LINK Kenton Reader - Issue 1, Volume 3 - Dec. 2, 2022

Affordable housing in Northern Kentucky is everyone’s problem: ‘It could happen to anyone’

We are grateful to all LINK’s Partners - those organizations in the community who believe strongly in what we are doing, and have thrown their full support behind us. These NKY institutions are helping bring a voice back to our community.

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Michael Monks

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin Gebby

The LINK nky Kenton Reader is a weekly newspaper. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending, permit number 32 in Covington, Kentucky. The LINK nky Kenton Reader office of publications and the Periodical Pending Postage Paid at 700 Scott St., Covington, KY 41011.

For mailing address or change-of-address orders: POSTMASTER: send address changes to The LINK nky Kenton Reader: 621 Madison Ave, Covington, KY 41011 859-878-1669 | www.LINKnky.com

Facebook @LINKnKentucky Twitter @LINKnky Instagram @LINK_nky

HAVE A TIP? News@LINKnky.com

WANT TO ADVERTISE? Marketing@LINKnky.com

WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? Scan this QR code here No part of this publication may be used without permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings, and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please let us know and accept our sincere apologies in advance.

on the cover

The Victoria Square community in the foreground, with Newport’s $1 billion Ovation development in the background. Photo by Kaitlin Gebby | LINK nky

Affordable housing in Northern Kentucky is everyone’s problem: ‘It could happen to anyone’

BY MEGHAN GOTH | LINK nky MANAGING EDITOR

Desiree Bradley was living in Erlanger with her two children and their father when her mother gave her an ultimatum.

“She said, ‘If you don’t do something, I will take your kids,” Bradley said on a rainy Tuesday afternoon at Newport’s Carabello Coffee.

Bradley, 26, now lives at the Ion Center in Newport. The center offers free, confidential support services to women and men who have experienced power-based violence such as sexual violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse and stalking.

“As soon as a room was available, they were like, ‘Get your butt down here,’” Bradley said.

The road to get where she is now was anything but easy.

Inside that Erlanger home, Bradley suffered abuse. Though there was physical abuse, the worst, she said, was the emotional abuse.

She learned quickly that she wasn’t worth anything.

“Every single day of your life, you’re being told you’re not good enough,” she said. “It screwed my head all the way up.”

So, here she was. No job. No car. Nowhere to go. Just the knowledge that she had to get her kids – and herself – away.

That’s when she found the Brighton Center. She was actually there to get food when she saw a flier for free, at-your-own-pace employment training.

Two hours after she expressed interest, not only had the ball started rolling to enroll her, but someone from the program asked about her living situation, leading her to the Ion Center.

Bradley is working on getting her medical

coding certificate. She goes to school Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Her kids are enrolled in Newport schools, and after school they are bussed to the Boys & Girls Club until Bradley can get them and bring them home.

This patchwork of services – which saved Bradley’s life and gave her hope – exists in part because of the Safety Net Alliance of Northern Kentucky. The collaborative of 150 nonprofits works together to more efficiently provide service to those in need and mend holes in the local safety net, according to its website.

The collaborative includes nonprofits like Brighton Center, which offers family support services, education, and employment; and the Ion Center, which helps anyone in an abusive situation, at any time of day, no matter what.

Bradley shared her story in November to a leadership group learning about the critical need for affordable housing in Northern Kentucky and the people who are doing everything they can to help.

Sitting at a table with a panel of people who represented the various nonprofits, Bradley blended right in. Her blonde, shoulder-length hair hung in loose curls as she shared her story, and what she hopes will come out of opening up her life to a room full of strangers.

“It could happen to anyone,” she said.

Bradley finds the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality particularly frustrating, because if it were just about getting a job and everything else then fell into place, this network of nonprofits wouldn’t be necessary.

“What I would say to people who are stable in their housing is don’t get too comfortable,” she said. “It doesn’t discriminate. Just like addiction doesn’t discriminate. Poverty doesn’t discriminate. Nothing discriminates. It could happen to anyone.”

And while Bradley is very grateful for the room in the Ion Center, the reality is that she is living in a shelter – a shelter where hundreds of people dedicate their lives to helping people who are in some of the worst situations of their lives, but still a shelter.

Bradley shares a room, the size of a typical bedroom, with her two kids. A bunk bed for the kids is on one wall to the right when you stand in the doorway. Bradley’s bed is to the left. There are bins and hooks and everything is as neatly organized as possible, in such a small space. A bike sits propped against the bunk bed.

