The next meeting of the Kennedy Heights Community Council will take place Tonight - Tuesday, February 21th at the Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church beginning at 7:30 PM.

As always, there will be a ton of great information about our neighborhood!

The Neighborhood Enhancement Program is a 90-day focused strategy addressing neighborhood quality of life issues in Kennedy Heights. The program is designed to jumpstart the community on the road to revitalization and redevelopment through a coordinated partnership between the City of Cincinnati and the Kennedy Heights community.

Beginning March 1, 2012 the City will deploy these new strategies whereby all City departments will be working co-operatively within the selected area of Kennedy Heights for a 90-day period. The goal is to enhance the quality of life, eliminate blight and increase safety in our neighborhood. We are contacting you on behalf of the City and as neighborhood leaders to join us to help and support this effort. You are invited to an informational meeting on Monday, February 27, 2012, 6:00 pm, at the Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church, 6312 Kennedy Avenue, to learn more.

Beginning March 1, City inspectors will be going street-to-street within the Project Area noting the condition of each property, including peeling paint and litter, among other building maintenance and safety issues. If you own property that is littered or has tall grass, please keep the property clean and the grass cut for the good of the neighborhood and to avoid fines and citations. To help you comply with building and health code regulations, a list of housing programs with contacts and phone numbers is provided within. We encourage you to become involved in the Kennedy Heights Community Council dedicated to improving the quality of life in Kennedy Heights. It will take your cooperation and dedication, and the support of many agencies to make a real impact. We hope you'll join us!

A host of neighborhood and city officials will be gathering on Thursday March 1st. at 6199 Coleridge Ave. to officially kick off the Neighborhood Enhancement Program which will help transform our neighborhood over the next three months.

Please come to this historic event.

Island Moves: Art and Dance of Haiti
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 - 2 pm

Learn about and experience Haitian culture through authentic dance and art experiences. In this fun inter-generational workshop led by artists Jeanne Speier and Robin Hartman, we will explore cultural movement from Haiti and make original art pieces to be used in the dance.

Sure to be fun for all ages! This event is free, part of the Macy's Art Sampler sponsored by ArtsWave

Beyond Emancipation
Continues through Feb. 25

In our galleries through February 25, Beyond Emancipation is an exploration of African-American culture through contemporary art, with works on display representative of the connection between the past and recent history.

The exhibition honors the 25th anniversary of Juneteenth Cincinnati, an annual event celebrating one of the most important events in American history -- the end of slavery in America. Featured artists include Robert Harris, Michael Todd, Kelly & Kyle Phelps, Melvin Grier, Jymi Bolden, Terrance Hammonds and Thom Shaw. In addition, ceramics created by students at the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired are on display.

The Kennedy Heights Senior's meet every Thursday at the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center (5915 Ridge Avenue) and enjoy all types of activities. If you're 50+ and ready to have a great time, come meet Ms. Sally and the rest of the gang for great programs and events such as Cards & Games, Art Class, Walking for Wellness, Zumba Class, Health screenings and much more.

Every Thursday starting at 10am is the time for fun and fellowship!

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At the Recreation Center, there's always lots going on for youth teens and adults!

AIM Cincinnati is offering Movement Expressions classes, Ballet, Kids Combo and Dance Fusion/Modern/Contemporary/Hip Hop

BANG Cincinnati is offering Ballet, Jass and Hip Hop.

Beat the winter weight gain with Zumba Gold on Thursdays 11:00am - 11:30am for $3.00/class.

Purchase your All CRC Pool Membership Now! You may purchase pool memberships for a special early bird rate online before March 1. Be sure to visit www.cincyrec.org for those rates! After March 1, 2012, pool memberships (excludes Dunham Pool) will cost $20.00 (17 & younger), $35.00 (ages 18 - 49), $20.00 (50 & older), $75.00 (family membership - 3 - 6 immediate family members) + $10.00 for each additional family members. These memberships are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.

Be sure to purchase your 2012 All CRC Recreation Center Membership card! This card is valid at all CRC centers and valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Rates are $10.00 for ages 17 & younger and ages 50 & older, $25.00 for ages 18 - 49.

Summer Day Camp is right around the corner! Priority Registration for Summer Day Camp is Monday, February 13 - Friday, February 24. Open Registration will begin March 5. The cost for camp this year is $1,0050.00. Please stop by Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center for details or call us at 731-7894.

Cincinnati Public Schools has launched a survey to gain input on the development of the district's budget for the 2012-13 school year. Currently, the district is facing a $43 million budget gap, which must be closed for the budget to be balanced as required by law. We would very much like to include as much community input as possible in this survey, which opened February 14th and will close March 2nd. If you have listservs of members of your community, we encourage you to forward the following links to them and invite them to participate in the survey. Here is the link to the budget survey: http://www.k12insight.com/cps/budgetsurvey.html
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Courtesy of Citizens on Patrol, Here are a few quick suggestions on steps we can take to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe -

• Be aware of strangers in the neighborhood.
• Do not engage people who are strangers.
• Do not give cash or food to panhandlers. Instead, provide an assistance referral card for them.
• Do you have a block watch on your street? Is it active? Do you need signs?
• Please tell latch-key kids to not answer the door if a stranger rings the bell or knocks.
• Look to other neighborhoods for possible solutions (Northside/College Hill).
• Put together a list of those who are at home in the early afternoon so kids know who's around.

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The City of Cincinnati will implement new trash collection routes effective March 5. Approximately 50,000 homes will experience a change in trash collection day and/or recycling collection week. Public Services will mail a postcard to all affected residents with detailed information about their day and/or week change. In addition, Director Andrew Glenn will visit all affected community councils prior to March 5 to briefly discuss the changes and address any concerns or questions. The City anticipates the alterations will improve customer service, evenly distribute workloads and save nearly $1 million per year.

You can access the Facebook page here and our Twitter page here.

Watch your Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates on our neighborhood's many happenings, and make sure and pass the word along. The more the merrier!

The Kennedy Heights Community Council next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Tuesday February 21th at 7:30. The executive board meets immediately before.

Contact the Kennedy Heights Community Council
kennedyheights.org
khcc@kennedyheights.org

email: khcc@kennedyheights.org

web: http://www.kennedyheights.org