SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Elsmere and Erlanger kynews@communitypress.com T h u r s d a y, O c t o b e r
Matthew Schulz of Schulz & Sons Jewelers
8, 2009
Web site: NKY.com
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Library bring roaring 1920s to life
By Jason Brubaker
The Jazz Bird
jbrubaker@nky.com
Volume 13 Issue 27 © 2009 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
RECORDER
Chez Nora is set to be overrun by bootleggers, flappers, and gangsters this week … and the library couldn’t be happier. “Our goal is to turn (Chez Nora) into a speakeasy, so we can give people a feel of what that time was like,” said Venus Moose, the adult programmer at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library. “This is going to be a fantastic night, and people are going to love it.” Using a grant from the Fine Arts Fund of Cincinnati, the library is sponsoring a special event at the Covington jazz club on Oct. 8 as part of their “One Book, One Community” program. The program will include performances from local actors portraying the three main characters of “The Jazz Bird,” a story depicting the life of infamous Cincinnati bootlegger George Remus. Live jazz music and drink specials will be part of the affair as well. Moose said the library often has dramatic readings for some of their book discussions, but wanted to expand upon that idea to take
The program will be at Chez Nora Jazz Club in Covington, located at 530 Main St. It will begin at 7 p.m., and is free to attend. Guests should be over the age of 21, since alcohol will be served. Local playwrights Joe McDonough, Dale Doerman and Thom Atkinson, local actors Buz Davis, Tara Williams and Michael Bath and local musician Jim Connerly will be featured. For more information, visit www.kentonlibrary.org, or www.cheznora.com. advantage of the local flavor of the Craig Holden book. The book tells the story of Remus, his wife Imogene, and prosecutor Charlie Taft, who tries a murder case against Remus after Imogene is murdered. Moose said Erlanger Branch Director Sue Banks contacted some local playwrights, who agreed to write several short monologues for each of the characters to act out. The characters will be in full 1920s dress costumes, and have been researching their roles extensively. “It’s really a tragic story, but it’s so fascinating at the same time,” said Tara Williams, who will portray Imogene. “When you read about
this case, you just can’t imagine living during a time like this, but yet it also seems fun and exciting in a strange sort of way.” Buz Davis, who will portray George Remus, said guests should really enjoy getting to know his character, who was a “classic gangster”, but at the same time, was also was well-liked by many in the community. “He is known for the violent act of killing his wife, but there was really a lot more to his story, which I’ve found to be incredibly interesting,” he said. “Even though he was this criminal, people really liked him because he found ways to get them alcohol and could be rather generous at times.” Moose said the Remus’ were also known for their extravagant parties, where George would give away diamonds to the ladies or leaves $100 bills under the placemats as gifts. “Now I don’t think we’ll be doing that,” she joked. “But we are going to try to recreate that elegant atmosphere and let people see what it was like.” The program will start at 7 p.m., and is free to attend. There will be drink specials and free appetizers. Visit www.cheznora.com or www.kentonlibrary.org.
Sports Academy under new leadership By Jason Brubaker jbrubaker@nky.com
New grading system
Students, faculty, and parents at Miles Elementary are abuzz about the new system to evaluate pupil performance that goes beyond an A, B, or C grade. Within its first full semester across the school, parents are also adjusting to the system that gives specifics in terms of where students are doing well and where they may have issues. See what they are all saying. SCHOOLS, A7
Soccer, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, volleyball – it doesn’t matter. Debra Kramer loves teaching them all. “The Sports Academy is just a fun way for kids to try out a few different sports to see which ones they like,” she explained. “It’s always fun for the kids to try different things, and you never know when something is going to click for them.” Kramer, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky, is the new director of the Silverlake Sports Academy, a program that allows younger children to get involved in a variety of activities, depending on the season. With winter quickly approaching, Kramer said she is working to organize basketball and volleyball camps, with hopes of generating enough interest to start leagues in January. The camps will be for both boys and girls, rang-
Debra Kramer works with Brandon Brooks, 5, on his throwing motion as Adeline Wendling, 3, looks on. ing in age from 5-10 for basketball and from 5-14 for volleyball. Campers will
be split by age, and will learn the basic fundamentals of the game during the
A fall affair
Pumpkin patches, fall farmer markets, and festivals abound as the weather cools and leaves turn. See a selection of what’s happening locally and prepare for a weekend of fall activities. LIFE, B1
JASON BRUBAKER/STAFF
To place an ad, call 283-7290.
Matt Igel, 4, tries to score a goal on Debra Kramer during the Sports Academy Youth Development Camp on Oct. 5.
eight-week sessions. “We work on more than just the games, though,” Kramer said. “Part of the goal of the Sports Academy is to develop their listening skills and their social interaction skills, which they’ll need moving forward.” For the younger children, Kramer also runs the Youth Development Camp, designed for kids ages 3-5. In that camp, participants get a basic understanding of a number of sports, allowing them to gauge their interest in each. Nancy Igel, whose 4year old son Matt is in the Youth Development Camp, said it’s been a positive experience for him. “It’s been great, because he’s getting exposed to all of these sports in one setting,” she said. “He’s really enjoyed it.” Matt’s father, David, said the Silverlake coaches and instructors are great
JASON BRUBAKER/STAFF
Debra Kramer, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky, is the new director of the Silverlake Sports Academy. working with the kids, helping them to have fun and learn at the same time. “They’re really positive when they’re working with the kids, which we really appreciate,” he said. “It’s a good environment for the kids, and we’re really happy with it.” Kramer said the Sports Academy camps and Youth Development Camps are open to both members and non-members. The basketball and volleyball camps will begin Oct. 20. For more information, or to register your child, visit www.silverlakefamily.org or call 426-7777.