SUMMER 2020 VOL. 1

NEWS AND ACTIVITIES FOR MASON AND DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP

TRIHEALTH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER KEVIN JOSEPH, M.D.

OUTDOOR SAFETY

CITY OF MASON

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES & RESOURCES CITY OF MASON, DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, MASON CITY SCHOOLS, & TRIHEALTH

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CITY OF MASON

COVID- Based upon the Governor’s order in effect at the time of publication all programs and activities have been canceled/postponed until further notice. Stay Connected for the most up-to-date information: Website imaginemason.org Facebook City of Mason, Ohio - Government Twier @ImagineMason Sign up for E-newsleer imaginemason.org/subscribe/

event postponed • event postponed • event postponed

6000 Mason-Montgomery Road • Mason, Ohio 45040 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday 513.229.8500 • www.imaginemason.org

Mayor Kathy Grossmann

Tony Bradburn Council Member

4900 Parkway Dr., Suite 150 • Deerfield Township, Ohio 45040 Office Hours: 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday 513.701.6958 • www.choosedeerfield.com

Vice Mayor Michael Gilb

Ashley Chance Council Member

Diana K. Nelson Council Member

Main Number 513.229.8500 City Hotlines 513.229.8502 Administration 513.229.8510 Community Center 513.229.8555 Emergency 911 Engineering & Building 513.229.8520 Finance 513.229.8530 Fire Department Administration 513.229.8540 Parks & Recreation 513.229.8555 Police Department Administration 513.229.8560 Public Utilities 513.229.8570

TJ Honerlaw Council Member

Joshua Styrcula Council Member

Public Works 513.229.8580 Tax Office 513.229.8535 Utility Customer Service 513.229.8533 Utility Billing Questions: Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700 Utility Service Questions: Sewer Service and Emergencies 513.229.8570 (nights, holidays & weekends, emergencies only)

513.925.2525 Stormwater 513.229.8570 Waste Collection and Recycling 513.229.8533 Water Service and Emergencies - Greater Cincinnati Water Works 513.591.7700

Lelle Lutts Hedding President

Kristin Malhotra Vice President

Jim Siciliano Trustee

Dan Corey Fiscal Officer

Administrator Eric Reiners 513.701.6974 erein@deerfieldtwp.com Planning & Zoning Director Samuel Hill 513.701.6964 shill@deerfieldtwp.com Parks and Recreation Director Joel Smiddy 513.701.6975 jsmiddy@deerfieldtwp.com Public Works Director Billy Highfill 513-701-6978 bhigh@deerfieldtwp.com

Fiscal Officer Dan Corey 513.701.6971 dcorey@deerfieldtwp.com President Lelle Hedding 513.770.2381 lhedding@deerfieldtwp.com Vice President Kristin Malhotra 513.770.2382 kmalhotra@deerfieldtwp.com Trustee Jim Siciliano 513.760.4058 jsiciliano@deerfieldtwp.com

A joint publication of the City of Mason and Deerfield Township, Ohio, in partnership with TriHealth and Mason City Schools. City of Mason Administrative Offices 6000 Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040 513.229.8510 | administration@masonoh.org www.imaginemason.org

Deerfield Township Administrative Offices 4900 Parkway Drive, Suite 150, Deerfield Township, Ohio 45040 513.701.6958 l info@deerfieldtwp.com www.choosedeerfield.com

PRODUCED BY

C U S T O M P U B L I C AT I O N S

Publisher Ivy Bayer

Design Director Brittany Dexter

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 1

Eric Hansen City of Mason Manager

Dear Mason Community,

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s the City of Mason continues to monitor and take action against the spread of the COVID-19 virus I want to encourage all residents and businesses to please remain calm and patient. It is situations like this that not only define us as individuals but define us as a community. As a community we need to come together and help each other through these difficult challenges. Our City team is prepared. Similar to any significant event in the City (snow and ice removal operations, Red, Rhythm and Boom) we have implemented an Incident Command Team led by Fire Chief Brian Brumagen and Police Chief Todd Carter along with employee representatives from all departments to help prevent the spread of the disease and assist with all operations to support community needs related to the virus. Our Incident Command Team remains in contact with federal, state, and local health officials regarding COVID-19. We need to look for opportunities to maintain connectivity and outreach to our seniors who are an important component of our community. Please check in on our elderly, they may need medical supplies, food, toiletries, or just someone to remind them we care. If you know of an elderly neighbor, Veteran, or family in urgent need please call our offices at 513.229.8500 to provide us contact information so that we may follow up with them.

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In addition, we need to be mindful of the dramatic impact this event will have and is having upon all medical providers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and those who maintain these facilities. Their families will need help and assistance as these individuals focus on taking care of others. We encourage all residents to continue taking advantage of carry-out or delivery food services to help support our local business community. The Mason and Deerfield Chamber of Commerce is offering a useful list of local businesses, at madechamber.org/takeout-blitz/, offering take-out. We want you to stay active and connected. The City continues to provide services to the community in creative ways—try an online group exercise class at imaginemason. org, take part in Mason’s virtual 5K on Saturday, May 2, or take a walk in one of the City’s parks and complete a nature scavenger hunt. The City will continue to communicate with the public about COVID-19 through City information sources including CenterPoint, website, and social media. I encourage all residents to continue to check out the City’s website for regular updates and ways you can help our community. Again, I ask that as we face these challenges individually we find those random acts of kindness that bring us together as a community to ultimately make us stronger. #ComeTogether

Jim Siciliano Deerfield Township Trustee

Thank You for the Opportunity to Serve Deerfield Township

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s the newest member of the Deerfield Township Trustees, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the community, especially in the face of the trying times we are in. The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly been a challenge I could not have foreseen when I took on the role of Trustee. To address this challenge, I, along with the other Board of Trustees members and the Township administration, are working tirelessly to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services to our residents. We appreciate the community banding together as they have and complying with the social distancing and Stay at Home policies to reduce the spread of this virus. Be sure to stay up to date on the latest information by visiting our website www.choosedeerfield.com. With that said, I also wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. For those who may not know, in addition to my duties as Trustee, I am a Social Studies Teacher at Milford High School, where I have been since 2004. Over that time, I have tried to be instrumental in driving student success. I helped coordinate Student Support Services at Milford High School’s Success Academy. I also assisted with the creation and implementation of a district-wide credentialing certification for seniors in the field of Hospitality and Tourism, and am a member of the

High School Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Leadership Team. Additionally, I am the Head Coach for Milford High School’s Boy’s Volleyball Team and a member of the District Leadership Team for the Athletic Department. Previously, I was the Supervisor of Youth and Adult Sports for the City of Mason’s Parks and Recreation Department. Having spent 19 years working for a better future for the next generation of leaders in the field of education, it’s exciting to be able to turn my focus into also improving the community I live in. I hope to do this through transparent partnerships and open communication. Furthermore, I believe my leadership experience, and my background, will provide unique insights and perspectives on initiatives and policies affecting our residents particularly when it comes with working with our local school districts. Moving forward, as things get back to normal across the area, I want to build on the successes and work the Board of Trustees and the Deerfield Township administration have already been engaged in. I look forward to doing my part to ensure that Deerfield Township continues to be the community you want and deserve.

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 3

Backyard Safety With the sun and fun underway, it’s time to get ready to cool off with your neighbors and friends. Learn how to ensure a good time in your backyard this summer with these safety tips. • Please ensure your pool enclosure gates are self-closing and self-latching. Please remove all objects that offer the opportunity for a child to climb up and reach the gate latch or climb over the fence. • Reaching and throwing aids like poles should be kept on both sides of the pool. These items should remain stationary and not be misplaced through play activities. • All pool and hot tub drains must have a cover or grate that meets industry standards. Check to see that these covers are not broken or in disrepair and that they are anchored firmly over the drain openings. Please close your pool or hot tub immediately when broken, missing, or noncompliant suction outlet drain covers are first noticed. • Install a pool alarm to detect accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. Although the alarm provides an immediate warning, please keep in mind it is not a substitute for barrier fences or door alarms. • Loose or wobbly railings or support beams and missing or loose screws are warning

signs of an unsafe deck. Please examine your deck before use in the spring/ summer. • Placing your barbeque grill away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches creates a safe environment for grilling. Please do not use grills in a garage, porch, or enclosed area that could trap carbon monoxide. • Come up with safe ways to keep children away from your grill, especially when in use. For example, establish a safety zone around the grill with a chalk line and instruct children to remain outside of the zone. As a reminder, never leave a grill unattended when in use.

Swimming Safety Swimming is an outstanding wellness activity that provides countless social and health benefits. The City of Mason is committed to helping enhance a culture of swimming safety. Although swimming is great for overall health, it can also present a hazardous and potentially dangerous environment for some. Did you know that most drownings occur in backyard swimming pools? While no age group is exempt, young children ages 1–14 are especially prone to the risk of drowning. The Mason Fire Department encourages you to follow a few tips to have fun in the sun, safely. • Make sure everyone in your family learns how to swim. While this does not eliminate the need for supervision, knowing how to swim can help protect your child from drowning. Swim lessons are available through the Mason Community Center. Please visit ImagineMason.org for more information. • Be the lifeguard for your own party by being actively engaged and putting phones or other distractions away. Drowning can be a silent act and it is important stay vigilant. • If a child is missing, always check the water first. • Use pool flotation devices for fun, not as life jackets. While these are enjoyable toys, they do not offer the same protection or safety as a life jacket. It’s best to keep U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets available for use.

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• Teach children to ask permission to get in the water. • Stay out of the water when you are very tired, cold, or overheated. • Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. And refrain from using alcohol. Alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation for adolescents and adults. • Learn CPR. CPR saves lives and can be an integral part in treating a drowning victim. The City of Mason offers CPR classes taught by Mason Firefighter/Paramedics. You can register for a CPR class through the Mason Community Center at ImagineMason.org.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY (TOP) JACOB LUND/STOCK.ADOBE.COM / (BOTTOM) GELPI/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

COVID-19 OHIO RESOURCE GUIDE

You may have questions pertaining to certain issues regarding COVID-19 resources. Below is a list of potential websites and hotlines.

HEALTH

Ohio Department Of Health 1-833-4-ASK-ODH or Hotline: 614-466-2319 www.coronavirus.ohio.gov

EMPLOYMENT

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services www.jfs.ohio.gov

CORONAVIRUS AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

Hotline: 614-466-2319 www.jfs.ohio.gov

CHILDCARE

Chamber member 4C for Children is helping Essential Workers figure out how to access and enroll for Pandemic Care Programs or alternative childcare solutions. Staff is available to answer calls M–F 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Southwest Ohio | 513-758-1330

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 (1-800-846-8517 TTY); connect with a trained counselor through the Ohio Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword “4HOPE” to 741 741; or call the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services help line at 1-877-275-6364 to find resources in your community.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

614-387-8408 www.unemployment.ohio.go

INCOME TAX DUE DATE Due to COVID- the tax deadline has been moved to

July   

Seniors & Veterans Who may have an urgent need Please contact Mason at  to make us aware of those in your neighborhood or our community we can reach out to and provide support. For any emergencies, please call 

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 5

Everything a Parent Needs to Know About Vaping Vaping uses electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) to simulate traditional cigarette smoking. E-cigarettes are battery-powered or chargeable smoking devices. Some look like traditional cigarettes or pipes and others are designed to look like pens or USB memory sticks. They use a cartridge (or pod) filled with liquid that typically contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. When you puff on the mouthpiece of the device, it activates a heating element. This heats up the liquid in the pod and turns it into vapor. You then inhale the vapor. This is why it’s called “vaping.” E-cigarettes are often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, but they are not safe and still put an addictive drug and chemicals into your body and into the air around you.

HOW IS VAPING DIFFERENT FROM JUULING (PRONOUNCED “JEWEL”)? Vaping and JUULing are the same thing. JUUL (a brand of e-cigarettes that look like USB memory sticks) is a very popular vaping device among teenagers. So popular, in fact, that its brand name has become a verb to describe vaping. Teens may also use the term “ripping” to describe smoking an e-cigarette or JUUL.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF VAPING?

• E-cigarettes contain nicotine. In large doses, nicotine can be toxic. • Nicotine stimulates your central nervous system. This increases your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Nicotine can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to go up even higher. This can lead to an abnormal heart rate (arrhythmia). In rare cases, this can cause heart failure or death. Over time, nicotine can lead to medical problems including heart disease, blood clots, and stomach ulcers. • Nicotine increases the level of dopamine in your brain. This chemical messenger affects the part of the brain that controls feelings of pleasure. It can motivate you to use nicotine again and again to get that feeling of pleasure. You do this even though you know it is a risk to your health

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and well-being. That is what makes nicotine addictive. The ingredients in the liquid are not labeled. This means that we don’t know for sure what’s in the liquid. There are often chemicals in the liquid. Some of these are known to cause cancer. One study found a toxic chemical that is also found in antifreeze. Tiny particles are released by the heating element and may be harmful. These particles can cause inflammation in the lungs, which can cause bacterial infections or pneumonia. The liquid in the cartridge can be poisonous if someone touches, sniffs, or drinks it. There has been an increase in poisoning cases of children under the age of five who have had access to the liquid. “Secondhand smoke” is still a problem for e-cigarettes. Secondhand e-cigarette vapor contains chemicals that harm the lungs and hearts of people who aren’t vaping. They serve as an introductory product for preteens and teens. Many kids start with vaping and then move on to other tobacco products. Right now, there is little regulation when it comes to e-cigarettes. Even if it isn’t a JUUL product, there are many other kinds of e-cigarettes available. Doctors do not know what may be in them.

TEENS AND JUULING E-cigarettes are popular among teens and are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. As of August 2018, JUUL accounts for an estimated 71 percent of the teen e-cigarette market. Reasons for this include: • Teenagers face increased risks from JUULs/e-cigarettes. The teen years are a critical time in brain development and this puts young people uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects. Nicotine affects the development of brain circuits that control attention and learning. It puts kids at higher risk of having mood disorders and permanent problems with impulse control. It also affects the development of the brain’s reward system. This can make other, more dangerous drugs more pleasurable to a

teen’s developing brain. • Kids who use e-cigs like JUULs are also more likely to become smokers than kids who do not, according to a three-year study. The study followed high school students as they transitioned from e-cigarettes to traditional ones. • There is still much to be learned about e-cigarettes and vaping. Since it’s relatively new, there aren’t long-term studies on the effects it may have. Until these long-term effects are known, doctors are encouraging patients to avoid e-cigarettes.

HOW DO I TALK TO MY CHILD ABOUT JUULING? If you suspect your child is JUULing (and even if you don’t), ask him or her about it. Start a conversation. Ask if they’ve seen friends doing it or seen JUULing at school. Use this opportunity to tell them the dangers of JUULing. JUULing is addictive. JUULing has been shown to lead to smoking. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, and emphysema and is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in the United States.

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ALREADY JUULING? Talk to your child about quitting. Make an appointment for you and your child to talk to your family doctor about the best ways to quit JUULing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY FOTOFABRIKA/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

DOG WALKING TIPS

Taking your dog for a walk provides great benefits including cardiovascular fitness and social interaction. When out for a walk with your companion, please keep the following tips in mind: • Carry plastic bags or paper towels to clean up any messes your companion makes. • Avoid retractable leashes which make it difficult to maintain control of your companion. • Not all dogs are dog-friendly. Please ask permission before approaching other dogs.

OPEN OUTDOOR FIRES As the weather changes, having a fire is a common way to enjoy the outdoors. Residents use properly maintained outdoor fires for cooking food, religious or ceremonial activities, providing warmth, and recreational purposes. Knowing the guidelines for starting, monitoring, and extinguishing fires assists with your safety and the safety of those around you. • Keep a fire extinguisher, dirt, sand, or a garden hose nearby. Any outdoor fire must be constantly attended until it is extinguished with a fire extinguisher or other approved material such as dirt, sand, or garden hose. • For community safety, fires must be no higher than two feet and no wider than three feet. Please keep fires at least 25 feet away from any structure or combustible material. Please contact the Mason Fire Department for bonfires or fires larger than 3 feet x 3 feet x 2 feet high, for approval and to acquire a permit. • Only clean, seasoned, dry firewood may be used. • Any open burning that is offensive or objectionable because of smoke emissions, odor emissions, or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous shall be prohibited. • The City of Mason offers brush and leaf removal April through December. Please refer to imaginemason.org for the neighborhood removal schedule. Burning of leaves or brush is prohibited. • Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible materials. Please contact the Mason Fire Department at 513.229.8540 for any additional questions regarding outdoor burning.

SNIDERROAD ROUNDABOUTSPROJECT NewroundaboutsatThornberryCourt&SniderRoadand MasonRoad&SniderRoadConstructionbeganinMarch

PHASE-WEEKS DuringconstructionThornberryCourtisclosedonthewestsideofSniderRoad NorthboundandsouthboundtrafficonSniderRoadwillbemaintainedduringthisphase AccesstoThornberryCourtgoingeastboundwillremainopen

PHASE-WEEKS SniderRoadwillbeclosedonthenorthsideofThornberryCourtDetourfromTylersville RoadtoButlerWarrenRoadtoMasonRoadduringthistime

PHASE SniderRoadwillbereopenedtonorthbound/southboundtrafficbutThornberryCourt eastofSniderRoadwillbeclosedConstructionontheeastsideoftheintersectionwill becompleted TheThornberryCourt/SniderRoadRoundaboutisanticipatedtobecompletedbymid-June

FollowingthecompletionoftheaboveroundaboutconstructionontheMason Road/SniderRoadRoundaboutwillbeginEastboundandwestboundtrafficonMason RoadwillremainopenforthedurationofconstructionSniderRoadwillbeclosedfor severalweeksanddetourswillbeprovidedTheMasonRoad/SniderRoadRoundaboutis anticipatedtobecompletedbylateFall *Scheduleissubjecttochange PHOTOGRAPHS BY (LEFT) MARIA SBYTOVA/STOCK.ADOBE.COM / (RIGHT) REDFOX1980/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 7

Protect Our Streams by Using Native Plantings

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roperty owners can greatly impact the quality of the City of Mason’s streams by using native plantings in their landscapes. Landscaping with native plants helps to keep water clean by filtering storm water runoff before it enters local waterways. It also helps reduce flooding and drainage problems. Not to mention, landscaping will make your yard and community beautiful! Yards, lawns, and landscaping take work, water, and money to maintain. Choosing native plantings can reduce the amount of time and money it takes to keep your landscape maintained while reducing your impact on the environment. Look at your landscaping and plant choices. By selecting plants that grow well in this area of Ohio, they will be better suited to resist the pests and handle the dry periods we experience each year. This will also save maintenance time and the expense of watering and pest control after the plants are established.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NATIVE PLANT AND A NON-NATIVE PLANT? The plants present in North America at the time Europeans arrived are typically considered native. Plant species that have been brought in are called non-native, or introduced species. Native plants have many benefits over non-native plants, both for your pocketbook and your environment. Native plants have adapted to our local conditions over thousands of years, and can survive our wet springs and dry summers with little maintenance needed. Turf grass roots only grow to about 4 inches deep; native plant roots can grow 5–15 feet deep! Their deeper roots make them much more drought-resistant than turf grass and make spaces in the soil for water to soak into, which lessens stormwater impacts. Once established, native plants usually require little to no irrigation or fertilization so you can spend less money on watering and fertilizing your yard while protecting our water quality and quantity. Native plants are resistant to most local pests and diseases, reducing the use of harmful pesticides and fungicides. Many native plants also produce beautiful flowers that attract the butterflies and other native pollinators our fruits, vegetables, and other garden plants need. Native plants are an excellent choice for attractive, low-maintenance gardening and landscaping that benefit and protect our local natural resources.

TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN USING NATIVE PLANTS

• Grouping Plants: Group plants together with similar light and water requirements. This will save time with maintenance and watering. • Edges: A crisp edge or border around the garden gives it a sense of order. You may also try putting the garden towards the edge of your yard, rather than in the middle. • Plant Size: Avoid plants that are too tall. Make sure to look at the expected height and choose accordingly. You can use naturally tall plants as a visual screen or a backdrop. • Mix Edibles in Your Landscaping: Think about placing vegetables, herbs, and other edible plants with the flowers. They can add interesting textures and colors to the garden. Rhubarb has lovely cream-colored flower stalks that fit in nicely with flowering plants. Herbs such as thyme and oregano can planted as groundcovers. • Cues of Care: Add garden accessories such as a split rail fence, garden gnome, or bird bath. Mix and match native and ornamental plants together in your landscape. Using these tips will help cue the neighbors that the new landscaping bed is a planned garden and part of the scenery. Make sure to ask your local building department about any

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permits or limitations to including these items in your landscaping. • Avoid planting these non-native plants: Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, autumn olive, glossy buckthorn, purple loosestrife, common reed, reed canary grass, and English ivy and privet. These plants can take over and push native plants out.

TREES IN THE LANDSCAPE Trees are some of the hardest-working plants on your property. A medium-sized tree can capture as much as 2,300 gallons of rainfall every year! Trees can improve air quality, reduce hot temperatures in summer, increase your property value, provide habitat for wildlife, and add recreation and aesthetic value. Trees are particularly important along our waterways and streams as their root systems provide stability to stream banks and minimize erosion concerns. Tree roots also promote infiltration of stormwater into the soil, leading to less water ponding up on your lawn and less flooding and erosion downstream. More

infiltration helps replenish the groundwater supply, which feeds many streams in the Miami Valley watershed.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LAWN To start, think about lawn care as a preventive health care program, like one you would use to keep up your own health. The idea is to prevent problems from occurring so you don’t have to treat them. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A healthy lawn can out-compete most weeds, survive most insect attacks, and fend off most diseases before these problems ever get the upper hand.

EASY STEPS TO A HEALTHIER LAWN FOR YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT: • Fertilizer Basics. The 4Rs: Right Type, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place • Aerate your lawn. Annual lawn aeration allows more water and fertilizer to soak into the root zone. • Mow lawns to the proper height, 3" for most lawns with a sharp blade, and never cut more than one third of the existing grass height at one time. Cutting too low leaves the lawn vulnerable to stress and disease. • Use a mulching mower and leave clippings on the lawn. • Test the soil to see if fertilizer is needed. Be sure you are using the right type and amount of fertilizer at the right time of year. • Never apply fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides when rain is forecast. For example, herbicides should not be applied if rain is expected with 6 hours before or after application. Be sure to follow the product directions. Nitrogen and phosphorous in fertilizers help grass grow. But using too much or applying it just before rain can cause it to run into our waterways where they spur oxygen-depleting algae blooms that kill fish and block sunlight from reaching underwater plant

habitats. • Reduce the amount of actively mowed lawn and create a meadow or rain garden in your yard. • Reduce water usage. Trickle and drip irrigation systems can reduce water use by as much as 50 percent. • Compost. It is a practical and convenient way to handle yard trimmings such as leaves, grass, thatch, chipped brush, and plant cuttings. Compost also improves your soil and the plants growing in it. If you have a garden, a lawn, trees, shrubs, or even planter boxes, you have a use for compost. Mix 2 parts green to 1 part brown for the ideal carbon-nitrogen ratio needed to “cook” the pile. Stir the pile frequently and keep it moist to quicken decomposition. • Instead of planting grass in that wet spot in your lawn, consider landscaping with plants that grow well in wet areas. Water-loving plants offer great possibilities for interesting easy-care gardens and help soak up that extra water. It is important to first determine how large the area is, how deep the water gets and how often it remains wet. Some varieties of plants require very shallow water and others, deeper water. Plants that can tolerate short periods of standing water as well as fluctuating water levels are good choices for the lowest zone because the soil may dry out during dry periods. Species that can tolerate extremes of wet soils and dry periods are also appropriate for the middle zone, which is slightly drier.

View local restaurants open for takeout, delivery, or gicards madechamber.org/takeout-blitz PHOTOGRAPH BY AIRBORNE77/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 9

Taking on the Coronavirus

TriHealth’s Early Encounter with Two Miami University Students Set Planning in Motion When two Miami University students became ill after traveling back from China in January, TriHealth physicians and administrators had their first hint of what it might take to manage a coronavirus epidemic. TriHealth operates the student health center on campus and serves the Oxford community through McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital. At the time, only about five COVID-19 cases had been reported in the U.S., and, fortunately, the Miami students tested negative for the virus. For TriHealth physicians and administrators, however, “It was a good wake-up call,” says Kevin Joseph, M.D., TriHealth chief medical officer. “In evaluating those two students for coronavirus, we saw the immediate demand for coordinated supplies and services that would be needed should a large outbreak occur in our area.”

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TRIHEALTH “WAR ROOM” PREPARES FOR ATTACK

TriHealth quickly established a Command Center, a.k.a. “War Room,” at TriHealth’s corporate offices in the Baldwin Building on Eden Park Drive to plan for a widespread illness. Led by Physician Executive of TriHealth Physician Partners Bryan Strader, M.D., the Command Center includes 60 representatives from multiple health system sectors, including hospitals, ambulatory centers, supply chain, human resources, and communications. TriHealth’s CEO, medical chiefs, and infectious disease specialists all contribute. Twice a day, team members meet with appropriate social distancing or call in to discuss the latest developments across TriHealth, Greater Cincinnati, and the state. “Coordination of our staff, supplies, and resources has been critical to our success thus far,” Strader says. “With everyone aligned since early February, we ordered extra supplies in anticipation of shortages. We rationed our COVID-19 tests by testing only people who met CDC criteria.” TriHealth set up 10 testing sites with separate entrances in six emergency rooms in the TriHealth system and four drive-through sites near primary care locations. The drive-through locations are by appointment only, with referral from a TriHealth physician.

FREEING UP SPACE AND SUPPLIES FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS To free up supplies and beds, Strader continues, “Early on, we slowed down elective pro-

cedures like non-urgent hip replacements and plastic surgeries. We’re keeping about half of our hospital beds available for COVID-19 patients, but we’re continuing to provide surgeries and services for emergencies or situations that may be harmful if delayed—like doing heart surgery or breast biopsies.” Joseph, who is a frequent TriHealth spokesperson in the media, emphasizes the importance of keeping Greater Cincinnati residents well-informed with factual, up-to-date information via media and social media platforms. “We’re taking all steps to make sure we’re well-positioned to meet the effects of COVID-19 on our community,” Joseph says. “The significance of this pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetime, and we are working together to be flexible as the situation evolves.”

UNITED IN A COMMON PURPOSE The doctors note how gratifying it has been to receive support and supplies from residents around the region. “It’s been quite moving to see people donating protective masks, infrared thermometers, hand sanitizer, and food for caregivers,” Dr. Strader says. “We’re seeing the TriHealth vision of physicians, hospitals, and communities working together come to life as we unite to tackle this serious illness.” Much is still unknown about the future of COVID-19, but Strader reassures, “We’re learning a lot each day. When we’re on the other side of this, we’ll be able to look back at what worked well and what didn’t. The knowledge we’ve gained will help us serve our community well no matter what happens.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAKISTOCK/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

MASON WELCOMES VEGA’S NEW NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS TO THE R&D PARK VEGA’s announcement makes it the fourth global company in four months to locate in Mason. The City of Mason and VEGA, a global leader in level and pressure measurement technology for the processing industry, announced the relocation of the company’s headquarters to the City of Mason’s new Research & Development Park. As interest in the R&D hub grows, they join other industry-leading companies Rhinestahl and Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC/SPS) in the 400- acre park. Mason’s intentional economic development approach has witnessed impressive results considering that this announcement marks the fourth global company to invest in the Mason R&D Park in just four months, following Rhinestahl in September and Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC/ SPS) in December, for a total of $200 million in new investment and more than 500 employees as the new park takes shape. VEGA’s move will employ more than 200 people across management, sales, and technology on a new $50 million, 230,000-square-foot campus. The new headquarters will include a state-of-the-art business and training center, as well as advanced manufacturing and production facilities. VEGA employs more than 1,480 people worldwide with 730 at its global headquarters in Schiltach in the Black Forest of Germany. For more information about VEGA, please visit: www.vega.com. Welcome home VEGA from your friends at the City of Mason!

Mason Community Center currently offers

Online Community Center Group Exercise Classes Visit imaginemason.org

Summer Art Camps registration continues. For more information please visit www.deerfieldrec.com

FACT:

There are valuable lessons involved in learning how to use a microscope.

BALANCED LEARNING ® WAY:

Including how to share.

SEE BALANCED LEARNING IN ACTION. CALL FOR A TOUR TODAY! Infants – Private Kindergarten & After School

Primrose School of Mason 5888 Snider Road | Mason, OH 45040 513.336.6756 | PrimroseMason.com

Primrose School of South Lebanon 719 Corwin Nixon Blvd | South Lebanon, OH 45065 513.770.0048 | PrimroseSouthLebanon.com Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools® and Balanced Learning® are registered trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2016 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. See primroseschools.com for ‘fact’ source and curriculum detail.

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 11

MASON CITY SCHOOLS

Response to the COVID-19 Event

O

n March 13, following directives from the state health department and Governor Mike DeWine, Mason City Schools closed all of its buildings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The physical schools may be closed—but learning continues, remotely. While buildings and grounds are closed, your Mason City Schools administrators, educators, and staff will continue to provide essential services to our students and families—including food distribution, remote learning, and mental wellness support. Most importantly, our commUNITY is coming together. If you haven’t explored our dedicated COVID-19 website—www. mcscovid19.com—we encourage you to do so!

FOOD DISTRIBUTION Mason City Schools Child Nutrition Department serves meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Mason Intermediate School, 6307 Mason-Montgomery Road. If you are having a hard time getting to the pick up location, please call 513.336.6526 option 3 or email Molly Schmidt at schmidtmo@mason ohioschools.com. We are so grateful for our community partners Joshua’s Place and the Comet Cupboard, which are providing additional food and personal care items to families in need. We encourage you to support #CometCarryout if you are able to do so. Simply donate to Joshua’s Place and choose “Comet Carryout” to bless a family in need with a meal from one of our local businesses. 12 CenterPoint Summer 2020, vol. 1

REMOTE LEARNING Though Governor DeWine originally referred to the three-week closure as an “extended spring break,” we have since received additional direction from him and the Ohio Department of Education. Mason’s plan is designed to prepare us for the very real possibility that we will need a longer-term Remote Learning Experience that may last longer than May 1. • Week 1 (March 16–20): Students engage in their interests and curiosities using resources from a specially dedicated Mason Learning Momentum site. This gives our teachers time to build meaningful Remote Learning Experiences and learn how to use new tools to support remote learning. • Week 2 (March 23–27) : Spring Break. No school is expected. • Week 3 (March 30–April 3): Teachers continue planning and begin testing Remote Learning Experiences. Students will access remote learning tools by engaging with ungraded lessons that review

or enrich previously taught content. This will help ensure everything is running smoothly before fully implementing new lessons. • Week 4 (April 6 and beyond): Teachers and students engage in new learning using our Remote Learning Experience model, with families offering support at home. This new learning is assessed and graded.

