The Hamiltonian Magazine

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A MYSTERY, A HISTORY, A HOME

By MAGGIE VIOX

17STRONG: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

By LAURA MARIE

Our Town. Our Stories. Our Pride

Quality Care You Can Trust Having spent his entire career providing wellness resources to the community, Jeff has been impressed with Fort Hamilton Hospital’s dedication to improving the lives of local residents. When he needed a total knee replacement and surgery for a torn rotator cuff, Jeff felt confident in choosing Fort Hamilton Hospital for his care. After two successful surgeries, Jeff was thrilled with the results. “The care was absolutely superb.

From the physicians to the caregivers, everybody was just fantastic.”

ketteringhealth.org/forthamilton

FO RT H A M I LTO N H O S P I TA L

Jeff Fort Hamilton Hospital orthopedic patient

CONTENTS

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18

Our Team

17Stong Getting to Know Your Neighbors

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21

September Crossword

Recognition Hamilton’s YWCA is helping Empower Women

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School District Update

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Community Community Foundation Makes Impact

Hamilton Hounds Sarge

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Food for All Shared Harvest Food Truck Rally!

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Child Health Recognizing Your Child’s Emotional Wellness

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One City One Book

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Great Hamiltonians Richard Butler

A Mystery, A History, A Home A Couple’s Dedication to Restoring the Past

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A’Shon Riggins Gearing Up for Another Season

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Primary Health Solutions An Affordable, All-In-One, Quality Health Facility

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September Events

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Teacher Spotlight Elizabeth Carlson

Color Your World More Than a Craft Store

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED! PUBLISHER One Pride Publishing, LLP PHOTOGRAPHER Brian Suman GRAPHIC DESIGN The Hamiltonian; WRITERS Stephanie Foley, Eric Hickey, Richard O Jones, Laura Marie, Maggie Viox PRINTER Hamilton Graphics

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AUTOMOTIVE

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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

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Pfefferle Tire & Auto Service

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Wings on Brookwood

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Hamilton Community Foundation

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Rose Automotive

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FUNERAL SERVICES

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Weigel Funeral Home

YWCA Hamilton

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

PARTY SUPPLIES

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Butler Behavioral Health Services

Noonan’s Party Store

BANKS & CREDIT UNIONS

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AllWealth Federal Credit Union

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Community First Solutions

West Side Animal Clinic

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AUTO BODY REPAIR

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FULL SERVICE PRINT SHOP

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Hamilton Graphics

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PET CARE

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Telhio Credit Union

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Kettering Health Network

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REAL ESTATE

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Jeff Boyle Group

PHOTOGRAPHY

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CALL CENTER

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ACCOUNTANT & CPA’S

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HOSPICE

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ART SUPPLIES AND FRAMING

ENTERTAINMENT

HOSPITALITY

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Renaissance Fine Art Supplies

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SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND EDUCATION

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4

Gina’s Italian Kitchen & Tavern

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Hamilton City Schools

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FOOD & BEVERAGE ATTORNEY

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INSURANCE

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Miami Regionals

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SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD

September Crossword 1

2 3

4

5

AUGUST CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Y

5

1

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L 6 B O B

8

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D I G I T A L I N S P E C T I O N S A 3 N L A D D R E S S I N G S P P I N G U B 7 Q L 9 L E U N I O N G U N B O A T S Y C U L A I N B R A R Y S

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J 4 S A M O K K E E S W A R D S A R I N G S 10 T A L E E

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August Issue 10

ACROSS

DOWN

2 Tafter he Food For All Food Truck Rally will be taking place at 1 _______ was named Major 5ACROSS The YWCA was founded in 1900 5 Tby heDr. YWCA was founded in 1900 by Dr. ________. General Richard Butler. ________ and the RiversEdge Amphitheater. _________.

2 The Food For All Food Truck Rally 7 The Round Hill Estate was will be taking place ______ Carlson and ______.

7 Toriginally he Roundbuilt Hill by Estate was originally built by ________.

3 Eat lizabeth began teaching in Hamilton after she the RiversEdge Amphitheater.

8 _______ is a time for about 10 finished grad school at ________.

3 Elizabeth Carlson began teaching in knitters to come together, work on 8 _their _______ is a time foroccasionally about 10 knitters to come together, Hamilton after she finished grad own projects, and work on their own projects, occasionally ask questions 4 A s a care giver, it is best to keep an open ________ with your school to at ________. ask questions to each otherand if they 4 As a care giver, it ischild bestabout to keep an health. get stuck. each other if they get stuck. mental open _____ with your child about 10 The YWCA has programs that mentalinhealth. 6 R ichard Butler was born in ________ and came to America housing for womenthat in need, 10 include T he YWCA has programs include housing for women 6 Richard Butler was born in ______ a domestic violence shelter and a need, atodomestic violencegirls shelter to help when he was five-years-old. came to America when he was ______ help encourage to and a ________and encourage girls to stay healthy, educated and independent. healthy, educated and five-years-old. stay 9 Primary independent.

9 Primary Health Solutions is aHealth non- Solutions is a nonproft that operates three proft that operates community three community health centers in Hamilton, one in ________, health centers in Hamilton, one in two in Middletown and sends a Mobile Dental DOWN one in Fairfield, _____, one in Fairfield, two in 1 _ _______ was named after Major General Richard Butler.

Unit to schools all around Butler County.

Middletown and sends a Mobile Dental Unit to schools all around Butler County.

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SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION! AS THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR unfolds, the district is focused on academic growth and school safety.

■ Our district made significant achievement improvements in 16 out of 21 academic indicators on the state report card, including all indicators at the secondary level (grades 7-12). We look forward to more growth this school year as we continue to implement the instructional initiatives that are in place for our students.

■ Over 42 new teachers have joined the Hamilton City School District team, sharing the talents that they learned from over 15 colleges and universities.

District and school mentors will support these new educators as they make a positive impact on our students.

■ Providing a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff continues to be a top priority for the school

New staff for the 2018-2019 school year is represented from over 15 colleges and universities.

district. Five School Resource Officers (SROs), employed through the Hamilton Police Department, are in our buildings during school hours and after-hour events. Two additional officers are scheduled to be added before winter break.

■ Mind Peace Counseling, an outside counseling service, is assessing mental health needs in each of our buildings. These counselors work with our schools to assist students with any mental health issues while developing relationships.

■ There is a new, free Safer Ohio app that we encourage everyone to download on their phone which will allow anonymous reporting of any wrongdoings, dangerous situations or suspicious activities. This app is co-sponsored by the Ohio State Patrol, Ohio Homeland Security, and the See Something Say Something effort.

