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Your Community Press newspaper serving Columbia Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Fairfax, Hyde Park, Madisonville, Mariemont, Mt.Lookout, Oakley, Terrace Park E-mail: easternhills@communitypress.com
Hector Esteve cooks during Spanish class at Mariemont Junior High School
Volume 75 Number 50 © 2011 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Hyde Park present
For many Hyde Park residents this year’s best holiday gift wasn’t under a tree – it was right out in the Square. After more than a year and several public meetings during which residents voiced their concerns, Erie Avenue has been restriped to its original configuration of two through lanes on each side of the street. SEE STORY, A2
Opinions sought
Columbia Township is working on its new comprehensive plan and residents could soon get their chance to voice their opinions. The township, like all communities in Ohio, is required to update its plan every five years. The comprehensive plan details goals and suggestions related to development and other aspects of township business. The plan is often consulted by township officials when making decisions. SEE STORY, A2
Scooter scolding
Terrace Park officials are urging parents to teach children about traffic laws. The village has been grappling with possible regulations for motorized scooters and golf carts. “I think the parents have an obligation and a responsibility with their kids,” Councilman and Rules and Law Committee Chairman Lee Cole said at a recent meeting. “We see the children riding around the streets on these motorized scooters and almost none of them obey the traffic laws.” SEE STORY, A3
Online community
Find your community’s website by visiting Cincinnati.com/local and finding your community in “Ohio communities” menu. You’ll find local news, sports, photos and events, tailored to where you live. You can even submit your own articles and photos using Share, our online submission tool.
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Yard waste collection halted Cincinnati residents have 2 choices to dispose of brush, etc.
By Lisa Wakeland
lwakeland@communitypress.com
The city of Cincinnati has stopped curbside yard waste collection, a move estimated to save $900,000. City residents will no longer have yard waste – leaves, grass clippings and brush – picked up separately. Yard waste will still be picked up if it’s mixed with regular garbage as part of the weekly trash collection service, said Larry Whitaker, assistant to the director of the city’s Public Services Department. “If people set out yard waste with garbage we will pick it up as garbage and take it to the landfill ... but we want people to know going to the landfill is not the most environmentally friendly option,” he said. “We encourage people to compost or use some of the drop-off sites that are available.” Mt. Lookout resident Bob Giglio said most of his yard waste is from raking leaves in the fall and he still plans to set out yard waste with his garbage. Giglio said he’s previously had to take yard waste to drop-off sites around Hamilton County, but that was a waste of time and gas. “I understand the position they’re in, but if they’re going to pick it up I’m going to take advantage of that,” he said. The closest drop-off site to Cincinnati’s east side neighborhoods is Bzak Landscaping, off state Ohio 32 in Anderson Township.
Where to go
The city of Cincinnati is recommending residents take yard waste to one of four local drop-off sites. • Bzak Landscaping, 3295 Turpin Lane, off Ohio 32 in Anderson Township. Open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, March 26 Nov. 20. • Kuliga Park, 6717 Bridgetown Road in Green Township. Open again in the spring. Open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, March 26 - Nov. 20. • Rumpke Landfill, off Struble Road and Colerain Avenue in Colerain Township. Open again in the spring. Open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, March 26 - Nov. 20. • West Fork Solid Waste Facility, 3320 Mill Creek Road, in South Cumminsville. Accessible off Spring Grove Avenue and off Beekman Street. For Cincinnati residents only. Open year-round 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. • Call 591-6000 with questions
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Cincinnati residents are urged to take yard waste to local drop-off sites instead of leaving it at the curb. The city stopped yard waste pick up Jan. 17 and the move is estimated to save $900,000. Hyde Park resident Ben Mack said he won’t really be affected by the change in yard waste service. Mack said he lives near a rail-
road trestle off Erie Avenue and he generally puts his yard waste there. “A lot of neighborhood people
dump their compost on the hill,” he said. The city also is ending its service where residents can call to schedule a special yard waste pick-up on non-collection days, Whitaker said. “That service will not pick up in the spring,” he said. “They’ve eliminated the program and there is not any indication that it will be reinstated.” Residents should call 5916000 with questions. For more about your community, visit www.Cincinnati.com/local.
Mariemont considers texting ban By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com
Mariemont Village Council may consider a ban on texting while driving. Councilman Jeff Andrews brought up the topic at last week’s meeting and recommended passing a resolution that supports the proposed statewide ban. Other council members verbally agreed to consider a resolution of support. Last March, the Ohio House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that prohibits driving while writing, reading or sending a text-based communication on an electronic wireless device. The bill includes cell phones, personal digital assistants and computers. The Ohio Senate is considering similar legislation, but has not voted on the bill. “I don’t know how enforceable the law is, but I think anything we can do to help … bring this issue to light and help educate kids (is a
If you go
Mariemont Council is will consider a resolution supporting a statewide ban on texting while driving at the next meeting, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at the municipal building, 6907 Wooster Pike. good thing),” Andrews said. Councilman Dennis Wolter said that if the Ohio Senate is a couple years away from passing the bill Mariemont should be more proactive in banning texting while driving. ”I just don’t want to see it at all in this village, or anywhere, but this is one place we have control,” he said. If the village decides to take up a ban, Andrews said officials should consider the impact it may have on drivers. “We have to be careful that we don’t pass a law that Terrace Park, Fairfax and Columbia Township don’t have so we make it frustrating and cumbersome,” he said.
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Mariemont Council plans to vote on a resolution that supports the Ohio Senate bill prohibiting texting while driving. The city of Cincinnati passed a similar driving and texting ban in September. Village Solicitor Ed McTigue said he would prepare the resolu-
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tion of support for the Ohio Senate bill for council to vote on at the next meeting. For more about your community, visit www.Cincinnati.com/mariemont.