NORTHEAST
SUBURBAN LIFE
Your Community Press newspaper serving Blue Ash, Montgomery, Sycamore Township, Symmes Township
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2013
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Sycamore looks forward to its annual festival
By Leah Fightmaster
lfightmaster@communitypress.com
Sycamore Township’s annual festival is back for its 21st year. The festival is July 12 and July 13 at Bechtold Park, 4312 Sycamore Road, from 6 p.m. to midnight each evening. Those who attend can expect games, food and beer booths, as well as kids’ rides, Parks and Recreation Director Mike McKeown said. Several restaurants will have booths with foods ranging from pizza, hamburgers, Cajun, sandwiches and ice cream. The main attraction, McKeown said, is the live music. Headlining the festival this year is The Ides of March, who plays on Friday, and America, who plays on Saturday. Opening the show Friday is Pandora Effect and Blair Carman and
MUSICAL LINEUP Here’s the schedule for the festival’s live music Friday, July 12 » 6 p.m. – Pandora Effect » 7:30 p.m. – Blair Carman and the Belleview Boys » 9:15 p.m. – The Ides of March Saturday, July 13 » 6 p.m. – The Refranes » 7:30 p.m. – DV8 » 9:15 p.m. - America
the Belleview Boys. Saturday the openers are The Refranes and DV8, McKeown added. “I think people really like the fact that they can come see these big national acts for free, but not get gouged on high food prices,” he said. See FESTIVAL, Page A2
By Leah Fightmaster
Three kids slide down a giant slide at Sycamore Township's annual festival in 2011. The township's festival is July 12 and July 13 at Bechtold Park. THANKS TO MIKE MCKEOWN
Crossroads Hospice serves lunch, gives certificates of appreciation By Jason Hoffman jhoffman@communitypress.com
Retired Army Col. Jim Ferrando, left, salutes Navy veteran John Barkman, right, after giving him a certificate of appreciation for his military service at the Crossroads Hospice Veterans Recognition Cermony at the Sycamore Senior Center Friday, June 26. JASON HOFFMAN/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Sycamore Junior High choral groups performed a variety of Disney classics.
Deer Park, Sycamore to partner for fourth JEDZ lfightmaster@communitypress.com
Veterans recognized at senior center luncheon
WALT’S WORLD B1
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UA’S BEST A Sycamore Township student was among Ursuline Academy’s top graduates. See Schools, A4
BLUE ASH — Veterans who served in the military dating back to World War II attended a recognition ceremony by Crossroads Hospice hosted at the Sycamore Senior Center June 28. “This really is a very exciting event,” said Paul Burden, Air Force colonel and chaplain for Crossroads Hospice. “It’s so important we recognize and honor veterans throughout the year but especially around patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July.” More than 100 people attended the ceremony that featured a lunch, recognition ceremony, singing of each military branch’s song, and a Civil-War bugler. Veterans in attendance received a certificate of appreciation, American flag lapel pin and gold-plated military chal-
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See VETERANS, Page A2
Sycamore Township found a potential suitor for its final joint economic development zone. Deer Park Safety-Service Director Mike Berens said he’s been talking with township officials during the past few weeks to discuss partnering with the city for the fourth JEDZ that Sycamore hoped to set up. Along with the other three zones, the fourth will be in Kenwood on the west side of Kenwood Towne Centre. Complexes included in that zone would be Jewish Hospital as well as several doctors’ and company offices on Galbraith Road and Pine Road. Kenwood Place is also within the zone, which includes Kenwood Theatre, Dewey’s Pizza, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt and several other businesses, Berens said. This zone was originally planned when Sycamore Township set up its other three zones with Madeira and Amberley Village, and was intended to be for Sharonville. When that city decided to not participate days before the public hearing, a substitute couldn’t be found in time. Terms for the fourth zone are the same as the others – Deer Park will collect the .75 percent earnings tax on employees who work within the zone. The city will keep the cost of collection and 10 percent of the total, while the rest goes to Sycamore. Berens, who is a former Sycamore Township administrator, said Deer Park could expect to receive about $75,000 to $100,000 from the JEDZ earnings tax, which could potentially be used for the city’s muchneeded street repairs. City council agreed to move forward with the JEDZ, but has to wait 30 days and have a public hearing before officially approving it. See PARTNER, Page A2 Vol. 50 No. 17 © 2013 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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