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COMMUNITY

JOINING FORCES TO IMPROVE HAMILTON’S PARKS WHEN STEVE TIMMER became the director of the newly-formed Hamilton Parks Conservancy four years ago, one of his top priorities was replacing the dilapidated playground equipment in the city’s neighborhood parks. “Some of them were so old that I played on them when I was a kid,” he is fond of quipping.

Although the city had used Community Development Block grants to upgrade some of the playgrounds, there were still dozens of parks that needed serious improvement to be safe for children to play on. “All the rest of them needed to be replaced, pretty much every single one,” he said. “At Beeler Park, they had actually deactivated that park and had to remove the playground because it was so bad. Also, the same thing with the Kingston Tot Lot and Brookwood.”

So he made playground replacement one of the Conservancy’s top priorities. But as in so many areas of life these days, money was an issue. It just wasn’t there, and it would cost anywhere from $40,000 to $90,000 as it wasn’t just a matter of assembling a few monkey bars and swing sets.

Today’s playgrounds have to follow strict safety standards, including the installation of fall protection.

Fortunately, Timmer had a willing partner in this endeavor: The Hamilton Community Foundation, which in one way or another has provided the bulk of the funds not only for playground equipment but the splash pads that

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have been installed in seven of the city’s parks, on both sides of the river.

Between the unrestricted funds provided by the Foundation and the money in the Friends of the Parks fund that it maintains, along with some CDBG funds, the Conservancy has upgraded 21 neighborhood playgrounds at a cost of $475,000, this summer being has been one of the busiest for playground replacement yet with 11 replacements.

“The Community Foundation approached us when we first came in existence and they wanted to donate to us for help with the city’s quality of life,” he said. “They did not put any restrictions on it because the Foundation is not like that. They allowed us to use it where we really think it’s needed.

“Now the Foundation is also participating in rebuilding the parks in all 17 neighborhoods, and since we started we have actually made improvements in every single park in the city.”

“As a matter of fact, this year we reactivated Kingston park and reactivated Beeler with two brand new playgrounds and people are using them again,” he said. “It couldn’t have been done without the Foundation. It is always looking to do whatever is best for Hamilton and since the quality of life is one of their main areas of interest, they felt that we were going to be able to make a big impact.

“The Foundation is supportive of pretty much anything that’s going to make the city better.”

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SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

• To decrease overall family anxiousness and conflict the first weeks of school, identify your family school routine weeks prior to school starting. Ease into the routine of school by identifying what mornings and evenings will look like in order to best meet your child’s needs.

• Make bedtime routines and sleep a family priority.

The amount you sleep each night can affect behaviors, irritability, ability to concentrate and overall health (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016).

• If your child would benefit from additional support, set up a meet and greet with your child and the school counselor. This will give your child someone to come to if needed, plus puts a face to the name of the school counselor. This meeting could also be used to explore what mental health services are offered by the school and learn about how to obtain them.

We know mental health is an important part of our lives.

With an increase with anxiety, depression, bullying, and suicide rates amongst school-age children, you might ask yourself, what are some concerning behaviors and signs.

Per the National Association of School Psychologists (2015), suicide warning signs include:

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH EMOTIONAL WELLNESS IT IS NOT A SURPRISE that preparing to return to school is a family task. There are many lists to tackle such the school supplies, school essentials, and the traditional school clothes shopping. However, it is as important to get mentally and emotionally ready for back to school as a family. Here are some things you can do to help your family get ready:

• Not Sleeping, or Taking Personal Care of Themselves.

• Weight Gain/Loss.

• Hopelessness, Social Isolation.

• Dangerous Behavior (Risk-Taking, Substance Use).

• Making Threats to Themselves or Others (In Person or on Social Media).

• Suicide Note (Paper or on Social Media).

• Self-Injury (Cutting, Biting, Scratching, Burning).

As a caregiver, it’s best to keep an open dialogue with your child. Assist your child with awareness of their own symptoms and triggers, and don’t hesitate to ask your child what they need from you. When in doubt get it checked out. Don’t be afraid to seek outside consultation from a mental health provider. The assessment can lead to linkages to service options or to the decision that system intervention is not needed at this time.

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• Start the dialogue with your child early about what to expect this upcoming school year. This could include: touring the school, meeting the teacher, practicing unlocking their locker, and even playing on the playground (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017).

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SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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GREAT HAMILTONIANS

MAJOR GENERAL

RICHARD BUTLER

By RICHARD O JONES WITH THE RECENT popularity of the hip-hop musical eponymous with our city and his statuesque presence in the middle of High Street, most local citizens know for whom Hamilton was named.

The city was named after the fort established here by General Arthur St. Clair, perhaps to curry favor from the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to secure the funds to fight the campaign against the native people that St. Clair was about to embark upon. The settlement that sprang up around the fort was at first called Fairfield, but when the fort was abandoned, the village took on the name of the fort and Fairfield referred to the township in which it lay.

Less well known is the person for whom Butler County was named when the state of Ohio was established in 1803: Major General Richard Butler.

Alexander Hamilton was never actually in Hamilton, but General Butler was indeed for a short time a resident of the area. He arrived at Fort Hamilton on September 27, 1791, three days before the fort was officially dedicated.

He had come from Western Pennsylvania, where another Butler County has been named in his honor, where he had retired after the Revolutionary War. Butler was born in Ireland, the oldest son in a large family that came to America in 1748 when he was but five years old and settled on a farm near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. At 20, he enlisted to fight the Indian wars and saw his first action in the Battle of Bushy Run that relieved a siege on Fort Pitt. Until he volunteered again for the Revolutionary War, he worked as an

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W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM SEPTEMBER 2018

Indian trader in the Ohio Territory and became proficient in several native languages.

During the Revolution, he wintered at Valley Forge and fought at Monmouth, Saratoga, and Yorktown. He became well-acquainted with General Washington and was promoted to Brigadier General during the last days of the war. He stayed with the army for a time, fighting with Anthony Wayne.

Afterward, he retired to Pittsburgh, married and started a family. He became a judge and a state senator. His oldest child was but eight years old when Washington, now the President of the United States, called him back into service after General Josiah Harmer’s army suffered a disastrous defeat against Little Turtle and Blue Jacket during the winter of 1790.

While General Arthur St. Clair directed the building of Fort Hamilton the following year, President Washington appointed Major General Butler, who had presided over the board of enquiry that sat in judgment over Harmar’s to be the second in command and charged him with assembling recruits to augment St. Clair’s troops so they could continue the campaign against the Indians. Butler was then 48 years old and not in good health.

