Tuesday, September 29, 5-7 pm, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County 800 Vine Street 45202 |
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Tom Brokaw Presents American Character Along Hwy 50
USA Network and Tom Brokaw are setting out to capture the changing face of a nation in the documentary American Character Along Highway 50. Brokaw has been hitting the road along Highway 50, a route that has been called the "backbone of America." This historic road cuts a path through the middle of the United States.
Brokaw will document the lives of the Americans he encounters, exploring the profound economic, political and cultural changes they are experiencing during these uncertain, and particularly historic, times. He will visit communities both large and small and hear uniquely American stories of hardship and hope, of struggle and survival, of overcoming great odds.
American Character Along Highway 50 will premiere on USA Network in January 2010 as a one-hour primetime documentary special timed to the first anniversary of President Obama's inauguration. Beginning this spring, USA will broadcast Brokaw's monthly updates on his travels in "Dispatches From The Road," short vignettes featuring the people and places he will visit on his Highway 50 road trip.
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And Another Update On The Mural
Artworks, the non-profit organization who provided us the opportunity to have a mural in our neighborhood, is submitting a detailed plan to SORTA before work can begin on installation of the mural, on the railroad overpass where Delta Ave and Eastern Ave intersect. Part of the submittal will be preparation of a traffic management plan, as lanes will need to closed on Eastern. Once SORTA approves the plan and lane closures are obtained, installation will follow the work schedule below:
Masonry Repairs - 2 days
10 days to cure
Wall Prep - 1 day
7 days to cure
Fabric Installation - 1 to 2 days
More information will be provided when lane closure dates are determined. |
Bruegger's Grand Opening
On August 7, Bruegger's Bakery-Café opened its most recent bakery in Cincinnati at 3515 Columbia Parkway. Located near the intersection of Delta Avenue and Columbia Parkway, the new bakery offers free WiFi, catering and a drive thru service.
The 1,900 square foot bakery-café is one of eight bakeries in the Cincinnati area. It will feature indoor seating for 26 with additional seating on the outdoor patio.
"Cincinnati is such a welcoming and dynamic community," said James J. Greco, CEO of Bruegger's. "We look forward to becoming a neighborhood gathering place for breakfast and lunch in Columbia Square."
To officially welcome the restaurant's new neighbors, Bruegger's hosted a grand opening celebration Thursday August 20 through Saturday August 22. The weekend included a guest appearance by a special Cincinnati Zoo animal. A percentage of sales from the weekend benefited programs of the Zoo.
With a commitment to freshness, every Bruegger's bakery and café features kettle-boiled bagels and bread baked on site throughout the day. Its extensive menu is free of transfats and includes breakfast items, Signature Soups, fresh-tossed salads and made-to-order sandwiches. Coffee is always brewing, including a daily Fair Trade Certifiedä blend from Green Mountain Coffee®.
Lee Ann Werner is the area manager for the Columbia Tusculum location. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
Stuart Revis Leaving Starbucks
Stuart Revis - the manager at Columbia Tusculum's Starbucks - is leaving.
From the day the store opened 9 years ago, Stuart has been a one-man community cheerleader. He's hosted arts shows, baby birthday parties and Sunday morning schmoozefests. He's provided a forum for local musicians. He's championed community events. And for hundreds of us every day, he has provided a friendly face and an energizing cup of java - or tea, or whatever - to ease us into what might otherwise have been be chaotic workdays.
Our loss, however, is the University of Cincinnati's gain. On September 14, Stuart takes over as the manager of Catskeller, a restaurant/beer hall/entertainment center in the Tangeman University Center. He'll also be running the center's Main Street Cinema.
Back in Columbia Tusculum, we'll still have our Starbucks. But many of us will miss Stuart - a lot
We can't let him leave without thanking him. So if you're free, join us for a very informal farewell at Allyn's Cafe on Wed. evening, Sept. 16 beginning at 7 p.m to say good-bye, good luck, and thanks for being such a devoted anchor to our community.
WHERE: Allyn's Cafe, 3538 Columbia Parkway
WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 7 p.m. on
WHAT: A farewell to Stuart. And please feel free to indulge yourself - Allyn's has a good menu and a full bar. |
Good News on McKinley School!
The City of Cincinnati still owns the land that McKinley School is on and agreed to tranfer it at no cost to Cincinnati Public School so CPS can proceed to sell the building.
Here's the good news! The Cincinnati Planning Commission agreed to a CTCC request to include deed restrictions with the land transfer to include review by the City's Urban Conservator if any demolition, new construction or major exterior alterations to the building are proposed. The Commission understood that the school is outside our historic district and the current "limited manufacturing" zoning for the property offers no protection for maintaining the historic 1876 structure.
They also offered to have to property rezoned to a non-manufacturing designation, consistent with the rest of the Eastern Ave. Arlene Golembiewski, CTCC President, spoke with the City Planning Department before the hearing. They were glad this was brought up to bring attention to the impact these large surplus school properties can have in neighborhoods. Thanks to Arlene for her dedication and follow-through to make this happen. It never hurts to try!! |
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Miller time is Millie's time
Columbia Tusculum resident, Mildred Wilson, has been serving beer at Cincinnati Reds home games for some time. 55 years! She started at Crosley Field in 1954, moved to Riverfront Stadium when it opened on June 30, 1970, and landed at Great American when the new ballpark debuted in 2003.
