CreativeLiving Features 6 10 15
What to do if your child is being bullied Tips on how to handle this very serious situation
Entertaining tips Shape up your home for any occasion
Create lasting memories Learn about personal and visual ways to remember those you love
Editor’s note I just love playing hostess. Opening up my home to family and friends is something I cherish. I’m sure it’s important to you as well. That’s why this month we’ve included a feature story on how to prepare your home for guests on any occassion. Also, in this issue you’ll learn how to deal with the bully problem. Another topic dear to my heart is memories. Learn about a variety of ways you can honor the memories of your loved ones through personal and visual memorials. Have a great read.
Specialty Publications Editor
Contact Creative Living is a monthly advertising-sponsored magazine published by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.
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Topics 3 Health & Fitness Mind • Body • Spirit
6 Local Business Goods • Services
8 At Home Decor • Repair
Living 11 Senior Care • Home
12 Specialty Shops Unique gifts
13 Funneral & Estate Planning Memorial • Services
Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/ 394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com. For advertising call 578-5501.
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Patient Appreciation Day The Patient Appreciation Day is a day set aside for our office as a special recognition time for all our staff, dentists, hygienists, EDDA’s, clinicians and the team leader to stop and seriously reflect on their patient care stewardship and personal dedication to patient satisfaction. Though every day should be patient recognition day, the Patient Appreciation Day is a unique occasion for all people working in our office to reconfirm and demonstrate their renewed commitment to our patients’ care, well being, and satisfaction. It is a day to remind the Mortenson Dental staff that all should put “care-ism” before capitalism lest we forget our reason for “being”. Toward that end, we invite all of our
patients as well as other members of the community that may need a dental “home” or are just curious about the services that we offer to join us in celebrating Patient Appreciation Day with free food, games, face-painting, inflatables, door prizes, give-a-ways, guided tours of the office and a meet & greet with the staff. Our goal is to energize the human side of patient caring and get back to what’s important – treating our patients like they are our own family. Come and visit them on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our Mortenson Family Dental office at 7033 Burlington Pike or give us a call at 525-7586 for more information on the Patient Appreciation Day event.
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Snooze your way to a beautiful smile Gentle Dental Care is a patient-focused dental office. Gentle Dental Care offers the most up-to-date dental services and treatments in a comfortable, relaxing setting. Dr. Dallmann and her team have set a goal to treat each and every patient as if they were a part of their own family. The team members are dedicated, enthusiastic professionals who constantly refine their skills through highlevel continuing education programs. They provide a wide range of services from basic teeth cleaning and oral health checkups to complex reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry
procedures. They will work with you to structure an individualized treatment plans that fit with your timetable and your budget. Dr. Tara Dallmann has had 15 plus years of treating fearful patients and truly understands the anxiety and fear that many people have when going to the dentist The entire office has been designed to create a peaceful and safe setting. You can relax, at Gentle Dental Care with their five-star customer service. They offer you comfort measures including heated neck pillows, headphones with a choice of music, warm blankets, gentle massage
chairs, and heated towelettes to freshen up after treatment. They’ll even give you your choice of beverage and a freshbaked cookie before you leave. "At Gentle Dental Care, we believe no patient should have to feel stressed or fearful during an office visit,” explains Dr. Tara Dallmann. “If you have been putting off a dental checkup or other needed treatment because of high anxiety levels, call us to discuss the variety of anxiety control options that are now available.” These options include nitrous oxide (laughing gas), computerized anesthesia (the Wand) oral and
IV sedation dentistry. “Many of our patients tell us our approach has allowed them to overcome their fears and finally get the dental treatment they desperately need, and this makes all we do worth while!” Dr. Dallmann said. Here’s what a few patients had to say. “Everyone that I met at Dr. Dallmanns’s office just couldn’t have been nicer, including Dr. Dallmann. I was extremely scared and nervous and they managed to make me feel comfortable. I believe I have found a dentist for life.” - A.R of Alexandria “Simply put .... every-
one was awesome!!! Words can’t express how impressed I am with the staff and the quality of service you offer!! Thank you so much!!” - B.A. of Independence “Dr. Dallmann and Kim continue to genuinely make me feel welcome and comfortable. It’s so reassuring when Dr. Dallmann says ‘you’re doing fine,’ ‘great job’ and Kim is just so sweet. The staff really does demonstrate ‘Gentle Dental Care.’ The sedation process was overall a good experience, especially considering the amount of work done in one visit. I am feeling 100 percent today and am so pleased that all my fillings have been replaced – no more metal in my smile!! I look forward to my return visit!” - S.B. of Hebron For more information call 363-1616 or visit www.sedationspadentist.c om. “Experience the Difference.”
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Dr. Kitzmiller and his wife Lori help snoring and sleep apnea patients with Oral Appliance Therapy.
Struggle with snoring, sleep apnea or CPAP? Call Dr. Kitzmiller Do you snore or know someone who does? Do you have Sleep Apnea but struggle nightly with your CPAP machine? You're not alone! An estimated 40 million Americans snore and nearly 20 million have Sleep Apnea, a condition where the airway collapses during sleep, causing the person to stop breathing and awaken multiple times every hour with a gasp. Sleep Apnea is a life threatening sleep disorder that left undiagnosed and untreated can shorten your lifespan up to 18 years! While CPAP is the gold standard of sleep apnea treatment, many
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people can't tolerate the wake up rested, without masks, hoses, and inconthat exhausted feeling. It venience. An oral appliis easy to use, every night, ance is an FDA and easy to care for. I approved CPAP can't imagine alternative that the nightly Want More fits over your noise and Information? teeth and hassle of a Visit cincisleep.com holds the CPAP machine lower jaw foranymore, for ward, keeping your me or my husband. airway from collapsing. A Dr. Kitzmiller and Lori sleep apnea sufferer himprovided excellent care. self, Dr. Kitzmiller tried They made this an easy CPAP but struggled with and uncomplicated soluit. He started using an tion to managing my Oral Appliance and now snoring and sleep apnea� he and his patients enjoy Jan quiet, healthful sleep Call Dr. Kitzmiller every night. today at 513-248-8848 to “I have been thrilled schedule your compliwith my oral appliance! I mentary consultation to saw improvement in just see if this solution is right a few days and now I for you!
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Do you look at your roof and ask, ‘Why didn’t it last?’ It is a common complaint: roof shingles that fail too soon, leaving frustrated homeowners asking; why didn’t it last? Roof Time has the answer. According to Justin Shoemaker, a com-
pany estimator, it has to do with far more than the shingles. “Shingles today are well made, but depend on what I call the ‘Energy Trilogy.’ he explains. “It’s due to the ventilation, insulation,
and radiation, not being properly balanced.” The problem starts with unbalanced ventilation, not enough attic insulation, and no radiation barrier. Ventilation and insulation are now
What to do
if your child is being
About 160,000 children in the United States miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students, according to the National Education Association. Broadly speaking, bullying can involve any number of behaviors, according to Findlaw.com, a leading online source of legal information, including sexual harassment of another student, teasing, excluding a student, calling a student names, physically pushing or attacking, threatening or hazing, spreading rumors, damaging or stealing belongings, or demanding money. Cyber-bullying, a relatively new form of bullying, takes place over the Internet through social
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media websites and forums, or through mobile devices. Many pre-teens and teens prefer to communicate with one another through texting on their mobile devices. Because kids can share messages quickly with a large group of students, cyber-bullying can be especially effective in spreading rumors about a student or harassing a
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required by code, but a radiation barrier is not. Therefore, most builders and roofers don’t take it into consideration, according to Shoemaker. Roof Time conducts a free Energy audit with
ROOF see page 7
Bullied
student through the sharing of photos. Because this is a relatively new area of harassment, many school districts are still trying to determine the reach of their authority in off-campus cyber-bullying attacks. incident. In that case, media reports suggested
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every quote. By using a thermal image camera (like the ones the cable TV ghost hunters use) and digital thermometer, their estimators can pinpoint
Here are some additional tips from Findlaw.com on what to do if you suspect that your child is the victim of a bully: Talk to your child. A lot of times your child will not want to talk about being bullied because they perceive it as embarrassing and humiliating. If you notice Bullied see page 16
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ROOF from page 6 the problem areas that hide under the roof. Roof Time is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and is one of only three roofers locally who have obtained the added certification as a TOP OF THE HOUSE roofer-insulator. “We have the knowledge,” says Shoemaker. “We have quality products. But more importantly, we are passionate about serving our customer. We know that our integrity depends on our service.” A Roof Time quote includes options for installing a roof ventilation system that meets or exceeds the FHA specification, and also increases the attic insulation to the Department of Energy rec-
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ommended level of R-60. With the current 1500 dollar tax credit that is available, it’s like getting FREE insulation added to your home. The estimators also offer the option of installing a radiant barrier that reduces an attic’s temperature by as much as 50 degrees every day. Using these techniques Roof Time is confidant that homeowners can add another 5-10 years to their roof’s warranty, and the best part according to Terry Littleton, a Roof Time estimator? “Homeowners tell us every day that when they compare our bid to other roofers, we are doing so much more; but our price matches up with their
other quotes!” These factors will pay immediate dividends too, as you’ll be able to save 20 percent on your monthly energy bill and receive as much as 1500 dollars in government credit from the American Recovery Act that goes through 2010! As Shoemaker says,” If you are buying a roof anyway, why not be sure it lasts and get paid for doing it right the first time, by qualifying for the tax credit?!” Rooftime began back in 1995, when Ricky Feltner and his wife Sandy started a small family business. By 1999, Preferred Roofing’s four estimators (which included one son and one son-in-law) and terrific work crews had
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earned a ranking in the Top 100 Contractors in America, and had sales in excess of two million dollars! Ricky passed away at the end of 1999, and the company struggled to carry on with-out his dynamic leadership. Today Ricky’s legacy has been preserved by no less than FIVE roofing contractors that were once part of his vision, all successfully operating their own companies using the same principles and ideals he established over 15 years ago! At Roof Time, Sandy is still answering the calls (even at nights and on the weekends) and Ricky’s grandson Justin is now a project estimator!
Roof Time is a true family owned and operated business with deep community roots; over fifteen year’s business experience, and is now into their 3RD generation of serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky! Roof Time’s attention to the details has earned them the prestigious Angie’s List Super Service Award for the past four years in a row as well as, the Press Communities Favorite Roofer for 2009! Estimators arrive on time and prepared, in neatly lettered vehicles and uniforms; inspect the attic portion of the roof, then inspect and measure from the roof top (not from the ground like most companies have started to do). An estimate can be prepared right from their vehicles or emailed back the same day! Estimates are free and include color digital pictures of what they find. Roof Time utilizes all the best of today’s technology such as Thermal imaging cameras to pinpoint hidden leaks and decay, and satellite measurement software to offer ‘to the inch measurements” for “to the penny pricing’. Call Sandy, at 859.341.TIME or 513.753.TIME, to schedule a FREE roof inspection and visit, www.time2roof.com for valuable Internet only offers! For more information on Roof Time call Sandy the Office Manager, at 859-341-TIME or 513-528TIME, to schedule a free roof inspection and visit, www.time2roof.com, for a valuable Internet only offer.
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Live the life…dive into fun You awaken to the sounds of the “wild” parrots in the swaying palm trees. As you step off your porch, you spy the numerous other colorful, tropical birds amid the lush foliage surrounding the gently flowing stream in front of your cottage. Down the path – two quick turns – and you’re passing the lounge chairs and umbrellas around the crystal clear water of the swimming pool. A few more steps and the azure blue water of the Caribbean comes into view directly in front of you. Turn right - and you’re in the spectacular outdoor dining room overlooking the sea, where both old and new friends are waiting with warm greetings and hot coffee. Following a good breakfast and great camaraderie, you leave your table and head down the walkway to the waiting
boat where more friends welcome you aboard. Ten minutes later, you’re underway to enjoy the thrill of “Flying without wings” while you “visit” some of the most fascinating creatures - in the most beautiful scenery - imaginable. You have set-aside your everyday life for a time… You are a SCUBA diver. “This is the lifestyle we live… where we enjoy ‘The Experience of a Lifetime Every Time’” says Jim Barrie, owner of The Scuba Shack in Florence. If you are ready to, as Thoreau said “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams” and “Live the life you have imagined” visit our website at www.TheScubaPlace.com and call 859283-1550 to find out how easy it is and schedule your very own “Try SCUBA Experience.”