A contemporary described him as “fleshy” at that time, suggesting that he had packed a few pounds onto his five-foot six-inch frame.

Nevertheless, he tried his best to raise an army for his old friend, but the pickings for soldiers were remarkably slim.

“Men who enlisted were often those without prospects or purpose” wrote Stephen M. Pozar in his biography of Richard Butler, “footloose individuals with perhaps a hankering for adventure, and the free use of an Army musket.”

Butler had been authorized to levy two thousand men, but mustered only about six hundred, and they were described as having been recruited from “the prisons, wheelbarrows and brothels of the nation,” and “a bad set of men” with “rotten legs.” Another contemporary called St. Clair’s army “the worst and most dissatisfied troops I ever saw.”

But Butler did manage to find at least two capable recruits, two of his five brothers who had fought in the Revolution. But

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even they had long been out of military service, Edward for seven and Thomas for nine years.

Shortly after their arrival at Fort Hamilton, St. Clair’s army began its march north to meet the Indians. Even with Butler’s recruits, the army numbered fewer than 1,500 men when they set out, and by the time they bivouacked on the evening of November 3, 1791, desertion and death from illness had reduced the force to a little more than nine hundred soldiers and about 200 camp followers.

The camp was surrounded on three sides by swamp and bounded on the fourth by a stream. There was not enough room for them all, so the militia was ordered to camp on the other side of the stream.

While they were busily preparing breakfast the following morning, Little Turtle’s Indian army launched a surprise attack, first engaging the militia on the opposite side of the stream. Butler tried to get his troops into a fighting formation but fleeing militia soldiers crashed into his unformed battle lines and created a scene of chaos.

Major General Butler was wounded in the arm but concocted a hasty sling and continued to move among his men trying to accomplish something resembling order. Then he was wounded in the side. His men used a blanket as a stretcher and carried him to the center of the encampment.

His brother Edward found him there and had him moved to a place where the army would pass if it should be forced to retreat, then set out in search of Thomas. Edward found him, wounded in both legs with a broken thigh, and placed him alongside Richard, who was propped up against a tree, vomiting blood.

The Indians continued their assault and with retreat imminent, Richard, probably aware that his wounds were mortal, directed Edward to carry Thomas to safety, an order he reluctantly followed.

“The retreat became a rout,” Pozar writes, “and the Indians swarmed through the camp killing all within their reach; including the wounded; including the noncombatant

DURING THE REVOLUTION, RICHARD BUTLER WINTERED AT VALLEY FORGE AND FOUGHT AT MONMOUTH, SARATOGA, AND YORKTOWN. HE BECAME WELL-ACQUAINTED WITH GENERAL WASHINGTON AND WAS PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL DURING THE LAST DAYS OF THE WAR.

camp followers—men, women and children. They swept on after the fleeing Americans but cut short the pursuit and returned to the camp to take scalps and collect the other spoils of victory.”

“Richard Butler was killed by a tomahawk blow to the head as he lay dying from his wounds. He was scalped; and his heart was cut out, divided, and eaten by the chiefs of the tribes that had defeated St. Clair’s army…”

As he was the second-ranking officer in the United States Army of the day, Butler still holds the record as the highestranking officer to be killed in the line of duty.

St. Clair lost his command as a result of that disastrous defeat, replaced by “Mad Anthony” Wayne, who followed St. Clair’s path and reached the scene of the battle on Christmas Day, 1793, finding the skeletal remains of the dead soldiers by the lumps they made in the fresh snow.

Most of them were buried in a mass grave, but what was identified as Richard Butler’s remains were buried separately.

All of the remains from that horrible battle were later relocated to Fort Recovery, Ohio.

In addition to the counties of Ohio and Pennsylvania named in his honor, there is also a Butler County, Kentucky, as well as the city of Butler in Pennsylvania where the General Richard Butler Bridge crosses Connoquenessing Creek.

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A’SHON RIGGINS

IS READY FOR PRIME TIME

By ERIC HICKEY

>

FOR A'SHON RIGGINS, playing college sports was always in the plans. The 6'0 junior just never thought it would be on the gridiron.

Riggins dominated the hardwood in a stellar four-year basketball career at Hamilton High, setting the Big Blue alltime assist record while scoring over 1,000 career points.

Yet, when decision time came for colleges, Riggins turned his back on hoops and welcomed the challenge of playing cornerback for Indiana University in the always rugged Big 10. “To be honest, I never had a dream of someday playing Big 10 football,” Riggins said. “I never really thought about playing football in college. It was always going to be basketball but when IU offered I felt football was going to offer me a bigger opportunity than what I was getting into basketball. Everyone expected me to play college basketball and I was kind of doubted in football so when I got this chance I took it as a challenge to show what I could do.”

Riggins said it is different playing big-time football, acknowledging it is a bit overwhelming at times. “Yeah,

sometimes I am like, WOW, I am playing football in the Big 10,” Riggins said. “It is nice and at times I can't believe it but I am taking advantage of the playing time and academics.”

Riggins maintains over a 3.0 GPA, majoring in sports marketing and management but doesn't' hide his excitement over the upcoming season for the Hoosiers after missing most of his sophomore year with a concussion.

Riggins had a fantastic freshman year at IU, earning honorable mention BTN.com All-Freshman honors. Riggins started eight games and played in all 12 games as a freshman, collecting 37 tackles, one sack, one interception (in the Horseshoe against then No. 2 ranked Ohio State) and twice was named the IU defensive player of the week. His highlights included two pass breakups in a win over No. 17 Michigan State and in a tough loss at No. 10 Penn State.

Concussion issues held Riggins to only six games a year ago but he said he is ready to go for the 2018 campaign. “I am 100% back.” Riggins said. “I have been going all spring and played in the spring game. It was tough to sit. I felt like I was

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at a point where I was really getting the defense. The injury really threw me back into reality. I know I can't take time for granted.”

Riggins was special mention all-state as a senior at HHS and earned All-Greater Miami Conference honors his last two years for the Big Blue. Riggins still holds the Big Blue’s single-game receiving record with 10 passes caught and HHS coach Chad Murphy said Riggins has to be considered one of Hamilton's best dual sports athletes. “(A'Shon) was not only a phenomenal athlete but work ethic and his character set him apart,” Murphy said. “He is just a down to earth humble young man.”

Murphy said Riggins persistence set him apart, telling a story about a trip home from the Bloomington campus. “There was a penny stuck in a cigarette lighter and we needed to charge the phone and couldn't plug the phone in due to the penny. A'Shon spent an hour on it and got it out. He is a persistent dude,” Murphy said.