MENTAL WELLNESS We recognize what a challenging time this is for families. Mason City Schools is here to help. Our school counselors are available to students in need during regular school hours on regularly scheduled school days. Families or students may call or email school counselors and will have the option to set up a virtual counseling session. If you have trouble getting in touch with a counselor or if you need more immediate assistance, you may also reach out to Mental Wellness Supervisor Nicole Pfirman at pfirmann@masonohioschools.com or by phone at 513.315.6775.

City of Mason and BioOhio Attract Top Talent at Career Fair For the sixth year, Mason economic development leverages the BioOhio statewide event as a resource to its biohealth ecosystem.

TREE TRIMMING

The City of Mason has implemented a tree trimming program throughout the community. Tree trimming is intended to improve sign visibility, prevent vehicle and tree damage, improve passage for City road crews and emergency vehicles on the roadways, and improve safety for pedestrians using bike paths and sidewalks. Thank you for your patience as the City provides this valuable service in the City.

The event is an example of the City’s ongoing commitment to bolster the strength of the biohealth ecosystem. BioOhio is the state’s association for accelerating bioscience industry, research, and education. The City has grown its reputation as a hub for biohealth development, which has attracted industry-leading talent. The City has developed a strong partnership with this organization that feeds our economic mission to grow a biohub in Mason. “The BioOhio career fair for the Cincinnati region is a 15+ year success for the bioscience community,” says BioOhio President and CEO John F. Lewis, Jr. “Mason’s leadership in the biohealth sector and their engagement with BioOhio is proven by growing companies such as Myriad Neuroscience and AtriCure, Stress Engineering, Prasco, and Genetesis among many others. BioOhio is proud to see a commitment from the public and private sectors to fostering wellness and economic growth in Ohio.” “We have taken a holistic approach to growing a biohealth hub in the City of Mason,” says Michele Blair, City of Mason Director of Economic Development. “Our partnerships with companies like Myriad Neuroscience, Clarigent Health, and AtriCure are part of our strategy to ensure our science community is growing and has the right talent resources to do so.”

We Are Your Stay Home Resource! Be sure to visit our website at www.deerfieldrec.com for wonderful information for At Home Activities for Adults and Teens. You will also find an At Home Activity Resource Guide.

Stay Informed Stay Connected, Stay Informed in Deerfield Township

i

Be sure to stay up to date on the latest meetings! Until further notice, you can find meetings online at their regularly scheduled times.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: April 21, 2020 May 5, 2020 May 19, 2020 For all other meetings dates, times, and agendas, please visit https://www.choosedeerfield.com/meetings/.

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 13

I

Every Child Reads Every Day in Warren County!

t was in 1995 that Dolly Parton began her efforts to ensure that every child under the age of 5 have the gift of literacy. Motivated by her own upbringing and the of the lack of access to books, she created the Imagination Library. Since then, more than 1 million books have been mailed out to children who are under the age of 5 on a monthly basis worldwide. “When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. “The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world,” says Dolly Parton. Through the cooperative efforts of the founding partners, the Imagination Library has come to Warren County,

Ohio. Governor and Mrs. DeWine, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, County Commissioner Shannon Jones, community leaders, Franklin-Springboro Public Library, Lebanon Public Library, Mary L. Cook Public Library, Mason Public Library, Salem Township Public Library, United Way of Warren County, and Warren County Foundation have all worked together to make this effort a reality. Governor and Mrs. DeWine are dedicated to the goal that every Kindergartener living in Warren County, begin school with 60 books in their home. Once registered, each child under the age of 5 will receive a book on a monthly basis. Thanks to one of Warren County’s most recognized community leaders, George Henkle, the Warren County Imagination Library is a “Generational” program to be funded by a permanent endowment at the Warren County Foundation. How can you enroll your child? It’s easy! All Warren County children under the age of 5 may now sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! It’s FREE, easy to do, and each of your children will receive a FREE BOOK EACH MONTH. How to register: ohioimaginationlibrary.com/enroll For more information: www.imaginationlibrary.org or call 513.934.1001.

Safe Sewer Operations

Avoid Flushing Wipes and Paper Towels

F

lushing sanitizing wipes (even those labeled flushable), paper towels, or similar products down toilets will cause backups or overflows and clog private and public sewer lines causing an additional public health risk in the midst of the cornonavirus pandemic. These products also cause damage to wastewater treatment pumps and screening processes that can prevent the effective flow and treatment of sewage waste. The aforementioned products do not break down like toilet paper. As a result, they can concentrate in private sewer laterals (the private pipe from residents’ property to the public sewer system) or in public unground sewer lines causing a large obstruction that prevents the flow of sewage. These obstructions often require extensive equipment and manpower to remove. In some cases, private and public pipes may need to be excavated to remove the clogged area. The City of Mason is not responsible for this private sewer line. Protect your family’s safety and only flush down toilet paper. Please help prevent unnecessary sewer system problems now and in the future by avoiding flushing wipes (even those labeled flushable) and paper towels.

14 CenterPoint Summer 2020, vol. 1

Sanitary Sewer Wipes Blocking Private Sewers in Mason.

Mason Come Together Support Your Local Businesses

The City of Mason is excited to announce a new initiative to help support local businesses in the Mason community. Using the online platform Yiftee, the City has created the Come Together Mason e-card, an electronic gift card that is redeemable at all of your favorite local merchants in Mason!

