PERSON 2 PERSON
B1
Your Community Press newspaper serving Columbia Township, Deer Park, Dillonvale, Kenwood, Madeira, Rossmoyne, Sycamore Township E-mail: suburban@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, S e p t e m b e r
Candidate quiz
As we have learned over the last month, voters are frustrated because they say their elected officials don’t listen to them. This is your chance. What questions do you have for candidates on the November ballot in your community? What do you want to know about local ballot issues? E-mail your questions to suburban@communitypress.co m. We will try to get answers to as many as we can.
Weighting game
The final meeting of the weight loss challenge had all the all the suspense of a whodunit, without the crime scene It had all started weeks earlier when 23 people joined at Madeira Health Care Fitness Center with the common goal of losing weight. These weight loss challenges, hosted by MHCC and wellness coach Beth Steur, run on the premise of making healthy nutritional and lifestyle changes that will maximize weight loss. Adherence is promoted through a weekly meeting, e-mails and competition for a cash prize for the top three finishers. SEE LIFE, B1
9, 2009
B E C A U S E C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
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Mind their own businesses
Volume 46 Number 35 © 2009 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Hamilton County library levy on the Nov. 3 ballot is a 1-mill levy. The millage was listed incorrectly in the Sept. 2 Suburban Life.
Web site: communitypress.com
Chambers, associations are making a concerted effort to help communities
Deer Park athletic director Rob Hamann
Correction
LIFE
Deer Park uses cable to feed awareness By Amanda Hopkins ahopkins@communitypress.com
When the Deer Park Business Association was reorganized last year, Intercommunity Cable Regulatory Commission approached Sarah Wagner, president of the association and owner of Baressi’s Restaurant, about producing a cable show. Instead of a typical monthly roundtable discussion, Wagner has shaped her show, called “What’s Cookin in Deer Park,” around Deer Park business owners who come in to her kitchen to cook a dish and to talk about their business. For an upcoming show, ICRC taped a rib cookoff between the Deer Park Police Department and the Deer Park/Silverton Joint Fire Department with judges from local restaurants. One of Wagner’s goals with the show was to make it entertaining and informative. The upcoming show will feature the fire and police cooking skills, but also inform residents on what each department does to keep the community safe. The show has helped the business association create public awareness about the local businesses which Safety Service Director Mike Berens, who helped Wagner get the association up and running, said have struggled in the rough economy. Donna Farrell, treasurer of the business association and manager of First Financial Bank in Deer Park, said that with the growth of the group, better communication has resulted between government,
AMANDA HOPKINS/STAFF
Guest judges decide the Deer Park Police Department served up a spicier recipe than the Deer Park/Silverton Fire Department during the rib cookoff for a taping of “What’s Cookin’ in Deer Park.” From left Keith Kolthoff of Deer Park Deli, Marlene Smith from Rusty’s Ristorante, Ross Bachman from Chicken on the Run, Sarah Wagner of Baressi’s, Capt. Jeff Lutz, Det. Tom Bradford, Police Chief Mike Schlie, DARE Officer Jen Campbell and Fire Chief Don Newman.
“Communication is essential in order for a community to work together for the greater good.”
Donna Farrell Treasurer of Deer Park Business Association
police and fire and the local businesses. “Communication is essential in order for a community to work together for the greater good,” Farrell said. Farrell said the association had
been inactive for around 20 years until last year. Since then, businesses have become more visible to Deer Park residents with the cable show, the first annual Bark in the Park dog walk that toured Deer Park businesses and with participation in both the Memorial Day parade and the Days in the Park festival. Farrell, who is also president of the Deer Park Board of Education, said there is more collaboration between businesses and the schools and the association is
looking into starting a career shadowing program for students. The meetings are teaching business owners how to deter crime and what to do if in a robbery situation, after a string of robberies in the area earlier this year. Farrell said the meetings will also be used to help business owners learn more about the other local shops and services. The business association meets once a month and is hosted by a different business every month.
Area alliances Blue Ash Business Association President: Gloria Cook Dues: $175 a year No. of members: About 95 Phone: NA E-mail: gloriacook@sibcycline.com Web site: www.babusiness.org Point of interest: Will soon launch a new Web site
Unkind cuts
Indian Hills schools will likely have to deal with significant cuts in state funding during the next few years. Superintendent Jane Knudson said the district could potentially face a drop of 1 percent in the funding it receives for the 2009-2010 school year and an additional 2 percent loss in 2010-2011. SEE STORY, A2
Deer Park Business Association President: Sarah Wagner Dues: $50 annually No. of members: 35 E-mail: info@baressis.com Web site: NA Points of interest: The Deer Park Business Assocation show “What’s Cookin in Deer Park” can be seen on Intercommunity Cable Regulatory Commission on channels 4 and 24 through Time Warner Cable or at icrctv.com/deer-park
Madeira Chamber of Commerce President: Kristen Hertzer Dues: Range from $50 to $100 a year, depending upon the number of employees No. of members: About 200 Phone: 271-1122 E-mail: Multiple addresses on Web site for different types of information Web site: www.madeirachamber.com Point of interest: Recently launched “Leads Exchange Luncheon” so members can exchange information Northeast Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Top officer: John Harris Dues: Ranges from $425 to $950 depending number employees Phone: 336-0125 E-mail: info@necchamber.org Web site: www.necchamber.
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Kristen Hertzer, president of the Madeira Chamber of Commerce, says her organization works hard to promote shopping in the city. For more on the Madeira Chamber’s efforts, see story, A2.
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