Former HHS hoops coach Sean VanWinkle echoed Murphy’s thoughts. “I was fortunate enough to coach A'Shon for two years,” Van Winkle said. “Nothing was given to this young man. He worked extremely hard in sports but more importantly off the court as well. I firmly believe the values and demands that were put on this young man during his four years at Hamilton High and his ability to accept them is the reason he is excelling in the Big 10.”

While thoughts of a possible NFL career isn't a distant reality, Riggins said he would be fine to graduate and coach.

“Yeah, if I got the opportunity to play in the pros it would be nice but even if I don't Indiana University has set me up to find a great career,” Riggins said. “What would be satisfying to me would be to coach football and basketball.”

The Hoosiers begin the season 9/1 at Florida International University. IU's home opener is 9/8 against Virginia.

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“HIS WORK ETHIC AND HIS CHARACTER SET HIM APART,” MURPHY SAID. “HE IS JUST A DOWN TO EARTH HUMBLE YOUNG MAN.”

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018 LABOR DAY PICNIC TIME: 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Stricker’s Grove DESCRIPTION: In honor of the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws, and well-being of the country, we open our park. There will be rides, roller coasters, and food! Please bring your friends and family and enjoy this national holiday. $12.50 per person, kids 2 and under are free. Parking is free!

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 DAVID SHAW’S BIG RIVER GET DOWN

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018 HAMILTON FLEA

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 ALIVE AFTER 5: THROWBACK THURSDAY–THE 90’S TIME: 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Downtown Hamilton DESCRIPTION: Mark your calendars for a Throwback Thursday edition of Alive After 5 and come to downtown Hamilton in ‘90s style.

TIME: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Marcum Park DESCRIPTION: Come and join us while we support local artisans, drink craft beer, eat from stellar food trucks, and enjoy FREE yoga on the lawn (from 9 a.m.–10 a.m.). Our events are free and open to the public. We will be getting our flea on rain or shine! Please feel free to bring your dog along and check out our Hamilton Flea beer booth for a doggie water bowl. We will be having Animal Friends Humane Society joining us again so go pet a pup! The Lane Libraries will be bringing their bookmobile, so be sure to drop off and pick up your books.

TIME: 12:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m.

LOCATION: RiversEdge Amphitheater DESCRIPTION: The Revivalists, Samantha Fish, Andy Frasco and the UN, Jennifer Hartswick, Nick Cassarino, Naughty Professor, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer and Doc Robinson.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2018 SIGNS OF LIFE: THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD AT RIVERSEDGE TIME: 8:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.

LOCATION: RiversEdge Amphitheater

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DESCRIPTION: Back by popular demand, Signs of Life captures the music, mood, emotion and excitement of a Pink Floyd concert. Eight talented musicians and a production team are dedicated to reproducing the vast and spacious Pink Floyd “essence”—arguably one of the most musically accurate Pink Floyd tributes anywhere. Their shows use authentic sound effects, engaging video and dynamic light to recreate the classic Pink Floyd feel. Open to all ages and food and beverage vendors will be on hand.

LOCATION: Fitton Center for Creative Arts DESCRIPTION: Kicking off the 60th Anniversary Season of Creative Hamilton Civic Theatre, the public is invited to come see the first co-production between GHCT and the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, “Assassins.” This awardwinning musical tells the story of nine individuals who assassinated or attempted to assassinate an American president. The historic killers come together to interact and tell their tale.

your own from the car kits we have on sale in the taproom. We will be racing them on September 22nd for your chance to win cash and prizes. It is a $10 entry fee per car with a portion of the proceeds going toward the FOP Hamilton Lodge 38 Christmas Caravan Fund. Car rules regulations available in the tap room.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 FOOD FOR ALL FOOD TRUCK RALLY

SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 MUNICIPAL 500 PINEWOOD GRAND PRIX SEPTEMBER 20-23, 2018 ASSASSINS: THE MUSICAL TIME: 7:30 p.m.

TIME: 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Municipal Brew Works DESCRIPTION: Let’s RACE!! Dust off your old pinewood race car or make

TIME: 12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Marcum Park DESCRIPTION: Save the date for the premiere FOOD FOR ALL Food Truck Rally, a fund-raising and hunger awareness event organized by Shared Harvest Food Bank. Enjoy your favorite mobile delicacies, craft beer, family activities and live music from RiversEdge Amphitheater.

■

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TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

ELIZABETH CARLSON: SUPERHERO

By STEPHANIE FOLEY

>

ACCORDING TO SUPERMAN, there’s a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape.

Local Hamilton High teacher Elizabeth Carlson takes that to heart figuratively as an educator, and literally if it’s a Thursday. In Carlsonland, every Thursday is Superman Thursday, and you can often find her sporting something Superman-themed to remind her students that they are all Superman in their own ways.

Ms. Carlson started teaching in Hamilton in 2001 when she finished grad school at Miami University. After spending three years at Wilson Middle School and four years at the Hamilton Freshman Building, she settled in at Hamilton High School, where she’s been teaching honors sciences ever since. For Elizabeth, her passion for teaching was something she discovered by accident, rather than set out to achieve.

“I was going to be a doctor, so I went to Texas Christian University as pre-med, and half-way through my junior year, I realized that wasn’t really what I wanted to do.”

Carlson had previously worked as a camp counselor and after school elementary school programs. Through this, she discovered her passion for teaching science and decided to go into education. “I love teaching science, so it’s kind of a passion for the content and a passion for teaching, as well as building these relationships with the kids and watching them grow,” said Elizabeth.

Although she has previously taught the younger ages, Carlson says she enjoys teaching high school the most. “They are becoming young adults and they are able to think more critically for themselves,” she explained. Teaching high school helps Carlson keep in touch with who she was at that age. Through this connection, she finds it easier to reach out to the quieter

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students. “I was sort of disengaged in high school,” said Carlson.

“If I see students who remind me of me, I try to draw them in.”

Elizabeth finds it easy to stay connected to her students by using her twitter (@super_carlson). “I’m on twitter with my students because through that I know I am accessible to them if they ever have random science questions, or need help with their homework,” she said.

Although she is originally from Texas, Carlson has found a soft spot in her heart for Hamilton, thanks to the students she has met at Hamilton High. Carlson believes that she has seen a surge in pride in the school community since Hamilton started growing. “It’s not like anywhere I’ve ever been,“ she said. “We definitely have our own culture.”

