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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014
Your Community Press newspaper serving Amelia, Batavia, Batavia Township, New Richmond, Ohio Township, Pierce Township, Union Township, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Township
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Union Twp. residents give ‘Miller Place’ cool reception Neighbors worry about traffic and property values By Jeanne Houck jhouck@communitypress.com
Some Surrey Hill neighborhood residents who attended an open house on a proposed housing development near them on Rumpke Road say they were left with more questions than answers – plus concerns about traffic and property values. And while John McGraw, chairman of the Union Township Board of Trustees in Clermont County, says the property is controlled by a past court settlement, he said township officials are keeping a close eye on the matter. McGraw said developer Fischer Homes of Erlanger has presented general plans for single-family homes with prices ranging as high as $300,000 to $500,000, as well as plans for apartments and condominiums on some 270 acres along both the east and the west sides of Rumpke Road about 100 feet north of Rumpke and Surrey Trail. “The new development . . . cannot move forward without
the court’s approval,” McGraw said. “So for now, the township does not play a role in this unless it goes to court and we are asked to appear by the court. “In the meantime,” McGraw said, “I will be meeting with the residents and continue to find out their concerns. “I will also wait on the results of the comment cards filled out by the residents (at the open house) and see if Fischer changes any of their proposed plans.” Fischer Homes representatives could not be reached after the open house Dec. 10 for comment on concerns raised by residents. Plans for “Miller Place” also have included adding a road that would exit onto Barg Salt Run Road and establishing green-space areas and a fouracre park, McGraw said. Surrey Hill neighborhood resident Scott Humphries attended the open house and said Fischer Homes representatives were not consistent in their answers. “Also, the fact they’re planning on over 1,500 houses/ apartments would increase See MILLER, Page A2
SHEILA VILVENS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Solid Rock Church south campus soup kitchen founder Bonnie Sturgill and Pastor Jason Bowman stand in the church's cafe, which is known as Master’s Kitchen.
Soup kitchen feeds body, soul of many Church provides meals on Wednesday By Sheila Vilvens svilvens@communitypress.com
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PROVIDED
A map of the proposed "Miller Place" development in Union Township.
TIME TO GET A GRIP B1 High school wrestlers ready to make their move
he large, flashing sign along the stretch of Interstate 275 near the Beechmont Avenue exit pretty much says it all – “Free – Hot Meal – Tonight.” This is the typical Wednesday message for the Solid Rock Church south campus at 3946 Hopper Hill Road in Union Township. On any given Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., a team of faithful volunteers come together to nourish the body and spirit of about 200 individuals. Entering the church cafe, known as Master’s Kitchen, is like walking through the doors of grandma’s house. Guests are greeted with warm hugs and blessings. They are seated and then lovingly served a hot meal. In February, volunteer Bonnie Sturgill and House Pastor Jason Bowman saw their vision come reality as they opened their weekly soup kitchen. The first night eight guests and 30 volunteers came out.
HOW SWEET A cluster of chocolate, from Rita to you See column, A7.
Since then, the soup kitchen has served 2,927 meals. The desire to feed people has always been with Sturgill, who owns the From Scratch Restaurant and Catering in Bethel. While Sturgill no longer operates the restaurant, she manages a thriving catering business. The idea for the soup kitchen at the church had its beginnings at a hospital bedside in late 2013. Bowman was visiting Sturgill’s husband, George. He had suffered his sixth stroke in one year. While talking with the pastor, Sturgill decided to open up. “I told him, let me share with you my heart’s desire. I want to feed the hungry,” Sturgill recalled. “‘That’s what I want to do too, Bonnie,’ he told me.” Gazing at the diners brought together for food and fellowship on a recent Wednesday night, Pastor Bowman remembered that conversation. “I think this is what both of us envisioned,” he said. Tears fill Sturgill’s eyes as she takes in the view. Bigger and greater things are coming, they noted. In December, the church started a clothes closet. Many people donate their gently worn clothes to other groups and organizations that in turn sell the clothing for a
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small price to help fund other good works. “Some people don’t have the $1.50 to give (for clothes),” Bowman said. The Solid Rock Church clothes closet is for people who are really in need. The soup kitchen is more of a fellowship, Sturgill said. “We don’t focus as much on the need but the fellowship. We feed them. We love on them,” she said. While it’s a soup kitchen, meals can range from spaghetti dinner, to roasted pork loin to soup. On Dec. 3 the meal was a baked potato bar which included toppings and soup. Everything was donated. The potato donation was so large that potato soup was slated for the Dec.10 meal along with chicken alfredo and a salad. The kitchen receives no government funding. The church provides a modest budget and the rest is strictly from donations. Thanks to the donations, soup kitchen diners not only get a meal but they can also go home with a selection of groceries. WalMart provides fresh produce. Servatii, Big Apple Bagel, Everything Bagel and Dunkin See KITCHEN, Page A2
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