The shades are drawn on all of the windows throughout the shelter. Some rooms house multiple people from different families. There is a dining area, with several restaurant-style booths and a kitchen, where all meals are cooked and served.

Outside, there is a playground that was do-

Desiree Bradley smiles during an interview with LINK nky at a coffee shop in Newport. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky

Continued from page 3

nated by the Leadership NKY class of 2000 within a six-foot privacy fence. There are cameras everywhere.

Just in case.

Bradley is grateful, but this is just one of many steps.

And she admittedly wouldn’t be able to keep climbing without the myriad of people and nonprofits willing to step in and help her get there.

People like Kim Webb, the executive director of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky, which opened in 2008 as the region’s only cold weather shelter for adults. In February 2022, Webb oversaw the opening of a new facility that has 68 beds and operates as a year-round emergency shelter.

People like Catrena Bowman, the executive director of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, which works to empower families and individuals through education, advocacy and services to elevate the quality of life for those who need it. Bowman and the CAC work tirelessly to bring affordable housing – which she emphasizes means housing that costs 30 percent of a person’s income or less – to neighborhoods around the region.

The stigma associated with affordable housing – and those who need it – is one of the reasons Bradley wanted to share her story.

Bradley could be anyone.

How did we get here?

It’s complicated, and it has happened slowly as the culture and perception around af-

fordable housing has changed.

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2020, 46% of American renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing. More than one in seven households across the United States paid over half their income on housing in 2020, according to Habitat for Humanity.

Housing projects – which were seen as a solution to the poverty problem in the mid1900s – are increasingly closing to make way for a Section 8 Voucher program that allows people to stay in apartment buildings that are also occupied by people without government assistance.

Bowman, whose organization works to bring high-quality affordable housing to neighborhoods across Northern Kentucky, said she is often met with residents who say they don’t want “those people” to live in

their neighborhood. It’s a classic example of Not In My Backyard.

Bowman said she has heard people say they don’t want neighbors with cars on blocks and couches on front porches – assumptions that are keeping those with low income from having anywhere to go.

There used to be places like Newport’s Victoria Square apartments, which served low-income residents for decades. In July, an out-of-town developer bought Victoria Square and began notifying residents they had to leave. Some of those residents had lived there their entire lives. Their communities – babysitters, friends, jobs, public transportation – exist at and around Victoria Square.

The city of Newport has 309 affordable housing units. As of the 2020 Census, 3,689 people in Newport lived in poverty.

“It has exposed something to me in my understanding,” said Newport City Commissioner Ken Rechtin at an NAACP meeting held for Victoria Square residents earlier this year. “I thought Neighborhood Foundations (which administers the city’s housing programs), Brighton Center, and those agencies that did provide and do provide some supportive housing services were adequate. What it has exposed to me is that there are problems inherent in our system that does not treat all people fairly in housing.”

And there used to be places like City Heights, in Covington, where residents were told in 2020 they would need to gradually move out because the property was being demolished. Steve Arlinghaus, director at the Housing Authority of Covington, which operates City Heights, told LINK earlier this year that there isn’t enough affordable housing stock in Northern Kentucky to house everyone who will need to leave City Heights.

Covington has 80% of the taxpayer subsidized housing, while being home to only 24% of Kenton County’s population, according to Covington city officials.

As of August, online rental search platform Zumper estimated the median rent for a one-bedroom unit in Covington to be $1,755. Eight years ago, that number was $600.

Talia Frye was the vice president of Brighton Center until her unexpected death in October. She spoke to LINK nky for a story about affordable housing earlier this year, expressing the dire need for housing in Northern Kentucky.

“I cannot overstate that there isn’t enough housing for people,” Frye said over the summer. “So, there is not a quick fix. We

The City Heights apartment complex is an endangered affordable housing complex in Covington. Residents were told in 2020 they would need to gradually move out because the property was being demolished. Photo by Meghan Goth | LINK nky

see many families who have Section 8 vouchers, but there aren’t enough landlords willing to accept Section 8. That is a real dynamic in our community, and so the options are limited.”

While some see poverty as an urban issue, the problem of a lack of affordable housing extends to Boone County and beyond.