Elizabeth runs her class a little differently than most, but she finds that her teaching style has worked for students over the years. Carlson tends to teach her students skills that they will need to be successful in college. “I had a student who was very smart, but had severe test anxiety,” shared

“I LOVE TEACHING SCIENCE, SO IT’S KIND OF A PASSION FOR THE CONTENT AND A PASSION FOR TEACHING, AS WELL AS BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE KIDS AND WATCHING THEM GROW.”

Carlson. “I worked with her and by the end of the year she was finishing tests. I recently got a call from her father because she graduated from Miami magna cum laude with a biology degree and is going into genetic counseling.” Successes like that let Carlson know that her teaching methods are on the right track, no matter how different.

Teaching high school aged students does come with its own set of challenges. Carlson regularly sees students who struggle with stress, anxiety and depression. “I think it’s a very overwhelming age because they’re not kids anymore, but they’re not adults yet, and we expect more out of them academically,” she said.

To her incoming students, Ms. Carlson has a warning: “Be ready to learn, be ready to have fun, and laugh at my jokes because I’m really funny.”

To their parents, Ms. Carlson asks: “Trust me. Your kids are going to struggle because usually honors kids haven’t had to study and now they will, so please, just trust me.”

This year, Ms. Carlson will be teaching at both the freshman building and the high school. It will be a challenge, but it’s a challenge Carlson is ready and willing to take on. ■

SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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Lindenwald Extreme Street Makeover

17STRONG: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

By LAURA MARIE

IN THE Independence Day parade this year, many noticed the 17Strong banners that labeled each neighborhood in Hamilton, from Armondale to Washington. Each of the 17 neighborhoods of Hamilton is a little different, but together, they form the citizen-led organization known as 17Strong.

17Strong may be hard to describe to those who haven’t heard of an organization specifically to help neighborhoods before. However, evidence suggests that neighborhoods where neighbors know each other tend to be stronger, safer, and more beautiful. For this reason, members of the 17Strong advisory board, like Frank Downie from Lindenwald, want

to see the neighborhoods of Hamilton bond with each other.

“17Strong is resident-led and resident engaged,” Downie says.“Engaged residents are helping to find ways to address neighborhood issues with citizen-led solutions. A few people come to our meetings and use us as sounding boards.”

Downie elaborated further that any situations brought up by citizens are usually turned into positive action: either 17Strong can connect the citizen to a city resource, or they can help them start to solve the problem themselves. These meetings, held monthly in a variety of locations, are also helpful for the subcommittees of 17Strong, which work on publicity, holding events, and administering the micro-grant program.

Now in its third year, the 17Strong microgrants allow citizens and small groups to get between $500 and $2500 to make their neighborhood more connected, safer, beautiful, or

what is your Super Power?

It doesn’t take extraordinary feats to make you a hero.

Sometimes, ordinary is just enough.

Be a part of our ordinary team of volunteer heroes.

Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page and learn how you can be a hero in your own time. www.bc-unitedway.org/volunteeropportunities

Contact: Amanda Burns, Campaign/Volunteer Coordinator aburns@bc-unitedway.org | 513.785.2350

Art in the Park 2

“WE ARE AIMING FOR SAFE, CLEAN, AND ENGAGED NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE INVOLVED. WE WANT TO CREATE MORE LINES OF COMMUNICATION, AND WE’D LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE BECOME AMBASSADORS TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.”

fun. Grants have been used to improve signage, throw block parties, create welcome bags for new neighbors, and create pamphlets and newsletters.

Kathy Klink, a city councilwoman who is a liaison to the 17Strong board, says, “We are aiming for safe, clean, and engaged neighborhoods where residents are involved. We want to create more lines of communication, and we’d like to see people become ambassadors to their neighborhoods.”

New excitement is coming as 17Strong’s advisory board prepares to enter its fourth year. The goals for the year include assessing what is working well and continuing to tweak their programs and outreach to the community. They also have recently been awarded a grant that enables two Americorps VISTA volunteers to work full-time this year to help make stronger neighborhoods in Hamilton. “I’ve seen that we are a solid link between residents and the city,” Downie explains. “We straighten out a lot of rumors about

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what is happening in the city. We’ve also helped inform people about what is going on in city council.”

While each neighborhood is different, the 17Strong program would love to see some form of gathering in each neighborhood to get to know each other and address issues that arise. “I’d love to see every neighborhood have some kind of community council, no matter what that might look like. We don’t have a formula,” Downie says. “The boundaries are arbitrary; if people would prefer to work with the neighborhood across the street, that’s perfectly alright. It’s just easier to work with smaller groups than with the whole city at once.”

Getting involved can be as simple as paying attention to your neighborhood and how a micro-grant might help. You can also follow the 17Strong-Hamilton Facebook page to see when new openings become available on the advisory board, for which there is an application. “We are looking for active participants who want to help us get where we want to go,” Klink explains. “I believe if we have 17 active neighborhoods, we have a stronger community.”

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This September, the neighborhoods of Hamilton will convene on the Main Street/High Street bridge to hold a picnic and get to know each other. On September 23rd from 4pm to 7pm, residents will gather to chat, listen to music, and celebrate. There will be water and food trucks available, if you aren’t interested in bringing your own picnic dinner.

SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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RECOGNITION

YWCA: EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1900 CREATED THIRTY-THREE years ago, the YWCA Hamilton Outstanding Women of Achievement event was generated as a way to celebrate women’s accomplishments and to honor the women who are bettering Butler County in their everyday lives. The women who are selected demonstrate leadership throughout the community or through their professional work in the following categories: creative arts and culture, education, business, social services, volunteer services and, the YWCA’s newest category for high school seniors, the emerging leader.

Out of the dozens of women who were nominated around the area, seven were selected as honorees for the award: Kelly Spivey, Executive Director of High Aims Consortium and former Superintendent of Talawanda School District; Alisa Miller, Fitton Center for Creative and Performing Arts; Alexis Taylor, a student at Middletown City Schools; Letitia Block, Director of Human Resources at the City of Hamilton; Holly Owens, City of Middletown Division of Police; Ramona Cheek, Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital; and Dr. Lina Reilman, Fort Hamilton Hospital.

Each woman will receive a recognition award and a video presentation will be displayed at the event highlighting their

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good work. The YWCA hopes that this event will help to familiarize citizens with the positive services they offer as a non-profit while simultaneously honoring the women who live these values in their everyday lives.

The Outstanding Women of Achievement event will be held on October 4th at the Courtyard Marriot from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM and includes a dinner and cocktail hour. The YWCA encourages everyone to come to celebrate these women as a community! Tickets are currently on sale for $75 and are expected to sell out.