Concrete lifting: Attractive alternative to replacement Matracia Contracting Inc. would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the concrete lifting process. Concrete lifting is a process in which a concrete slab is raised back to its original position. It is the economical alternative to tearing out and replacing concrete. Your concrete is lifted by drilling one or more holes into the surface of the concrete slab, and pumping a cementbased material through the holes. This fills any voids and displaces any standing water under the slab which may have occurred by settling or rodents burrowing under it. We continue pumping until enough material is pumped under the slab to raise it back to its original position.
The cement-based material is a sandy loam containing lime and cement. It is non-toxic and environmentally safe. This process works on any concrete slab, sidewalks, porches, garage floors, driveways, house floors, steps, pool decks and more. Their portable pump allows us to go anywhere on your property without damage to your lawn or landscaping. Their trucks stay on the street. There is no mess and no heavy equipment. And most jobs are completed within one day – or less. Give them a call. Their estimator will call you back within 24 hours and set up a time to receive a free estimate. To reach the professionals of Matracia Contracting, call 371-1398.
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What you need to know about selecting granite countertops As you are researching for your new granite countertops, you have undoubtedly run across a wide variety of granite companies. It shouldn’t matter if you’re talking to a sales associate at one of the big box stores or someone at a smaller, more family-friendly store, right? Wrong! There are several differences in the process of the manufacturing of your new countertops that you need to be aware of so that you can make an informed decision. At many big box stores and big national chain stores, the granite is imported in sheets called “blanks.” These blanks are cut and fabricated to pre-determined shapes and sizes and therefore are very restrictive as to how they can be used for your particular project. Due to the size and shape restrictions of these
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pieces of granite, your kitchen will often end up with more seams in undesirable locations than if your new countertops were fabricated from full slabs of granite. In some instances, depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, using these granite blanks simply will not work. At Excellence By Nature, each project is custom designed, fabricated and installed for YOUR specific project. We do not use the prefabricated blanks and try to conform your countertops to their limited sizes and shapes. Instead, we will cut your countertops from a full slab of granite. Choosing your particular granite color from a small sample is permissible but selecting the specific slab that will be used for your project is an absolute MUST. Due to granite’s natural proper-
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ties, each slab is unique and you will want to be able to select the exact slab that will be used for your countertops. Before your slab is cut for your new countertops, we will let you hand-select your full granite slab from our large on-site slab selection in Florence, KY. Many granite companies, including your local big box stores, subcontract the template, fabrication or installation of granite and other types of countertops. At Excellence By Nature, each granite countertop is templated, fabricated and installed by our specialized crew of experts in the field. Keeping all of this work in house allows us to maintain a high level of quality control with all ends of the process of fabricating and installing your new countertops.
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It also allows you to work handson with our crew in the production of your new countertops. If you choose, you can work side by side with our shop foreman to lay out your job on the granite slab of your choice. At Excellence By Nature, you will receive the personalized, hands-on customer service that you deserve. With a qualified staff with over 50 years of combined experience, you can rest assured that your new countertops will be installed with a high caliber of quality and detail. Located only 5 minutes from Florence Mall, the experts at Excellence By Nature are ready to assist you with every step of your project today!