There are more than 8,700 people living in poverty in Boone County, LINK reported in August. According to the Boone County Housing Authority, which helps families receive Section 8 vouchers, a majority of its vouchers expire before families are able to find a place to live.

“Vouchers usually go unused because families can’t find a property owner that will accept the voucher,” said Boone County Housing Authority Director Boubacar Diallo. “Usually when they do find an owner that will accept the voucher, there is generally a waiting list for the unit.”

Another misconception about affordable housing and government assistance echoed by just about everyone working in nonprofits in Northern Kentucky is that those who receive it are taking advantage or don’t want to be self-sufficient.

The benefits cliff is one barrier that keeps many families from being self-sufficient. A benefit cliff occurs when a small increase in wages – say, $1 an hour – makes it so that a family is no longer able to receive help to feed their families, afford child care or medical care, or receive the same amount of money in housing vouchers.

Bradley, for example, works at Walgreens. She makes $15 an hour. She said when they asked how many hours she wanted to work per week, she said she can’t go over 20 hours.

“I didn’t tell them, but if I go over 20 hours a week, I lose my food stamps,” Bradley said.

So while of course Bradley would like to work more hours, if she does, she will lose her benefits, and she won’t make enough money to make up for the loss of those benefits.

Where do we go from here?

Jennifer Walke, vice president of development at The Model Group, said it is critical for all Northern Kentucky municipalities to work together.

“The biggest hurdle I’ve run into trying to get new affordable housing in Northern Kentucky is that everyone understands there’s an issue,” Walke said. “Everyone knows that we need more housing for survivors of domestic violence. Everyone knows that we need more affordable housing. No one wants to step up and say, right here, I’ll take it, I can do this.”

Until Northern Kentucky has a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis, Walke said “I think it’s really important for as many organizations and stakeholders to band together and be as vocal as possible when there is a proposal on the table.”

“Show up at zoning meetings,” Walke continued. “Write letters of support for these nonprofits that are trying to get this housing through, because we need to match that intensity.”

Tony Milburn, founder and CEO of the Milburn Group, said trying to get cities across Northern Kentucky to work together on this can be difficult.

But he is encouraged by a group of nonprofits that are putting together a market study about housing affordability in North-

ern Kentucky and where housing is needed. The study also gets into where jobs are located and how to get them,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to keep building affordable housing in the river cities, but when all the jobs are in Florence, how do they get there?” he said. “So we need a more regional market study as a place to start. And I’m hoping that once that gets publicised, there’s going to be more of a regional conversation about what we need to do, where we need to put it and how to get people to the jobs that are desired.”

Affordable housing, when done right, can actually stabilize and improve a community, Walke said. She pointed to examples like the Northern Kentucky Scholar House and Lincoln Grant Scholar House, where single parents can live with their children while they are enrolled in school.

“We actually copied that for Ohio and Cincinnati because you’re bringing two generations out of poverty simultaneously,” she said. “That’s a game changer. That’s incredible. So I just want to thank Kentucky for coming up with that.”

From a policy perspective, Newport’s Rechtin said another way forward is for the county judges/executive to come together to create a comprehensive plan for Northern Kentucky.

For those who are experiencing housing instability or can’t feed their families or find jobs, Kim Phillips, the section 8 coordinator for the City of Covington, said the biggest hurdle can often be simply asking for help.

“Even if you aren’t able to Google and see what’s out there, go to an agency and say, ‘Here’s what I need, how can you help?’” Phillips said.

Continues on page 12

For a list of partners with the Safety Net Alliance of Northern Kentucky, visit nkysafetynet.org/partners. Refer below for a list of the agencies mentioned in this story:

Brighton Center

741 Central Ave., second floor, Newport 859-491-8303

Brightoncenter.com

Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky

436 West 13th St., Covington 859-291-4555

Emergencyshelternky.org.

Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission

717 Madison Ave., Covington 859-655-2938

Nkycac.org

Welcome House 205 West Pike St., Covington 859-431-8717

Welcomehouseky.org

Ion Center for Violence Prevention 835 Madison Ave., Covington 859-491-3335

Ioncenter.org

Lincoln Grant Scholar House 824 Greenup St., Covington 859-360-0335

https://www.nkcac.org/services/ lincoln-grant-scholar-house/

Dwindling numbers: An aging church congregation ponders its fate

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL SHOYAT | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

“I hope we’re not a dying congregation, but if something doesn’t happen, we will be.”