In addition to the Outstanding Women of Achievement award, the YWCA has several other programs to help empower and assist women in the area. Founded in 1900 by Dr. Julia Goodman, the YWCA has been promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for over a century. The nonprofit is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. They are primarily a social service agency with programs that include housing for women in need, a domestic violence shelter and a youth program to help encourage girls to stay healthy, educated and independent.

They also hold a monthly forum for people to discuss difficult topics within a safe space.

Their programs fall under the three pillars of the YWCA: economic empowerment and advancement of girls, racial justice, and civil rights, and health and safety for women and girls. They hope through their work they can continue to inspire women and promote a positive and safe lifestyle for all.

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THE YWCA HOPES THIS EVENT WILL HELP TO FAMILIARIZE CITIZENS WITH THE POSITIVE SERVICES THEY OFFER AS A NON-PROFIT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY HONORING THE WOMEN WHO LIVE THESE VALUES IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

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2018 Book Selection

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Join our community in reading this year's book selection, Station Eleven, and enjoy a month of activities related to the themes of the book happening during October, including an evening discussion with the author, Emily St. John Mandel.

An Evening with Station Eleven Author Emily St. John Mandel Monday, October 22, 7:00 p.m.

MUH Wilks Conference Center Borrow the book from the Lane Libraries!

For a complete calendar of events, visit:

HAMILTON HOUNDS

SARGE: THE HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY RECEPTIONIST

IF YOU HAVE ever taken a stroll pass the Hamilton Parks Conservancy on your way to grab a beer at North Second or to spend some time at Marcum Park then you may have seen this lovable dog Sarge. Sarge is an American and English bulldog mix who was adopted from the Preble County Humane Society in March of this year. Since then he has became a welcoming face at the front desk of the Hamilton Parks Conservancy.

Sarge loves going to work everyday at HPC and spending time in downtown Hamilton. Some of the activities he enjoys are taking walks downtown, visiting the beautiful Marcum Park, and hanging out at Municipal Brew Works. Sarge has became a friendly face to many of the Hamiltonians who frequent downtown. Don’t hesitate to stop in and visit Sarge at HPC, or say hello if you see him strolling around the streets. He loves people, treats, belly rubs, or any kind of petting. Be careful though, he is quick with the kisses!

■ SECTION SPONSORED BY

Local commercial printer stays in Hamilton!

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Brief History:

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Hamilton Graphics was Ohio Casualty’s inplant printing operation. In 1991, Hamilton Graphics was founded so OC could take in outside printing work. We began printing for many non-profit organizations and charities, as well as a few commercial clients like Miami University, YMCA and many local school districts.

2001 Ohio Casualty sold the printing assets to the 2 print department managers. They incorporated, and continued to run Hamilton Graphics as a commercial printing company.

2007 Hamilton Graphics became a family business when 1 partner purchased the company. We relocated to 3rd & Sycamore St. after purchasing a building. We have been at this location going on 10 years and continue to run a full service printing operation including both Litho and Digital printing equipment. Located downtown just 4 blocks south of High St.

FOOD FOR ALL

By LAURA MARIE

THE FACE OF HUNGER in Hamilton may not be what many people think: it can range from temporary struggles to feed one’s family while unemployed, to children who don’t have access to enough food when school is out for the summer.

To raise awareness about hunger in America and right here in Hamilton, while also creating the potential for a fun new annual event, Shared Harvest Foodbank is hosting the Food For All Food Truck Rally. A food truck rally brings together many different kinds of cuisine so that people can enjoy great meals no matter their favorite kind of food, all while learning about the realities of hunger in Butler County. This event will occur on September 29th at Marcum Park and the RiversEdge Amphitheater, and will include children’s activities for the first three hours, from noon till 3 p.m.

“We will have Touch-a-Truck, possibly the Bookmobile, and a face painter, and we are working on many more activities” Tina Osso, Executive Director of Shared Harvest, said. “The Hamilton School District food truck will have children read recipes to create fruit salsa and tomato salsa to take home.”

There will also be cornhole and hopefully some high school bands, as well as plenty of soccer balls and frisbees for children

to enjoy while out on the green space at Marcum Park.

The idea for a Food Truck Rally has been months in the making. Lauren Smallwood, the founder of the Hamilton Eats Coalition, says, “The Food for All food truck rally became a goal of a volunteer-led initiative through the Hamilton Eats Coalition. That coalition is a developing committee that seeks to combat hunger while raising awareness. By partnering with Shared Harvest, those goals are able to be met. It has been a hope of mine for a while, and I am excited to see it come to fruition!”

Shared Harvest can provide eight meals for every 1 dollar raised for their organization; this is possible because the

“WE HOPE THIS EVENT WILL RAISE THE CONVERSATION IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT ISN’T THREATENING,” OSSO EXPLAINS. “WE HAVE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE WITH HUNGER HERE AT HOME AND IT ALL STARTS WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FINDING SOLUTIONS.

food for the food bank is donated by other entities, including businesses. Money donated at this event will be used to provide transportation, warehouse space, and distribution costs to provide food to local food pantries, so these agencies can get food into the hands of those who need it. Shared Harvest also partners with groups serving vulnerable populations, including senior citizens and children, who experience hunger.

“We hope this event will raise the conversation in an atmosphere that isn’t threatening,” Osso explains. “We have problems to solve with hunger here at home and it all starts when people talk about finding solutions. We’ll be giving out a map with a list of hunger myths that allows people to learn

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the facts about poverty from volunteers around the event.”

From 3 p.m. till 8p.m., bands will perform in the RiversEdge Amphitheater, while attendees are still encouraged to partake in the food and beverages available and to learn more from informational exhibits about hunger in our area.

Hamiltonians can get involved in a variety of ways, from volunteering at the event to discuss the truths of hunger with event attendees, to donating money to the organization.

Smallwood sees this event as a great combination of enjoying the autumn and increasing awareness.

“I’m thrilled to see yet another event for Hamiltonians and neighboring communities to enjoy while bringing the topic of hunger to the conversation,” Smallwood says. “I hope it will raise awareness to the real issues that our communities, both locally and regionally, face.”

To learn more about volunteering at this event, contact Sarah Ormbrek at sarah@sharedharvest.com.

■

FOOD FOR ALL FOOD TRUCK RALLY Saturday, September 29 Noon–8 p.m. at Marcum Park

Activities Starting at Noon: Face Painting, • Children'sCrafts, Scavenger Hunt, and More!

4-H's Animal Exhibit and the Hamilton • Visit Fire Department's Touch-a-Truck!

C ornhole Tournament Running from Noon–3 p.m.

• M usic from Billy Two Shoes, Swing Foot, • and More Starting at 3 p.m.