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Easy entertaining tips to shape up your home for any occasion Do you love the idea of entertaining, but feel like getting your home ready for a social event requires too much time and attention? Not to worry, there are a few easy things you can do to make sure your home is always ready to host guests and they may not be as difficult to accomplish as you think. First and foremost, decide what type of ambiance your event needs and embrace it. If you are having an evening event, indulge in deep colors, soft lighting and upbeat music to keep your company awake! If it’s a daytime event, go bold and bright with your color scheme. “I love to target my audience and add things to my table settings that inspire my guests,” says Angela Giannopoulos, a premier New York event stylist and owner of SC3 Group who has worked with brands such as Estee Lauder, Donna Karan and Missoni. “I recently decorated a birthday table for a group of grade school children. I used oversized legos and bright candy to entertain them.” For unique ideas such as these, Giannopoulos has offered several tips for easy at-home entertaining. • Versatility is key. Make considerations when stocking your kitchen cabinets -- consider cookware and serving dishes that can be used both for smaller and larger occasions, as well as casual and formal ones. I also love expandable kitchen tables because you can accommodate a house full of guests
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and break it down for breakfast for two the morning after. My last bit of advice is to choose dinnerware that is versatile. Consider something that is durable enough for daily use and chic enough for evening occasions, such as Oneida’s Chef’s Table Collection. This mix and match collection was designed with a modern look and crafted in all white porcelain to complement any table setting. • Accessorize your home. I often hang on to things that I shouldn’t, but have learned that any little knick knack can come into play when decorating for events. I’ve made candle holders out of mason jars, a menu with a chalkboard and centerpieces using old pitchers. I’m not encouraging clutter- just keep a stash of items that could be useful when entertaining and it may save you that extra trip to the store. • Use nature to your advantage. When decorating, use sprigs and blooms grown near your home to add life to your table settings. Various shades of colors found in wildflowers often create an organic energy making a table setting more inviting for guests. Also, arranging flowers in different sized vases can be visually appealing on a long table while single, tall flow-
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ers work well with a table for two. • Accumulate a beverage collection. Nothing makes your visitors feel welcome like offering them a drink when they walk in the door. Rather than going out and stocking up on wine, liquor or soft drinks before you host, gradually accumulate a collection. Your guests will be impressed by your selection when you have an assortment to offer. Also, consider outfitting your home with drinkware for every occasion. • Be prepared for overnight visitors. Always keep clean sheets on your guest bed and be sure it is made, as you never know when someone might stop by for an overnight visit. If you really want to make your guests feel welcome, impress them with soothing products in the bathroom or on their nightstand along with a sweet treat on their pillow.
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Courtesy of ARAcontent
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Fort Mitchell Interiors Wellness Program can unlock the focuses on the whole person secrets of your home If the bright summer sunshine shows your kitchen to be more dull and drab than you would like, it may be time to explore new cabinets and furnishings. Fort Mitchell Interiors in Crescent Springs can redo any room in your house, and they don’t contract out any work – familiar faces are on the job from start to finish. “Cornices and Roman shades are very popular right now in window treatments, and we have thousands of fabric samples books o browse through,” said Mary Pennington-Wolfe, owner. “Darker finishes on cabinets are in style right now, but we have 40 different styles of cabinets to choose from,” she said. “And we can do any flooring, from ceramic tile to carpet to the newest trend, which is bamboo
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flooring.” With more than 30 years of experience, Wolf and her technicians can create any look that will unlock the secrets of your home, and make you fall in love with your home all over again. “Since everything is blooming fresh and new in spring, it is exciting to bring new life into your home with new window treatments, or new cabinets, or new flooring. “When you call us, we sit down with you and work out a plan that fits both your dreams and your budget.” So come into Fort Mitchell Interiors on Hazelwood Drive, across from McDonald’s, and begin to create the look you want for your home. Mary Pennington-Wolfe can be reached at 331-5327 for an appointment.
Colonial Heights and Gardens isn’t a community where you just exist, it’s a community where you live. The mission is to provide a range of retirement housing options and services for senior adults according to their needs, in an environment reinforcing the quality of life as it relates to their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The Wellness Program is an important component to accomplishing this mission. Colonial Heights and Gardens features a gym area with equipment specifically geared toward senior adults. And there’s lot’s of encouragement and activities going on to help you stay in shape. However, according to Wellness Coordinator Alia Woods, “it’s not just physical” The Wellness Program focuses on your mental and emotional well-being. “A big part of the program is the social aspect – getting to know those who live in your community,” Alia said.
