The Park Board has been forced to make almost $1.4 MM of cuts - or 34% of their General Fund budget for 2011.  This is higher than earlier projected, when the City first asked all departments submit 2011 budget reductions.  Some departments were later declared exempt from cuts (trash collection, police, fire), resulting in remaining departments needing to make greater cuts to cover these.  No free lunch.

What does this mean for residents who use and love the Cincinnati Park system?

The good news is the Park Board will focus available budget on maintaining core parks in its system, like Alms Park and Ault Park. 

They will also continue the popular Summer Nature Camps for kids, giving kids from ages 3 ½ to 13 places to interact and learn about nature inside the City limits.

Areas making up the cuts include: 

·         The Greenspace Program:  reduce 63% of areas to be maintained.  These beautify and maintain public green spaces on highways, parkways, community gateways, traffic islands, Downtown Cincinnati, community business districts and other public areas.  This includes Columbia Parkway.  Grass cutting will be done every 72 days. (Note: CTCC maintains the CT community gateway on the Pkwy near Tusculum Av.)

·         Concerts & Events:  all eliminated for 2011. 

 ·         Krohn Conservatory:eliminate all Floral Shows, except for Butterfly show and Holiday show, which will have fees.  Also reduced operating hours, closed on Mondays & Holidays, admission fee added.

·         Volunteer Program: Drastically reduce the successful program that supports many Park system facilities and functions because Volunteer Coordinator position is eliminated.  Go from 90,000 volunteer hours to 10,000 hours, now to be managed by remainining staff.

 ·         Horticultural Displays in parks: reduced to only those supported by private partnerships.

·         Trash Collection: reduced to only when grass is cut.  Start "pack it out" approach, asking people to take their trash with them when leaving parks

 ·         New/renovated parks: Scale back opening of Riverfront Park and delay re-opening of Washington Park until 2012.

 To check on your favorite Park programs, see www.cincinnatiparks.com.

  

College Hill was considered to be the second most important community along the Cincinnati Underground Railroad connection during the 1840's and 1850's. Hike along one of the ravines used by escaping slaves to avoid the "public, narrow and dusty turnpike" on their way to abolitionist homes in the area. After the hike, view historic documents and maps from 1848 and 1869 that show the slaves' routes and possible stops.  Dr. Carl Westmoreland, Senior Advisor Historical Preservationist for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will be at Laboiteaux Woods after the hike.

  

The hike covers approximately 1.5 miles of moderately rough terrain, on and off the trail. Dress for the weather. Suitable for teens and adults. Reservations required. Call 542-2909 for more information.

  

Popular Summer Nature Camp programs for children ages 3 1/2 to 13 will again be offered for 2011.  See www.cincinnatiparks.com/explore-nature for a full brochure.  Camp activities are updated each year.  Economical, educational and fun!

  

Online registration begins February 28.

Are Your Property Values Too High?

 

 

Dusty Rhodes, Hamilton County Auditor, will be at the February 21st Mt. Lookout Community Council meeting.  He will discuss the process that a homeowner has to take to request reassessment if they feel their property values are too high.

 

Property taxes are based on this value, so don't miss this money-saving meeting.  The meeting is at Christ the King Parish Center at 7:30pm.

 

Information on how property assessments are done is also posted on the Auditor's website:  http://www.hamiltoncountyauditor.org/revalue.asp  

 

  

In 1937 after the flood waters receded, F.G. Tarvin purchased the building at the current location of 3749 Eastern Avenue. During the past 74 years at this location, the company has expanded from a small operation in the basement to occupy the entire building as well as an adjacent lot and warehouse. Five generations of family members have participated in growing and sustaining the business to it's current level.

 

As a long time neighbor and residential business of the Columbia Tusculum/East End area, the company has witnessed and participated in a great deal of change over the years.  In fact, Mike Tarvin used to live on the 3800 block of Eastern Avenue when he first got married. 

 

Tarvin Plumbing offers efficient, dependable plumbing services for all types of residential and light commercial plumbing repairs and piping replacements as well as faucets, disposals, pumps, water heaters and just about anything to do with plumbing.

 

Tarvin also performs complete kitchen and bath remodeling including design, demolition, electric, plaster, tile, shower doors, mirrors, cabinetry and countertops.

 

The company is currently turning it's focus on the local area as it's main source of new clients.  The idea is to keep the business local and maximize the use of time and energy within the area as a benefit and service to all.

 

Mike Tarvin and Tarvin plumbing have been generous supporters of various Columbia Tusculum activities, including the Home Tour and have provided free plumbing support for neighborhood initiatives.  Thank you Mike!!

 

Tarvin Plumbin is currently offering 10% off all work completed to any customer in the 45226, 45227, 45228, 45208, and 45209 zip codes.

 

  

 

The City of Cincinnati's Columbia Tusculum     neighborhood will be home to the first "Greenarama" home show.  Greenarama will showcase newly constructed green homes by a variety of area builders.  It is modeled after the successful CiTiRAMA homeshow, a partnership between the City of Cincinnati and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Cincinnati, showcasing new home construction in the City since 1996.

  

Greenarama will be located on Strafer Street in the Columbia Tusculum neighborhood.  Scheduled during National Home Ownership Month, the Greenarama Home Show will be open to the public for 2 weekends - starting Friday, June 18th.  Other activities will happen during the week of June 20-24, including Realtor Day and tours for the Greening the Heartland Conference, a Midwest regional conference for the U. S> Green Building Council.  www.greeningtheheartland.org.

  

Greenarama will highlight the City's Green Building Residential Property Tax Exemption.  Also, known as the Residential Tax Abatement Program, this program offers a 15-year property tax abatement to encourage new construction and rehabilitation of residential properties that meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum standards.

  

The City of Cincinnati's Office of Environmental Quality is a partner in the project through the OEQ administered Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant - some of which is being used to help promote Greenarama.  Greenarama will help implement several recommendations in the Green Cincinnati Plan that promote residential energy efficiency.  The Plan has a specific recommendation to expand the Residential Tax Abatement program to include improvements to existing homes.  In the interim, existing home owners, can take advantage of programs through the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, www.greatercea.org, to help with energy improvements to existing homes.

  

For more information on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification see - www.usgbc.org.

  

For more information on the City of Cincinnati's Green Building residential Property Tax Exemptions see - www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/pages/-3521-/.

  

Check out more information at www.greenarama.org and on their facebook page.

  

A neighborhood party, coinciding with Greenarama, will take place on June 18th, in the evening (time TBD), at GreenDog Cafe.  More to follow in March!!!

  

Join five decades of Greater Cincinnati Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Northern Kentucky University in celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Peace Corps.

 

Since President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, more than 200,000 volunteers - from 18 and to 86 - have worked and lived in 139 host countries, improving lives around the world.   And learned much about themselves in the bargain.