F ood and Beverage Trucks Available Throughout the Day. •

SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

ONE CITY ONE BOOK TURNS THE PAGE IN HAMILTON IMAGINE GETTING everyone who is interested in doing so to read the same book at the same time. To walk into Heaven Sent, Hyde’s, Municipal Brew Works, or Wings on Brookwood and see a stranger become no longer a stranger, but a fellow reader, holding the same book as you, and you now have a connection and an opportunity to begin a conversation.

This is the premise behind One City One Book. Our Hamilton program is based around a similar worldwide concept where we attempt to get as many people in our community to read and discuss the same book over the same period of time - this coming October 2018.

This is the second year for the One City One Book program, and it is an exciting selection and calendar of events. The 2018 reading selection is Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. The novel was a finalist for the National Book Award, an Amazon Book of the Month, and has been translated into 27 languages.

One City One Book has developed a calendar of events that

VOL 2

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relate to the themes of the novel highlighting the fragility of our existence, human nature, our capacity for survival and for hope, the power of art and relationships to sustain us, and what it means to be human. Through partnerships with the Lane Libraries, the Fitton Center, Miami Hamilton, Pyramid Hill, Kettering Fort Hamilton, the Hamilton Community Foundation, and the YWCA, there are a wide variety of programs. We are thrilled to provide books for some classes at Hamilton and Badin High Schools, and they have also incorporated exciting programs into their year.

All of the public programs can be found on the Facebook page: OneCityOneBookHamilton. The capstone event is a collaborative one bringing the author, Emily St. John Mandel, to MUH Wilk’s Conference Center on October 22 at 7 p.m.

With a grant from 17Strong there is a limited supply of free books available to the public beginning in September at small businesses around town. Please take one, read it, and pass it on to a neighbor. Then join your community at any number of book discussions, lectures, crafting programs, or other events involving the book this October.

One City One Book believes that literate citizens are engaged citizens and through a meaningful piece of literature we can come together and share our ideas. Please join us in reading and starting a conversation with your neighbors. ■

SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

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A MYSTERY,

A HISTORY,

A HOME

By MAGGIE VIOX

Photographs by CARLA KELLEY-BARGER

WHEN CARLA AND Kevin Barger entered onto the shambling property of Round Hill in 2011, they knew they had stumbled onto something that was historically special. Despite the house’s daunting physical condition, they felt the immediate need to rescue this once beautiful home from the disarray, no matter how much work it would take.

“Walking around the property, we became very emotional,” said Carla. “Without knowing the history, you could feel the history and sense that this place used to be grand but it was in terrible condition.” The previous owner had passed away after living there for seventeen years; never updating the property while it was in his possession. Once he had died, the home sat there empty and deteriorating for almost two years before the Barger’s found it. Pipes had flooded, the roof needed replacing, walls were missing, holes were in the floor and there was even a tree growing out of the pool. They closed on the home three weeks after viewing it, then three months later, they moved in. Soon after, Carla’s exploration into Round Hill’s unknown history began.

The Round Hill Estate was built in 1938 by the original owner, Howard Sloneker, co-founder of Ohio Casualty Insurance Company. Sloneker owned the home until the late 1950’s and then sold it to Karl Bendetsen, former President and

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Chief Executive for Champion International. Bendetsen was also an army colonel in World War II and served as a chairman of President Ronald Reagan’s panel for the space-based missile defense program, the Strategic Defense Initiative.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when a fireplace towards the back of the house exploded in the early 1960’s, causing the biggest fire that Hamilton had ever seen and ultimately destroying a majority of the 24 room mansion.

A new home was rebuilt in 1962 by the Bendetsen family, using the original foundation. The Bendetsen’s continued to live there until the late 1960’s and during their ownership, they entertained many important government officials and army generals including the vice president at the time, Hubert Humphrey.

After the Bendetsen family moved away from Hamilton, Miami University in Oxford acquired the Round Hill Estate in 1969. During the university’s ownership, it was under the care of John Dolibois who had been the vice president of development at Miami. Aside from working for the university, Dolibois had also been the former captain in the United States Army during World War II as well as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg. The university used Round Hill as a conference center as well as a place to host visitors. It then was sold in 1973.

Over the following decades, Round Hill was owned by various Hamiltonians until the Barger’s stumbled upon it.

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“THE GOAL WAS TO KEEP AS MANY OF THE ORIGINAL THINGS AS POSSIBLE,” SAID CARLA. “YOU KNEW IT HAD AWESOME BONES AND IT COULD BE THE GLAMOROUS HOME IT USED TO BE.” Through Carla’s search of the estate’s history, the Barger’s had the unbelievable opportunity to meet with Karl Bendetsen’s daughter and niece as well as form a friendship with John Dolibois before he passed away in 2014.

As of now, the Barger’s are 95% done with the restoration of the Round Hill Estate and have been successful in preserving the original features of the house.

The 75-foot hallway of black marble, four crystal chandeliers, the crown molding as well as the marble fireplace in the living room are all original characteristics of the estate that they have been able to restore. “The goal was to keep as many of the original things as possible,” said Carla. “You knew it had awesome bones and it could be the glamorous home it used to be.”

In the last seven years, they’ve been very involved in the process and have worked to replace the roofing, fix the

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stained carpets and flooring, stop leaks and electrical issues, repair and paint the walls and exterior of the home, gut the kitchen and replace the windows.

They have also restored the guest house for the purpose of hosting visiting missionaries, evangelists and ministers at no cost.

The Barger’s are still in the process of restoring the master bath, some rooms upstairs and a room in the basement that they want to turn into a YMCA-type locker room. They expect to be finished in two years.

After all the work they have done, the Barger’s say that their main goal in restoring this 7-acre home was to return the estate back to its original glory. They hope that future owners will appreciate the history of the home just as much as they do and continue to preserve the story of Round Hill for the generations to come.

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THE FUTURE OF INTEGRATED PRIMARY HEALTHCARE >

YOU MAY NOT KNOW about Primary Health Solutions, but you should-and here’s why. Primary Health Solutions, sometimes referred to as PHS, is a non-profit, safety-net healthcare provider that operates three community health centers in Hamilton, one in Oxford, one in Fairfield, two in Middletown and sends a Mobile Dental Unit to schools all around Butler County.

PHS is a federally qualified health center, and as such, their mission is to improve community wellness through access to quality, affordable, integrated primary healthcare.

It’s the “access” and “integrated healthcare” portions of the mission that set them apart.

Access to healthcare is an issue that effects millions of Americans, thousands of which reside in our own community.