Mildred (Millie) serves about 300 beers a game. The fans keep her coming back year after year. Come early October, Millie will call it a season - until April. "The winter will go by quickly," she promises. "It always does."
"Oh, I'll be back," she says, for Opening Day, her favorite time of the year.
This is an excerpt from Eillen Kelley's article Miller time is Millie's time that ran on 9/12/09 in the Enquirer. See link for the full article. Link will be available until 10/12/09. |
Riley School of Irish Music Classes Beginning in September
A unique cultural opportunity awaits right in our neighborhood, especially if you enjoy the lively rhythms of Celtic music.
The Riley School of Irish Music opened for classes in January of 1996. The founder of the School, fiddler Susan Cross, started the school in memory of her mother, Elsie Riley Goodman. Students aged 8 to 80 can learn to play music in the Irish style on a variety of traditional instruments.
The 10 week Fall Quarter started September 12 with an Open House but its not too late to sign up for Fall classes or drop by for a visit. Classes are held on Saturdays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Columbia Baptist Church, 3718 Eastern Avenue. Tuition is $150 per quarter. Students attend small group classes and band rehearsal (or slow jam for beginners). Beginning fiddle students receive 30 minute private lessons. A special Holiday Concert takes place in Nov-Dec. featuring Celtic holiday music by students and faculty.
It is not necessary to know how to read music since the Irish style is by oral tradition. Each student or family is given a CD containing the tunes to be learned during the quarter. The student listens and becomes as familiar as possible with the tunes. The tunes are then taught slowly in class, along with style and phrasing.
For more information on classes, faculty, activities, classes, visit the Riley website at www.rileyirishmusic.com or call (513)588-0036. |
Riverview East School Supplies Drive
A huge thank you to all of those who donated school supplies at one of Parkside Christian Church's School Supply drop-off boxes. Parkside was able to give supplies to all 40 teachers and their students! Below is letter of thanks from one of the students.
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Parkside Outreach Shoe Giveaway
There's just something about a brand new pair of shoes for the first day of school. New shoes on your feet make you feel like you can face anything the year may throw your way. The Parkside Christian Church Outreach at 3710 Eastern Ave stepped up to give a number of disadvantaged students this feeling for the coming school year.
People lined up outside waiting for the doors to open at 9 am on Saturday August 22 so they could be fitted for one of the over 150 pairs of brand-new shoes that were donated for the event. For the next 3 hours volunteers registered guests, sized feet and tried to match kids with the styles they wanted. Each child left with a new pair of shoes, a new pair of socks, some new friends and a place they can go for support throughout the year.
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Parkside River Campus 1st Service
"Lead people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ."
That's what we do at Parkside Christian Church. For years that has
taken the form of distributing food and providing medical assistance at
our Outreach Center that serves the Columbia Tusculum and East End
neighborhoods. Recently, we've expanded into new parts of the community
and made an effort to become even more involved.
Soon we are taking a big step and opening a new campus, one in your very
own community. We're not trying to entertain, judge or give everyone
that warm fuzzy feeling inside. We just want people to have a real
relationship with Jesus and we know that starts with an introduction
from someone like us.
If you are looking for a change in your life or if you are just curious,
come and check us out. Our first service is Sunday September 27 at
LeBlond Recreation Center, 2335 Riverside Dr for more information, visit
www.visitparkside.com Consider this your personal invitation. |
Leblond Recreation Cener - Fall Classes
Bellydance Classes - October
Please register with the instructor by email, Stephanie Thiess at canyonsmommie@gmail.com or call (513) 281-3209. Cost: $10.00/class
Class Days: Tuesdays Time: TBA
Family Halloween Festival - Friday, October 23, 2009
4:30pm-6:00pm Cost: FREE
Zumba
Mondays 6:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesdays 6:15pm-7:15pm
Cost: Membership Fee- Adults: $15.00/year Seniors (50 and over): $5.00/year
Indoor Group Cycling
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00am-10:45am
Fridays 9:00am-9:45am
Pre-School Gym (Ages 18 months-3 yrs.)
Thursdays 10:30am-12:00pm
September 17 - October 29
Cost: $1.00/class+$5.00 Youth Membership
Pre-School Soccer
September 16 - October 28
Wednesdays 5:00pm-5:45pm
Cost: $21.00
LeBlond Recreation Center offers many other programs. We also have a Fitness Center, Library, Gym and Multi Purpose room. Please stop by for a visit!
Center Hours
Monday 11:00am-9:00pm
Tuesday/Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am-8:00pm
Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED
**Please call 281-3209 to find out about rental fees and dates.
LeBlond Recreation Center
2335 Riverside Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 281-3209 |
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!!
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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Columbia Tusculum For Sale
Columbia Tusculum Padfolios: These black faux leather padfolios hold a standard 8 1/2 x 11 tablet on the right and have pockets of several sizes on the left. A large outer pocket and zipper enclosure make these perfect for both work and school. A large CTCC urn and flowers logo is embossed on the front, letting people know we are "Cincinnati's Oldest Neighborhood." $18.00
Let people know you're from Columbia Tusculum with a CT tote bag. This heavy organic cotton canvas tote bag holds a lot because it's 17 in. x 13 in. with deep 7 inch side panels. Something old, something new with both CT logos front and back. A classy bargain at $12.50.
To place your order: send a check & identify items ordered to CTCC, P.O. Box 26085, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Include your name, address, email address & phone #. If orders cannot be left on your porch, give delivery instructions. |
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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
Street Corner Unit - 352-2555
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