D ELHI PRESS
Your Community Press newspaper serving Delhi Township and Sayler Park
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Delhi woman sparks smiles, uplifts spirits Kurt Backscheider kbackscheider@communitypress.com
DELHI TWP. – Cathy McNamee said it’s nearly impossible to get away from Mary Lacey without a positive vibe. “She is one of the best, uplifting Neighbors Who Care,” the Delhi Township resident said of Lacey. The list of things Lacey does for others is virtually unending, she said. McNamee said her neighbor volunteered to paint the kitchen at St. William School all by herself, planted flowers and watered gardens at St. William for many years, makes homemade Greek baklava at Christmas and walks to deliver it around the neighborhood and made peanut butter and
KURT BACKSCHEIDER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Delhi Township resident Mary M. Lacey can be counted on to bring a smile to the faces of those she meets.
jelly sandwiches for students who had no lunch while working for many decades in the St. William School cafeteria. “She made sure no child went hungry,” McNamee said. “After my shoulder surgery this year she walked over to my house with a pecan pie in hand, to wish me a get well.” Lacey took in her grandson about three years ago and does his laundry and ironing, and wakes up to make him a hearty breakfast and has homemade dinners for him in the evening, she said. Friends regularly call her because they know she always has a story to keep them laughing and puts them in a
good mood, McNamee said. “After Mass on Sundays at St. William she smiles and greets the many friends she has made throughout the years. Mary always has a smile and a story,” she said. “She is a wonderful guardian angel who prays and looks out for others. She keeps track of people and how they’re doing.” She said Lacey’s home and yard are immaculate and she takes pride in taking care of what she owns. “It is not unusual to see her on her hands and knees pulling weeds and planting flowers and patching the See LACEY, Page 2A
Price Hill street filled with caring neighbors
Green Twp. residents always there to lend a helping hand
PRICE HILL – Jean Conway couldn’t ask for better neighbors than the ones she has on Ridgeview Avenue. “If you ever drive up or down Ridgeview Avenue, know you are passing the homes of Neighbors Who Care,” she said. When her late husband, Bill, was hospitalized, she said several neighbors, led by Linda Nienhaus, had delicious dinners waiting for her for three weeks when she returned home from the hospital each night. After her husband died, Conway said her neighbor Paula Gruber gathered contributions from 20 neighbors and arranged for Masses at St. William and a mosaic plaque in memory of him. The plaque hangs in her living room. Just a few weeks ago, she said neighbors Deborah and Don Smith surprised her with a treat of chicken salad, fruits and homemade cookies. “How blessed I am to be surrounded by KURT BACKSCHEIDER/THE neighbors who care,” Conway said. Nienhaus, who has lived two doors down COMMUNITY PRESS West Price Hill resident Linda from Conway for about 25 years, said they Nienhaus and her Ridgeview are all fortunate to live on such a close-knit street. Avenue neighbors always “Everyone helps each other out and looks look out for one another and help each other in times of out for each other,” she said. “We’ve always been friendly here. It’s nice to have someone need. looking out for you if you need help.” Every year, she said neighbors get together for an Independence Day celebration, Christmas party and several potluck dinners. Nienhaus said Conway is the street matriarch and all the neighbors look out for her. “She’s so nice. Whenever you give you receive more back,” she said. “She’s a genuinely nice person and whatever you do for her you get back tenfold because that’s just how she is.”
GREEN TWP. – Frank Shaut Sr. said his neighbors, Mike and Aimee Reilly, deserve recognition as Neighbors Who Care because they can always be counted on to help others. “We have been neighbors for about 15 years,” the Breezewood Drive resident said. “Anytime we need help Mike and Aimee are there for us.” Shaut said Aimee helped organize a neighborhood watch program and sends out emails detailing crimes in the neighborhood to let folks know to be on the lookout. “She also organized a meeting with the Green Township police so that they could give us advice to protect our homes,” Shaut said. There have been a couple of times his lawnmower broke down, and he said Mike came right over to fix it and also cut his grass for him when his lawnmower was on the fritz. He said Mike has also plowed the snow off his driveway several times in the winter. Shaut said one day his wife was locked out of their home and Mike came over to remove a door to let her in. PHOTO PROVIDED “Whenever we go out of town we ask them to keep Green Township residents Aimee an eye on our house and they graciously agree to do and Mike Reilly are always willing to so,” he said. “I strongly recommend Mike and Aimee lend a helping hand to their for Neighbors Who Care.” neighbors. Aimee Reilly said she helped set up the neighborhood watch program about a year ago after there were a few break-ins in the area. “I send out emails to alert people of things in the neighborhood,” she said. “Watching out for each other is the way we try to keep everyone safe. It only takes one person to spot something not right.” She said their quaint neighborhood is filled with families from Our Lady of Lourdes parish and school, as well as other schools and churches, and they all try to help one another in times of need – whether it’s cutting someone’s grass, shoveling snow or preparing a meal. “Back when we had the big ice storm, we all came out with chainsaws and went yard to yard,” Reilly said. “We have a great neighborhood.”
Green Townbship woman supports those who are fighting illness GREEN TWP. – Helen Smith said she has the utmost respect for Julie Caddell’s dedication to making the lives of others better. “I have worked with Julie for several years,” said Smith, who, along with Caddell, is a social worker at Mercy Health – West Hospital. “Julie is the best of neighbors.” She nominated Caddell, a Green Township resident, as a Neighbor Who Cares because of her work with the Jeffrey G. Hoeh Memorial Fund. “She has rallied many of her family, friends and neighbors to give the blessing of hope to families suffering from the impact of cancer or other catastrophic diseases,” Smith said. Caddell’s parents established the memorial fund in 1989 in memory of her brother, Jeffrey, who lost his battle to cancer. Caddell now oversees the memorial fund and organizes an annual July golf outing to
RITA SHARES HER TENDER SIDE 7A Beef tenderloin a great way to start a new year.
KURT BACKSCHEIDER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Green Township resident Julie Caddell runs the Jeffrey G. Hoeh Memorial Fund, which honors her late brother and provides financial support to those battling cancer and other illnesses.
raise money for the fund, which provides monetary donations to four to six people each year who are fighting cancer or other illnesses. “Through the Jeffrey G. Hoeh Memorial Fund, Julie and her family have raised over $1 million, with all of the proceeds going directly to recipients,” Smith said. “To date, her efforts have touched the lives of at
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least 179 families in the Greater Cincinnati area.” In addition to the memorial fund, Smith said Caddell also provides a Christmas Eve dinner each year to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, bringing joy and happiness to children and families who are away from home at Christmas. “While Julie works hard to organize the annual golf outing every year, she does not see it as a burden,” Smith said. “She sees it as a way to make a difference in the lives of others and to honor the kindness, support and encouragement her own family received from others during her brother’s illness.” Caddell said she’s honored to continue the memorial fund her late parents founded and pay forward the love and support her family received when her brother was sick. “Being able to give a substantial amount of money to someone who is going through a catastrophic illness and say ‘spend it however you want,’ is awesome,” she said. “To me, that’s what it’s all about; helping people when they’re in need.” For the Postmaster
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