Sometimes it’s the type of insurance that the individuals have, sometimes it’s a lack of insurance. But whatever the case may be, PHS accepts everyone, regardless of payer source. They also employ Certified Application Counselors that assist individuals who need help to navigate the insurance process.

Integration of services allows for better patient outcomes.

PHS has one electronic medical record that serves as the

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repository of information for all medical providers involved with patient care. Dentists, medical doctors and nurse practitioners, optometrists, LISWs (Licensed Independent Social Workers), dieticians, pharmacists, etc. all work together and have access to the information from all other providers. This type of coordination results in patientcentered care. PHS has received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance - NCQA PatientCentered Medical Home (PCMH).

Marc Bellisario, President, and CEO, has been with the organization for 10 years, and has to lead the process toward integration of services and tackling the need for access to healthcare. “Having all of these services within one building allows us to eliminate barriers for our patients. For many of them, transportation is an issue. Once you arrive at a PHS location, you have access to many types of services and to quality care.” said Bellisario.

In Hamilton, each of the three sites have different programs. The Hamilton West location at 903 N.W. Washington Blvd. is always busy with young families, as the focus for this particular center is on family practice, pediatrics and OB/GYN. This office is currently expanding—

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more than doubling the square footage of the space in order to accommodate all of the patient care need. Here and at the 210 S. 2nd Street location, the OB/GYN providers do routine examinations and also specialize in a model of prenatal care called CenteringPregnancy. CenteringPregnancy groups bring together mothers that have similar due dates for an extended time (90 minutes to two hours) in order to learn about the pregnancy process, growth and development of the baby, health and nutrition, etc. and include classes such as pregnancy yoga, cooking healthy meals and how to properly care for the newborn. PHS is also the grantee for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Nutrition services, and those services are available at both of these locations.

Traveling over to 210 S. 2nd St., you will find a building that houses a number of services. Family practice, WIC and OB/GYN as mentioned prior, but also you will find a beautiful, new dental center that has two full-time dentists, hygienists and support staff. The dental center was established with help from generous donations from Mercy Health Foundation and the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation to fill a critical need for dental services within the urban core.

Also housed in this building is Community First Solutions Pharmacy. The pharmacy is open to the public, and for those patients who qualify, the pharmacy provides prescriptions at a discounted rate. Behavioral Health care services are available at this and every PHS location.

Over 50 percent of the 30,000 patients served by Primary Health Solutions are children. One of the unique and effective

“HAVING ALL OF THESE SERVICES WITHIN ONE BUILDING ALLOWS US TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR OUR PATIENTS. ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT A PHS LOCATION, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO MANY TYPES OF SERVICES AND TO QUALITY CARE.”

ways that PHS serves the children of Hamilton is through the Hamilton City School-Based Health Center. Located at Garfield Middle School in an area that used to be the coaches locker room, is a compact, state of the art vision care, medical and behavioral health care center that serves the entire school district. With the permission of the students’ guardian, the district transports students to the center for those services, and to the 210 2nd St. location for dental care. This model has been recognized on both the state and national level.

Hamilton Superintendent Larry Knapp, Supervisor of Health Services Tracy Heinecke and Business Manager Jeff Kilby, along with PHS staff are involved with helping other school districts to develop similar health centers.

Primary Health Solutions is a unique organization that operates from core values such as excellence, respect, and compassion-the impact of PHS is resulting in a healthier Hamilton.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM

31

COLOR YOUR WORLD

By LAURA MARIE

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ON B STREET, a historic house that is more than 100 years old has been serving as a destination for crafters for many years. However, most Hamiltonians don’t know that this building is home to one of the largest yarn stores of its kind in Ohio. When you walk through the door, the shelves along the walls display an impressive variety of yarn, organized by type and color throughout the store. A pleasing waterfall of hues offers endless options to crafters, and sample projects, from sweaters to shawls, line the walls.

Owner Nora Mollmann, formerly a civil engineer and school secretary while raising her children, was fairly new to knitting when she purchased the shop from the previous owner. “I was a customer of the shop,” she said. “A friend had

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W W W.JUSTHA MILTON.COM SEPTEMBER 2018

taught me to knit and had shown me Lambikin’s, so I had never been to another yarn shop.”

After losing her close friend who introduced her to knitting, Mollmann was informed that the yarn shop was for sale. Both her husband’s encouragement and the idea of paying tribute to her friend drew Mollmann to purchase Lambikin’s Hideaway.

Mollmann quickly became a more advanced knitter while also getting to know the knitters who spent their time working part-time at the store and taught classes. Many of them formed the core of the Monday Knit Night, a time for about 10 knitters to come together, work on their own projects, and occasionally ask questions to each other if they get stuck. This Knit Night still continues from around 4pm

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ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF THE SHOP IS ITS FRIENDLY WILLINGNESS TO HELP SOMEONE THROUGH A QUICK PROBLEM IF THEY STOP

BY THE SHOP FOR A MOMENT OF ADVICE.

to 8pm each week, and it is free and open to all knitters who want a place to work and chat.

Whenever a visitor walks into Lambikin’s Hideaway, however, they are likely to see two or more knitters at the front table, greeting customers and working on their own projects. The community formed between the folks who gather here has become a source of joy for them over the years. “We talk and laugh around this table,” said Leslie

Woman - Owned & Family Operated Each customer is important to us, as we understand the need to get your vehicle back quickly. We have highly qualiied technicians’ repair your car in a timely manner, while making sure the job is completed to the highest quality standards you come to expect in fact 85% of our customers come back for other car repair or detail work.

Ducey, an employee and teacher at Lambikin’s Hideaway. “It’s nice to be with people who enjoy the same things you enjoy, even though we all have our own specialties.”

While big projects necessitate taking a class or making an appointment, one of the hallmarks of the shop is its friendly willingness to help someone through a quick problem if they stop by the shop for a moment of advice.

The store carries yarn of all kinds, from typical wool and acrylics to exotic bamboo, silk, and other natural fibers.

They have yarn of many different weights and price ranges, including a whole room devoted to sale-priced yarn that changes frequently. “If you want to wear something next to your skin, you want a nice quality material,” says Mollmann.

“It doesn’t have to be expensive; you can often make a shawl with one skein of yarn.”

Mollmann’s seven years of owning the business have not only made her a strong knitter who loves making complex cable-knit sweaters (usually in her favorite color, purple), but have also revealed a new and surprising form of stress relief.

“I love to untangle yarn. I find it very soothing to work on it, five minutes here, five minutes there, with it sitting on my dining room table,” she laughed. “I just love to fix things and solve problems.”

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