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“Meeting new friends and staying in touch with old friends just enriches your life. And it’s about finding what you enjoy most and doing what makes you happy.” There’s a wide variety of activities available for residents including jewelry classes, craft classes, ceramics and much more. “The activities give you an opportunity to get back into what you enjoy or to try something new – this is my goal – to get them to always be learning something new.” Alia said her favorite thing about her work are the people at Colonial Heights and Gardens. “It’s been an experience and opportunity I know I’ve never had. It’s fun. So exciting to see how excited a person gets when they accomplish something they can still do. It warms your heart,” she explained. “They bring something in my life. I came here to help them and here they are helping me.”
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Affordable ‘right now’ fashion, accessories Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio and Boutique in Crestview Hills keeps up with what customers want. New current trend fashion accessories that allow you to be creative and still be easy on your pocketbook. And the store is filled with unique, quality and cute stuff that you just can’t find elsewhere. The boutique is known for versatile fashion that’s affordable. Miche Bags offer interchangeable covers with new styles introduced monthly. Magnabilities necklaces allow hundreds of design inserts to be swapped in
and out for only $3.95. And Switchflops shoes with tons of fashionable straps give you an endless shoe wardrobe! New fall strap and snap designs are just in, and the new leather kitten heel pumps will arrive any day and are hot, hot, hot! Corky’s trendy boots in paisley, swirl, and animal prints have also been added to the fall lineup. Bengal purses, watches, jewelry and accessories will put you into that “who dey” spirit. The original Butler Bag in genuine leather and faux leather designs is returning, as well as
designer-inspired organizer bags. The Hobo Bag line is premiering and Merle Norman is actively pursuing Brighton. October will launch the full line of May’s Creation Beads. May Select offers Bengals and other professional sports beads, plus breast cancer, autism, high school (Dixie, Cov Cath, Notre Dame, Holy Cross, Lloyd, Boone County, Campbell County and more), college, and charitable foundation beads designed to help these organizations. The local artisan-made beads and sterling silver fit all brand bracelets.
Little Treasures Kids’ Sale: You’ll fall for the prices
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Are you looking to buy more for less? If so, then the Little Treasures Northern Kentucky fall & winter children’s consignment sale October 20-23 in Florence is for you. With more than 150 consignors and 20,000 items anticipated at this sale, you will find great bargains on gently-used and new newborn to teen clothing, games, toys, books, and more as well as all the necessities to start your nursery. This season, by popular demand, we will also have women’s clothing. Clothing and toys are inspected before they are put out for sale so that
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shoppers feel comfortable purchasing wonderful products at the sale. Purchase items not only for yourself but also for
holiday and special-occasion gifts. The sale is also a great place for teachers to find books, games,
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TREASURES see page 16
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100 years of dedicated funeral home service After more than 100 years of service to the families of Northern Kentucky and the greater Cincinati area, the Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Homes have come to be regarded as a community institution. Their caring and experienced professionals are here to support you through this difficult time. The scope of our resources allow them to offer a complete range of personalized services that help families before, during, and after the loss of a loved one. Today, many people understand that pre-planning their funeral is the most considerate gift they can leave to their families. With arrangements made in advance, bereaved family members are relieved of the of making decisions at a difficult time, and from guessing what your final
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wishes might be. Their pre-planning counselors can meet with you at one of our convenient locations, or at your home. They’ll explain the many options offered by contemporary funeral traditions, answer questions on funeral costs, and help with Social Security and Veteran’s death benefits. They also offer several flexible payment plans, which will give your family important peace of mind. Dobbling, MuehlenkampErschell Funeral Homes have flexible options for pre-arranging a funeral, we recommend that individuals consider making their pre-arrangements ahead of time. This assures the consumer that their wishes will be carried out and alleviates family members from the additional burden of last minute decision making.
