SOUTH KENTON
RECORDER
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Independence and Taylor Mill
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016
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Donna Yeager looks back on years of service She was first elected in 1998 Melissa Reinert mreinert@communitypress.com
FILE PHOTO
Children help Mayor Chris Reinersman count down the tree lighting during last year’s Christmas Walk.
Kenton County has busy month of Christmas events Melissa Reinert
Elsmere
mreinert@communitypress.com
S
anta Claus will make a special appearance at the Kenton County Courthouse in Independence this Saturday, Dec. 3, at the city’s Country Christmas Parade and Christmas Walk. And Santa will be pictureready and have lots of treats for the little ones at the Light Up Lakeside Party on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Barleycorn’s. Holiday fun continues in coming weeks with train rides, Christmas dinner, horse-drawn carriage rides and carol singing.
Crescent Springs and Villa Hills Christmas in the Park will be 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Community Park, 800 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance and new this year are train rides around the park.
Crestview Hills The Annual Christmas Dinner will be held 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the city building, 50 Town Center Blvd., Crestview Hills. Special guests include Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. There will be food and an opportunity for pictures. Contact the city at 859341-7373 to reserve your spot at one of the two seatings. Free. Please bring a non-perishable food donation and dessert to share.
RITA’S KITCHEN Book explores lost tea rooms of downtown Cincinnati. 5A
The Christmas Party will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Elsmere Senior Center on Cross Street. There will be carriage rides and gifts from Santa for children 12 and under. Register by Nov. 25. A professional photographer will take free family portraits so dress your best and be ready to smile. There will also be games and treats for all. Visit www.cityofelsmere.com for information and to register.
Erlanger Tree Lighting, 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Railroad Depot Park, 3313 Crescent Ave., Erlanger. Highlights include: ErlangerElsmere school choirs singing carols, appearances by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (including photos), reading of The Polar Express, free hot chocolate and s’mores, Tree ornaments made by Erlanger-Elsmere school children on display. Tree lighting takes place at 7:30 p.m. Holiday Extravaganza 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library; 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger. This event is co-sponsored by the city of Erlanger and features carriage rides from 1-3 p.m. Santa from 1:30-3 p.m. and holiday craft making from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The city of Erlanger will hold its annual holiday train display at the Erlanger Municipal Build-
ing, 505 Commonwealth Ave., on the following dates: Friday, Dec. 9, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 16 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 23 5-8 p.m.; and Tuesday, Dec. 27 through Friday Dec. 30 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A guest from The Kenton County Library will read stories on Dec. 9, Dec. 10 and Dec. 16.
Fort Mitchell Lighting of the Tree Christmas Event will be held Sunday, Dec. 4, at the city building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides 5-8 p.m.; tree lighting at 6 p.m. and crafts, refreshments, music and a visit from Santa 6-8 p.m.
Fort Wright Civil War Christmas will be held Sunday, Dec. 11, for more information, visit www.fortwright.com.
INDEPENDENCE – Donna Yeager has never been afraid to ask the bold questions. Like: “Will you give us money for ... a senior center... an amphitheater... our parks?” “If you don’t ask, they don’t know that you need it,” Yeager, longtime Independence councilwoman, said. Yeager, 83, was first elected to public office in 1998. Since then she has served seven terms on council and two years as mayor of a city that has doubled in population since 2000. “I got involved because there were so many things to be done,” she said. “I started with the parks and then everyone talked me into running for office.” Yeager has been instrumental in making the city’s Parks and Recreation Department what it is today: Six parks, a slew of programs and events, an amphitheater and senior center. Earlier this year, Yeager announced her retirement. Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., she’ll attend her last council meeting as an elected official. According to Councilwoman Carol Franzen, Yeager will be missed. “It won’t be the same without her,” Franzen said. “She’s been there since I’ve been on council. I have learned so much from Donna. She’s sweet, smart, very passionate about the city and loyal.” Yeager’s work with the city began in 1995 when she joined the now-defunct parks and recreation committee with several other residents. Current Parks and Recreation Director Nita Brake also served on the committee. Working together throughout the years to cultivate Independence’s famed Christmas Walk and
Independence Country Christmas Parade and Christmas Walk, Saturday, Dec. 3, in Municipal Square and Courthouse Square in Independence. The entire day Independence will be filled with holiday bliss. In the afternoon, Santa will make a special appearance at the courthouse. At 5:15 p.m. a tree lighting will take place and at 5:30 p.m. the Country Christmas Parade will take place. Line-up for the parade begins
THINGS TO DO Toy train show, Christmas in the Park, Very Merry Christmas Concert listed. 6A
See EVENTS, Page 2A
Contact us News .........................283-0404 Retail advertising .......513-768-8404 Classified advertising ...513-421-6300 Delivery .......................781-4421 See page A2 for additional information
MELISSA REINERT/ THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Councilwoman Donna Yeager retires at the end of this year.
Independence Day celebration – which now draws a crowd of about 40,000 – the two became “the best of friends.” “Donna is not bashful,” Brake said. “She was the main driving force for the senior center. In the ‘90s we applied for a grant to build the center. We didn’t get it. So, Donna went down to Frankfort and said something to Gov. (Paul) Patton. We put in for the grant again next year and we got it.” When the $250,000 matching grant didn’t cover the cost, Yeager went to the county for additional funds. She got county officials to give an additional $200,000, Brake said. “She went to council and pleaded for more money and council gave it to us. Total, we got $1 million. We made it. The senior center was built and opened in 2001. Donna is tenacious.” Yeager put her boldness to use again raising funds for the amphitheater which is named in her honor. Chris Moriconi, city administrator and former mayor, said Yeager has always See YEAGER, Page 2A
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Vol. 6 No. 23 © 2016 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED