CELEBRATING THE 4TH B1
Green Township celebrating July Fourth a day early with a celebration including fireworks at Kuliga Park.
Volume 83 Number 35 © 2011 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Four more days
You have four more days – until July 17 – to vote for your favorites in the 2011 Community Choice Awards. Show all of your favorites how much you love them by voting. Go online to www.cincinnati.com/ communitychoice. Everyone who votes is entered into a drawing to win a $250 gift card!
Highlander alumni golf outing Monday
The Oak Hills Alumni Association is hosting its annual golf outing fundraiser at 11 a.m. Monday, July 18, at Aston Oaks Golf Club in North Bend. Proceeds from the “Swinging Fore Scholarships” outing benefit the Oak Hills Alumni Scholarship Fund. Oak Hills alumni, family, friends and community members are all welcome to play. The cost is $95 per golfer, which includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, drinks, dinner, games and prizes. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To register or find more information, call Lori Ohmer at 598-2948, visit http://oakhills. k12.oh.us/Alumni/index.htm or email OHHSAlumni@oakhills. hccanet.org.
A lot of practice
One of the largest medical practices in Greater Cincinnati has just celebrated its 25th year. The Family Medical Group has three offices in Green Township. – SEE STORY, A3
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Cheviot checks out new cafe
By Kurt Backscheider
kbackscheider@communitypress.com
Cheviot officials are working on an ordinance to regulate an Internet sweepstakes cafe proposed to open soon in the city. Signs painted on the windows of the former Waves hair salon at Glenmore and Harrison avenues announce a sweepstakes cafe is opening in the corner storefront. Zech Members of Cheviot City Council are considering an ordinance drafted to regulate such cafes after concerns surfaced about whether the business would lead to increased crime in the city. Patrons of sweepstakes cafes purchase pre-paid phone cards with Internet time and then log on to computer terminals in the cafe to play online games that look like video slots. They play to win more Internet time and points that give them chances in sweepstakes where they can win money. “We’re still in the very early
KURT BACKSCHEIDER/STAFF
An Internet sweepstakes cafe is opening in an old hair salon storefront at the corner of Glenmore and Harrison avenues in Cheviot. City leaders are working on an ordinance to regulate such establishments as controversy swirls about whether the business will lead to increased crime in the city. stages, but we are moving forward with an ordinance to regulate this establishment,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Zech, who chairs council’s laws, rules and ordinances committee. She said the ordinance is designed to prevent safety and fire hazards, prevent gambling and criminal behavior, prevent disturbances and preserve the peaceful enjoyment of the city for adjoining residents and businesses.
“We welcome businesses, but frankly we’ve heard good and bad about these types of establishments,” she said. “We know we need regulations to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the community.” David Holt, the proprietor of the cafe, did not return messages seeking comment. Zech said as of right now the state of Ohio has no set laws governing computerized sweepstakes
cafes, so Cheviot officials are looking at ordinances that have been adopted by other municipalities to address such businesses. Cheviot Mayor Samuel Keller said state legislators are working on a bill that would provide oversight of sweepstakes cafes. “I know it’s a very hot topic in Cheviot,” he said. “The state hasn’t ruled yet if it’s legal or illegal. If the business follows all the local ordinances and building codes, they could open.” Keller said in the meantime regulation of the cafe in Cheviot is in council’s hands. “As mayor, it is my job to enforce the rules and it is council’s job to make the rules,” he said. Zech said the city wants to enact a strong ordinance that will protect citizens, but also allow the cafe to be successful. “We want to do what is right by everyone,” she said. “There is a lot of concern about this sweepstakes business. Hopefully we can work something out that is beneficial to everyone.” Council will have a reading on the proposed ordinance at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19.
Delhi Skirt Game to help 4-year-old By Heidi Fallon hfallon@communitypress.com
His big, blue eyes can’t see the love that surrounds him. Christian Rainier is a 4-yearold who will be one of this year’s Skirt Game recipients. Two years after he was born, Christian was diagnosed with septo optic dysplasia that means his optic nerves don’t connect with his brain. Shortly after that diagnoses, his parents, Cody and Melissa Rainier, were told their son has diabetes insipidus, which means he can’t walk or speak. “He’s my blue-eyed angel,” said his grandmother, Beverly Rainier. “As he gets older and bigger,” said his grandfather Derek Rainier, “it’s going to be harder for Melissa to be able to lift and transport Christian.” Clyde Kober, Skirt Game cochairman, said the financial boost his organization will be providing will go to help the Rainier family buy a van with a lift. “He has therapy several days a week and goes to a special needs
About the Skirt Game
This will be the 34th Skirt Game will be Friday, Aug. 5. at Delhi Township Park. This year’s theme is Ladies of Generation X vs. Ladies of Baby Boomers. Kober said the Skirt Game festivities will start the night before on Thursday, Aug. 4, with a tailgate party from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Plaza Vallarta restaurant parking lot, 4990 Delhi Road, adjacent the Delhi Township Park entrance. “We’ll have food and activities for children and it will be a lot of fun and, hopefully, start our fundraising,” Kober said. The “ladies” of both teams could make an appearance along with Chris Goins and Rocking Ron Schumaker from WGRR. The Skirt Game starts with pregame activities at 5 p.m. Along with the game, there will be raffles, a sports memorabilia auction and fireworks.
day care,” said Melissa. Melissa moved to Blue Ash to have access to the special schooling and therapy her son needs. Christian’s grandparents are former Green Township residents
HEIDI FALLON/STAFF
Perched on the lap of his mom, Melissa, Christian Rainier will be one of the Skirt Game recipients this year. Stopping to check in with the tot is Clyde Kober, Skirt Game co-chairman. who moved to Delhi Township several years ago. Melissa said it wasn’t until they were forced to acquire a wheelchair for Christian that the full extent of his disabilities became a reality. “Seeing him in that wheelchair, it finally dawned on me that my son was truly disabled,” she said. Just how big a contribution the Skirt Game can give the Rainier family depends, Kober said, on the
proceeds of the Aug. 5 event. “We’ve changed how we assist people and instead of just doing it after the game, we try to help people all year long,” Kober said. Beverly Rainier, thankful for the Skirt Game’s help, is pitching in to sell raffle tickets and accumulate prizes. “They are such a wonderful organization,” she said, “and we are so grateful for their help for my blue-eyed angel.”
Children’s Hospital to build in Green Twp. By Kurt Backscheider kbackscheider@communitypress.com
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center plans to open an outpatient pediatric facility in Green Township. The proposed medical office, which will feature specialty clinics, radiology services, laboratory services, urgent care, speech therapy and physical therapy, will be located next to The Christ Hospital outpatient center now under construction near Harrison Avenue and Filview Circle.
“It’s exciting for Green Township to get such a well-respected and nationally recognized hospital to locate here,” said Trustee David Linnenberg. “I think it’s great.” Maura Moran, assistant vice president of real estate for Cincinnati Children’s, said the facility will feature more than 60,000-squarefeet of space and will be built on 8.3 acres off Harrison Avenue. She said the hospital conducted a thorough
See HOSPITAL on page A2