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At the time of a family loss, your attention should be paid to the emotional needs of family and loved ones... not to the numerous details of arranging a funeral service. That is why we offer a complete selection of prearrangement programs to suit your personal, religious, financial and family needs. Pre-arrangement offers you more than just the peace of mind of knowing your wishes will be met and that your family does not have to bear the financial burden of funeral costs. You do not have to pay to make your pre-arrangements, but we at Dobbling, MuehlenkampErschell Funeral Homes have an inflation proof plan that lets you buy tomorrow’s products and services at today’s cost. Our three-step Pre-planning
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Guide walks you through the various items that may need consideration during the pre-planning process and provides valuable information to help you make informed decisions. The first step presents a set of specific questions to consider, such as deciding the responsible parties involved in decision making, as well as some of the costs entailed in the process. The second step presents some information that show how preplanning can help provide you peace of mind, as well as, save you money. The third step then presents an online form that can be submitted to initiate the actual preplanning process with our funeral home. Once your submitted
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YEARS from page 13 information is received, one of our representatives will follow up with you to answer any further questions and/or to start making arrangements. You can count on us to help you plan a personal, lasting tribute to your loved one. And we’ll carefully guide you through the many decisions that must be made during this challenging time. Please feel free to call 491-4500 any time of the day, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit our facility in person at your convenience. They also provide a wealth of information here on our web site so you can learn more from the privacy of your own home.
Helping families, friends honor their loved one Life is full of opportunities to show someone we love them. One such opportunity is the funeral or memorial service. Such a loving event celebrates the choices they made, the relationship you shared, and honors the memory of your loved one. The staff members of Middendorf Funeral Home can guide your family in creating a meaningful ceremony to honor the life and memory of a loved one. A ceremony can be anything you wish it to be: simple or elaborate, traditional or unique. No matter how it’s tailored, such a ceremony is an important step in recovering from loss. For five generations, the Middendorf family has been involved in caring for the families of Northern Kentucky, after the passing of a loved one. “Ours is a tradition of service with care and compassion,” said Dave Middendorf, the owner. “We take that tradition to heart, and this attention to our legacy has extended to the architectural design of our new facility. It took
hours of thought and conversation, to arrive at a structure which gives families a warm, inviting setting with ample space for tasteful, non-intrusive services of any size.” Taking the time to design your service is a loving act, and not a difficult one. It’s about bringing those you love together, at a time of loss. It’s a natural thing to do, and over time, has become a socially-expected practice. You can have your service anywhere, and any way, you want. Your choices include the place of celebration, day of the week, and time of day; the musical selection, what prayers will be said or songs you’d like sung. They can arrange to have butterflies, or balloons released at the close of the service. Keepsake gifts of wildflower seeds or a tree seedling can be given. For more information visit www.middendorf-funeralhome.com or call 3417800.
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Create lasting memories with a personal and visual memorial From the Egyptian pyramids to the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, D.C., the emotional importance of memorialization transcends history and cultures, and it satisfies a basic human need to remember and to be remembered. In today’s completely customized society, the desire for personalization extends beyond life. In fact, nearly half of all consumers say that personalization has a significant impact on their funeral and memorial preferences, according to a study completed by Matthews International. Whether you choose a headstone, grave marker or cremation urn, consider how you would want to be remembered by future generations. Rob Newcombe, president of Matthews Cemetery Products, offers the following advice for creating a memorial that represents and celebrates life:
your children, your fishing pole, a favorite car or your family home – to a memorial plate through a bronze casting process. The result is a highly detailed and extremely personal memorial that can be used in conjunction with ground burials, cremation and mausoleum entombments. Professional designers work closely with individuals or families to create detailed renderings of each memorial. • Select the right words. Memorials can communicate much more than birth and death dates. While many people choose to have a favorite religious verse or inspirational quote engraved, also consider an excerpt from a beloved poem, lyrics from a song or even a special message to loved ones.
