Your Community Press newspaper serving Evendale, Glendale, Sharonville,Springdale, Wyoming E-mail: tricounty@communitypress.com We d n e s d a y, N o v e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 0 9
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Volume 26 Number 14 © 2009 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Neighbors Who Care Maybe they delivered a home-cooked meal when you were under the weather, or helped you with yard work. They are “Neighbors Who Care,” and we think they deserve recognition. Again this year, The TriCounty Press will devote one of our holiday issues to honoring those in the community who have given a bit of themselves to make the lives of others better. No deed is too small (or too large). If you know a Neighbor Who Cares, tell us about them. You can nominate by sending an e-mail to tricountypress@communitypre ss.com, or by regular mail to Tri-County Press, Neighbors Who Care, 394 Wards Corner Road, Suite 170, Loveland, Ohio, 45140. Include your name, address and phone number, as well as theirs.
Collections
In the next few days your Community Press carrier will be stopping by to collect $2.50 for delivery of this month’s TriCounty Press. Your carrier keeps half of this amount along Boggs with any tip you give to reward good service. This month we’re featuring Joey Boggs, who attends Princeton High School and is a member of the cross-country team and the marching band. Boggs enjoys singing and talking to his customers on his paper route. For information about our carrier program, call circulation manager Steve Barraco at 2487110, or e-mail him at sbarraco@communitypress.com.
Packed house
About 125 people crowded into Wyoming City Council chambers in response to a lawsuit filed by three former employees who were recently fired or resigned from the Recreation Department. One employee had been fired and the other two employees resigned after drinking alcohol at an Aug. 28 Teen Splash Dance at the Wyoming Family Aquatic Center. SEE STORY, A4
To place an ad, call 242-4000.
ROD APFELBECK/CONTRIBUTOR
Saddle Up
Wyoming seniors Andrew Kraner, Dillon Burk, Alex Etler, Spencer Herbst, Harry Meisner, Evan Aleshire, Isaiah Nearor, Jibreel Black, Jared Frost, Nick Layman, Jacob Allsop, Broderick Williams, James Edwards and Oliver Jawwaad line up to accept the Regional Championship trophy after Wyoming’s 14-7 win over Springfield Shawnee Friday night, Nov. 20, in Dayton.
HOLIDAY PLANNER A roundup of activities, events, services and giving opportunities during the holiday season:
Local stores focus on budgetfriendly gifts for the holidays By Kelly McBride Reddy kreddy@communitypress.com
Events
• Christmas in the Village (Montgomery) – Holiday in the Village is Saturday, Dec. 5. Four locations share in the celebration, all connected with free transport on the Jolly Trolley. At the Downtown Montgomery Historic District starting at 5 p.m., Santa will announce the winners of the Holiday Coloring Contest, with the grand prize winner lighting the Holiday Tree. The winners will ride with Santa in the carriage to Universalist Church, where children can visit with Santa, create their own winter craft with Mrs. Claus and write their letter to Santa, all up until 8 p.m. For more information 891-2424. • Christmas in Loveland (Loveland) – From 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Christmas in Historic Loveland features free horse drawn carriage rides and some of the areas finest children and adult choirs. Choirs will be performing continuously. Santa will stroll the town greeting the children for those last minute wishes. This year’s event coincides with the touching Live Nativity put on by New Hope Baptist Church, where children can pet the animals and envision the story of the Christ Child. The History Museum is open and decorated and a live production awaits you at the Stage Company theater. St. Nick will welcome the Children with free candy canes and there will be other treats of the season. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire by Jim Fierro will take the chill off near the caroling and historic buildings decorated for Christmas will warm the day. There is a big sing along at 8 p.m. Call 293-8254. • Hamilton County Park District is hosting Holiday in Lights from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, at Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. It is through Jan. 2. It is a one-mile, drivethrough outdoor lights and themed figures display. The cost is $12 per car, $45 for buses and 15-passenger vans, $2 coupon available online. Call 769-0393 or visit www.holidayinlights.com. • Hamilton County Park District is hosting Santaland along with Holiday in Lights. This magical wonderland inside Sharon Centre is free and is open Friday, Nov. 27 through Wednesday, Dec. 23. The hours are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
As the holiday shopping season approaches, several Wyoming businesses have prepared carefully, balancing the tough economy with holiday flair. The shops in the 500 building of Wyoming Avenue have struggled in the tight economy, and are hoping their inventories of unique gift items at budget-friendly prices will boost business. Patty Pfahler, who owns Patina at Home, 500 Wyoming Ave., has carefully selected items. She sells furniture items that she has refurbished, as well as home decor items. This season, she has stocked gifts such as antique door knob wine stoppers, hurricane lanterns and vintage items, such as silver coasters and decanters that have been repurposed. “These are one-of-a-kind,” Pfahler said. “Some are from estate sales.” “I recycle and repurpose things,” she said. “That’s what this store has always been about.” The costs range from $20 to $30 for the home decor items.
KELLY MCBRIDE REDDY/STAFF
Choo Choo’s Children and Baby stocks children’s toys and features locally made items such as Fuzz Cuzz hats for about $40 and kits to make a doll-sized quilt for $21.
KELLY MCBRIDE REDDY/STAFF
Pfahler has stocked gift items such as antique doorknob and golf ball wine stoppers and repurposed silver and glass items. Most are priced from $20 to $30.
KELLY MCBRIDE REDDY/STAFF
Patty Pfahler, who owns Patina at Home in Wyoming, has selected her holiday inventory carefully in light of the tough economy. “I also stock items made by local artists, to support them,” Pfahler said. Other shop owners stock the creations of local artists and vendors, as well. Next door, at Choo Choo’s Children and Baby, 502 Wyoming Ave., owner Kristan Pruitt has filled her shop with toys and other items for babies and children. Among them are FuzzCuzz hats, made by Jenni Huss of Cincinnati. The caps cost an average $40, depending on size. She also sells Make a Quilt Set, a kit for doll-sized quilts. The $21 kits assembled by Wyoming resident Janice Weiser contain most items needed for the project. Pruitt hopes her unique inventory will help her stand out from the big-box vendors. “I feel it’s important to give artisans the chance to display their vision,” Pruitt said. “I put careful consideration into the selection of toys I sell and look at safety features, quality and overall fun factor.” Down the street, at Art Resource Team, owner Inez Baird is offering smaller, less expensive artwork. Framed prints run about
$60, or a shopper can pick up an unframed piece for $20. She also sells jewelry, dishes and bookmarks. She, too, hopes the unique nature of artwork and the affordable price will attract shoppers. “You’re supporting the local artists,” Baird said. “It’s important to shop local. “Plus, you’re saving gas,” she said of the short trip to the Wyoming Avenue shops. Pfahler said she tried to balance her holiday orders. “With the economy and people being price conscious, we have things from about $10 and up for unique gifts. “And they’re affordable.”
KELLY MCBRIDE REDDY/STAFF
Choo Choo’s Children and Baby is stocked and decorated for the holidays.
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