BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT B1
Your Community Press newspaper serving Miami Township and Milford Email: milford@communitypress.com Website: communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, A u g u s t 3 1 , 2 0 1 1
Metzger Hardware in New Richmond
Vol. 31 No. 31 © 2011 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Model railroad features landmarks
Jack and Kathie Griffin have a railway running through their Pierce Township backyard. No, it’s not the wall-shaking, paintpeeling, rafter-rattling B&O freight trains coming through. FULL STORY, B1
Milford staff treated to flash mob
Milford school personnel Aug. 23 were energized for the 2011-2012 school year by a flash mob. Conceived by Grace Wenstrup, Tracy Huggins and Kate Schwerzler – teachers at Pattison Elementary School – the dance was set to Katy Perry’s song “Firework.” It served as the grand finale for the annual meeting that reviewed the district’s financial status, performance trends, and this year’s goals. Saying he’d like to review goals in more detail, Superintendent Bob Farrell moved to center stage, removed his jacket and donned dark glasses, and started dancing. To view the video, go to: http://tinyurl.com/4xul345.
Collection time
In the next few days your Community Press carrier will be stopping by to collect $2.50 for delivery of this month’s The Milford-Miami Advertiser. Your carrier retains half of this amount along with any tip you Sam Dobrowolski give to reward good service. This month we’re featuring Sam Dobrowolski. Sam is 11 years old and is a sixth-grader at Meadowview Elementary School. He plays basketball and baseball. He loves to listen to music. Sam saves 70 percent of his collection money. He has been a carrier for almost two years. For information about our carrier program, call Steve Barraco, 248-7110.
Contact The Advertiser
News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248-8600 Retail advertising . . . . . . . . 768-8196 Classified advertising . . . . . 242-4000 Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 576-8240 See page A2 for additional information
ADVERTISER
B E C A U S E C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
50¢
Stormwater work under way in city By Kellie Geist-May
kmay@communitypress.com
MILFORD - Residents and visitors to Milford should see major drainage improvements in the East Milford area soon. Milford Administrator Jeff Wright said the city’s East Milford stormwater improvement project, which has been in the planning stages for quite a while, is under way. “Currently, when it rains, water will pond on the street and on the
lawns of the homes in that area. It’s very flat and it doesn’t drain well, so we’re putting in new lines and catch basins to collect the water and transport it to the river,” he said. The improvements will start near the intersection of Main, Walnut and Pike streets and travel westward toward the Little Miami River. The city’s contract with Fields Excavating is for $625,852.
See STORMWATER on page A2
BRANDON SEVERN/CONTRIBUTOR
Upbeat opener Junior Cade Williams tries to turn upfield for the Milford Eagles. Milford crossed the river for week one to defeat Campbell County. For more about the game, see Sports, A8.
Milford website makes an impression By Kellie Geist-May kmay@communitypress.com
MILFORD - If you search for Milford, Ohio, online, you’ll find a very different website than in the past. The city has had the same website since 2000. With the changing world and need for more constant communication with residents, city council and staff decided to have the site updated. “We wanted the website to be of greater interest to the residents so they frequent it more often. We understand it’s the quickest and most effective way to communi-
cate with them,” said City Administrator Jeff Wright. Mark Sund, owner of Sund & Company, has operated the city’s website since about 2004 and was contracted to do the redesign. Sund said the old site was difficult to navigation and required a programmer to upload content. The new site went online this summer. “It’s a lot easier to find information on the new site – all the announcements and calendar information are on the front page and you can get to every page from the home page,” Sund said. “The site also has a full content management system, so the city
staff can update it themselves.” “It’s important to have a good website because everyone looks for information online. Having an attractive website can really impact economic and community development,” he said. Wright said city officials can use the site to post things like meeting notices and updates, information about community events and city projects, or breaking news like power outages and road closures without delays. There’s also a search bar, which the old site didn’t have. “We want to make sure residents can find out what’s going on
in the city without having to leave the house or office or picking up the phone,” Wright said. “We hope this is more convenient.” The $4,000 project also will help the city make an impression on people who aren’t familiar with the city. “We realize the website is one of the several ways people view the city. It’s important to make a good impression by having a nice, easy to use website,” Wright said. “I appreciate all the work Susan Ellerhorst has put into making this happen.” For more about your community, visit www.cincinnati.com/milford
Superintendent reorganizes administrators By John Seney jseney@communitypress.com
MIAMI TWP. - Superintendent Dr. Robert Farrell presented Milford school board members with details of a reorganization plan that divides administrative functions into five major areas. Farrell told board members Aug. 18 the new organizational chart came about because of the need to consolidate responsibilities after the loss of some administrators last year. The old organizational chart simply had the superintendent at the top with all the other administrators below him. The new plan divides administrative functions into five areas of responsibility. They are the super-
intendent’s office, under Farrell; the treasurer’s office, directed by Deborah Burton; h u m a n resources, the responsibility of Farrell assistant superintendent Tim Ackermann; business, under the direction of Jeff Johnson, operations manager; and curriculum and instruction, which is divided between Jill Chin for kindergarten through sixth grade and Nancy House for seventh through 12th grade. Some of the responsibilities under the superintendent include board relations, community relations, principals, athletics and
marching band. Johnson’s areas of responsibility include buildings and grounds, utilities, IT maintenance, nutrition services and transportation. Burton’s responsibilities include payroll, budgeting and investments. Ackermann will handle employee negotiations, training, discipline of employees, new teacher orientation and health services. The curriculum responsibilities include testing, gifted programs, special education and instructional materials. Board member Andrea Brady said the reorganization plan was “very impressive.” “It’s important we keep a close
eye on how it is working,” she said. “We have to make sure we’re doing it right with the staff we have.” Board member Gary Knepp asked Farrell if the plan will provide opportunities for professional development. “That’s where teamwork comes in,” Farrell said. “There is a lot of interaction. This team works well together.” Board member David Yockey said it was important to convey to the community the greater expectations required of administrators. “We have to appreciate the extra effort of these people,” he said. For more about your community, visit www.Cincinnati.com/miamitownship.
For the quality and care you and your family deserve, come see us at...
Rutledge & Weber Eyecare 1107 Allen Drive • Milford, Ohio 45150 • 513-965-2020
www.bestplaceinsight.com
Evening & Saturday Hours Available
We accept many insurance plans including Eyemed, VSP and Humana Vision Care Plan
To schedule an appointment call us at CE-0000474205
513-965-2020
Rutledge Eye Care now offering Care Credit financing