• Involve family and friends. Asking loved ones to participate in designing your memorial can make the process less intimidating and help them to fully understand your final wishes. Look through old family photo albums together, and • Plan ahead. Approximately one in five people share anecdotes and favorite stories that may prowith recent experience planning a funeral or memo- vide inspiration when selecting the creative rial say that the wishes of their loved ones were not elements of your memorial. known because they hadn’t provided written or verbal guidance. Take control over the final details of “Whether it’s just adding a photo or more your life and alleviate a future burden from those detailed information and imagery, families have closest to you by planning in advance the details of told us that personalized memorials provide future your memorial and sharing your after-life preferences generations with more information about their past with family and friends. and evoke powerful memories among visitors to the gravesite,” says Newcombe. “Each memorial can • Illustrate your life story. Images can transform a truly be a one-of-a-kind work of art that makes it posmemorial into a visual biography by depicting all sible for an individual to express his or her religious aspects of a life - from military service to special hon- devotion, patriotism and personal passions.” ors to leisure activities. For example, the Matthews Courtesy of ARAcontent Lasting Memories collection allows you to add up to eight of your favorite photos – such as snapshots with
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75 years of quality service by Ronald B. Jones The Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home originated in 1935. In 1950, the funeral home was completely remodeled. The original Bentley House, which was built in 1850, is the third oldest building in Ludlow. The funeral home has been continually updated over the years having the atmosphere of your home rather than a business. At the June 2010, convention of the Kentucky
Funeral Directors Association held at the Marriott Hotel in Louisville, Ronald and Grace Jones were awarded the Golden Certificate for 75 Years of continuous active funeral service in Northern Kentucky. Our funeral home is staffed by Ronald B. Jones, a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, his wife, Grace Jones, Andy Reed, licensed Embalmer and
Funeral Director, of Ludlow, Renee Harris, Office Manager, of Fort Wright, Monica Sallee of Hebron, Cecil Welch of Erlanger, and Charles Manning of Ludlow. The Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home offers all of the traditional services along with cremations and memorial services. Also, visitations and services may be held in the church of the family’s
preference. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home began a pre-arrangement service 25 Years ago when PrePlanning a funeral was in its infancy. Realizing the need of persons wanting to decide what they wanted for there own funeral plus the value it gave there family knowing the wishes of there loved ones. Pre-planning a funeral
does not need to be prefunded but it does give one the opportunity to express their wishes in advance. For those who do pre-pay their funeral at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home it serves the advantage of locking the funeral at today’s cost. For additional information or a personal conference call Ronald Jones at 431-0072.
TREASURES from page 12 toys, and more for their classrooms. Do you want to earn some holiday cash? New consignors are invited to join the Little Treasures family. Consignors - who set their own prices -- earn a minimum of 70% to a maximum of 85% of sales of their items. If you just want to shop before the public sale begins, visit the website and register to volunteer at the sale. There is also a presale for new and expectant parents; registration is on the Little Treasures website. Little Treasure’s Fundraiser Friday and Vendor Hall are being continued this season. Fundraiser Friday is an easy opportunity for organizations trying to raise money. In Vendor Hall, you can one-stop shop home- and service-based businesses. The sale will be held at the Madison Office Products Building, located at 8307 U.S. Hwy. 42, Florence, between Mall Road and Hopeful Church Road. Public sales hours are Wednesday, Oct. 20, to Saturday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the half-price sale (on many items) all day Saturday. Registration for Little Treasures consignors, volunteers, and new parents is currently open. For more information about the sale, consigning, and Fundraiser Friday, visit www.littletreasuressale.com and click on the Northern Kentucky link.
BULLY from page 6 a change in your child’s behavior and attitudes, approach him first. Offer your support and let him know that action will be taken to improve the situation. Your child will most likely be feeling isolated at school and it’s important for him to know that he can confide in you. Document facts. Take pictures of any injuries and have your child give a detailed description of what happened. Write down the dates and times that these situations occurred and get statements from any other students, teachers or parents who may have observed the bullying. Talk to teachers and the principal. Don’t wait. Immediately contact the school and alert school officials to the problems that your child is facing. Put it in writing. In addition to talking directly to teachers and the school principal, put your concerns into writing to the principal, the superintendent and school board members. Encourage others to speak up. If the same child is bullying other students, persuade parents to report it too. School officials are more likely to respond immediately if they see the problem is affecting several students. Call the police. Many states require schools to report bullying incidents to the police, according to Findlaw.com. If your child has been the victim of a physical assault or repeated incidents of bullying, call the local authorities - especially if your school has not contacted local authorities. Courtesy of ARAcontent
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