To purchase a Come Together Mason e-gift card, visit: https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/come-together-mason Gift cards are excellent for family members, friends, or even yourself! The e-gift card can be sent via email or text message ranging from $5–$250. Once the recipient receives the Come Together Mason e-gift card, they can redeem it at multiple participating businesses in Mason. The recipient can show the image of the gift card on their mobile device or print and present it to the merchant. Current participating locations as of publication can be found below, with many more locations added often. Adesso Coffee Banana Leaf Modern Thai Black House Co Buffalo Wings and Rings Chicken Salad Chick Cocoon Coffee

Comets Pizza Jets Pizza Mason Kidd Coffee and Wine Bar Ladles of Mason Lucky Dog Grille Manor House

Yiftee offers the opportunity for businesses or individuals to purchase a bulk order of Come Together Mason e-gift cards. This is a great way for a business to show appreciation to their employees or customers while supporting local businesses within their community! Bulk orders are completely customizable and provide the opportunity to set a customized expiration date to encourage recipients to take advantage quickly! Gift card funds that are not spent are rebated up to 90%

Mason Community Center Mims Off Main Pop Revolution Gallery Quatman Café Salons 117 Snazzy’s Car Wash

which can be spent on future e-gift card orders.

BECOME A PARTICIPATING BUSINESS

All businesses located within the City limits are welcome to be a participating location in the Come Together Mason e-gift card initiative. There is no cost to participate! Please visit the Mason Come Together site and click apply to join. Once your business has applied to join, the City will approve your application and you will receive a

COMETOGETHER MASON GIFTTHE NIFTYYIFTEE!

Subway The Common Beer Company The CourseView Restaurant The Golf Center Two Cities Pizza Yost Pharmacy

follow up email from Yiftee on how to activate your business as a participating location. The Come Together Mason gift card is a unique way to support local businesses in Mason while providing flexibility to the consumer. For more information or questions about the Come Together Mason e-gift card, please contact Jenna Hurley at jhurley@masonoh.org.

GROUP HEALTH CURRENT PHARMACY HOURS

SupportLocalMasonBusinesses



COME TOGETHER MASON

Monday-Friday am- pm



Saturday

am- pm

can be redeemed at multiple Mason businesses MasonCommunityCenteriscurrentlyclosed PHOTOGRAPH BY FIZKES/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 15

City of Mason COVID-19 Scam Awareness • Do not click on links on your computer or device from sources you don’t know. These links could download viruses onto your computer or device. • Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.

MOST COMMON CURRENT CORONAVIRUS SCAMS: • Treatment scams: Scammers are offering to sell fake cures, vaccines, and advice on unproven treatments for the coronavirus. • Supply scams: Scammers are creating fake shops, websites, social media accounts, and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies currently in high demand, such as surgical masks. When consumers attempt to purchase supplies through these channels, fraudsters pocket the money and never provide the promised supplies.

The City of Mason Police Department is dedicated to keeping the community safe and is working to protect residents from fraud during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, scammers are using coronavirus scenarios to take advantage of people. Please be aware of phone and online scam activity in relation to the current COVID-19 National Emergency. Below are a few guidelines, compiled from the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, to help you protect yourself and your family from being taken advantage of. • Hang up on robocalls and don’t press any numbers. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch coronavirus treatments and work-at-home schemes. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls instead. • Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. At the time of publication, there are no FDA-authorized home test kits for the coronavirus. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, fda.gov, to learn more. • Scammers, and sometimes well-meaning people, share information that hasn’t been verified. Before you pass on any messages, contact trusted sources. • Know who you’re buying from. Online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning and medical supplies, when they do not.

• Provider scams: Scammers are contacting people by phone and email, pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for the coronavirus, and demanding payment for that treatment. • Charity scams: Scammers are soliciting donations for individuals, groups, and areas affected by the coronavirus. • Phishing scams: Scammers posing as national and global health authorities are sending phishing emails designed to trick recipients into downloading malware or providing personal identifying and financial information. • App scams: Scammers are also creating and manipulating mobile apps designed to track the spread of the coronavirus to insert malware that will compromise users’ devices and personal information. • Investment scams: Scammers are offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure the coronavirus, and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result. These promotions are often styled as “research reports,” make predictions of a specific “target price,” and relate to microcap stocks, or low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies with limited publicly available information. If you are unsure if you are being targeted as a potential victim, please contact the Warren County Communications Center at 513.925.2525.

• Do not respond to texts, calls, emails, or letters about checks from the government. At the time of publication, details on stimulus checks are still being worked out. Visit the IRS website at irs. gov for up-to-date tax and stimulus check information. 16 CenterPoint Summer 2020, vol. 1

PHOTOGRAPH BY TEROVESALAINEN/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Talk to a doctor anytime, anywhere

TriHealth gives you 24/7/365 access to doctors through phone, video or mobile app visits. Download the app and register today. TriHealthNow.com Summer 2020, vol. 1

CenterPoint 3

RON GARLAND Real Results with Ron!

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Heritage of Mason $900,000

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Ron Garland | 513-703-4945 | www.RonGarland.com IF YOUR PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR SALE OR LEASE, THIS IS NOT INTENDED AS A SOLICITATION OF THAT LISTING.