Dick Monson, 74, has been a member of Runyan Memorial Christian Church for nearly 71 years. He and his wife, Amy, wed there 46 years ago. In the mid-70s, he became a board member, and he currently serves as the church health leader and elder.

“Runyan is the only church I’ve known,” Monson said. “I spent 19 months in the Philippines in the Navy, and I couldn’t wait to get back to be there again.”

Monson said his memories of the church’s early days remain vivid.

“Back then the church wasn’t air conditioned, so after church everyone would go out on the front sidewalk and talk. I can remember exactly where I was standing that day, that first Sunday back at church. And I can remember who I was talking to and what I was wearing that day. That was something I missed for 19 months, and I was glad to be back there.”

For many of its members, Runyan has been a second family.

“The people up at church, I’ve known them practically all my life,” said Elder Sue Ann Kues. “They really took me in … treated me like one of their family.”

Kues said she attended Runyan when she lost her mother, and the community helped her through her grief.

“When my mother died, which was 2004, [the McClanahan family] invited me over to sit with them. Then they invited me to eat lunch after church. Now we’ve been doing that for 18 years. I enjoy that, it gets me out a bit,” Kues said.

Now 89, Kues has been a member of Runyan for 72 years and served as the Sunday school secretary for 40.

“We used to have a lot of kids join on Easter, and we don’t have that anymore,” Kues said. “We don’t even have a Sunday school. It’s a real shame.”

The third-floor rooms that were dedicated to teaching children have sat unused for close to a decade.

“I know we don’t have a lot of things, but I still like it. I just like our little church,” Kues said. “I’m the oldest [member] that comes, but I don’t know how much longer I’m going to drive.”

Numbers are dwindling as current members age.

“They’re all dying off, and we don’t get any new ones,” Kues said.

According to Elder Betty Kidd, the congre-

Jerry Baldwin stands in the sanctuary after Sunday morning service.

Karl Spisak leads a game of bingo on Thursday night in the basement of the church. Many residents of the Colony in Latonia attend the church’s events.

gation has lost four members in the last year – losses that have been felt even more deeply in a population of fewer than 50.

“Churches are just in decline,” said Elder Dawn Baldwin. “At one time, Covington had a church on almost every street corner. Covington was a city of churches. It’s sad that they’re all gone.”

Within the last 20 years, a handful of Covington churches including Grace United Church of Christ have closed and been repurposed as event venues. Runyon members worry their church could meet a similar fate if numbers continued to decline.

“When the churches close, people want to buy the land,” Baldwin said. “It’s sad what happens to these little churches when they go, especially if they have a graveyard connected to them. The graveyards go into disrepair. No one takes care of them. Things are being built over people’s graves.”

Baldwin’s great-great grandmother was buried at the Buena Vista Cemetery before the land was bought up and graves were relocated.

“But there’s about 110 of these graves that they never moved, and the Boys and Girls Club was built on top of them,” Baldwin said.

Today, you can see the headstones for these graves piled within a chain link enclosure on the property.

In spite of this trend and however small, Runyan still works to serve its community the best it can.

“Service, I think that’s something we’re called to do,” Monson said. “We’ve been serving meals on Thanksgiving day for at least 38 years. I don’t think we’ve ever missed a year doing that. It’s really a part of our Thanksgiving.”

The church also hosts Thursday night bingo that is open to members of the community. Many seniors from the Colony in Latonia participate in the fun and share a meal.

“For $3, they get a good meal, they get to play bingo and the social aspect is important for those people too,” Monson said “I remember [my mother] coming here. Her eyes weren’t good, and she couldn’t even see the cards, but she enjoyed the fellowship.”

Runyan also supports local ministries such as Matthew 25, Habitat for Humanity and Action Ministries.

“I want to go somewhere I feel needed and important, somewhere that needs my offering,” Monson said. “I might be wrong, but I don’t think that some of these mega churches need me. They’ve got plenty of money, plenty of people, plenty of talent. I’m comfortable in a small church. If Runyan would close, I would probably go to another small church … For as long as they’re around.”

DONATE TODAY help make an impact in your community

Your donation will be directed to the NKY Community Journalism Fund

LINK has been in business for just over a year. In that time, we’ve done the following:

• Sent the Daily LINK email more than 260 times

• Sent a reporter to live in Frankfort and cover our legislative caucus

• Launched linknky.com

• Printed five editions of the LINK Reader, our free, bi-monthly print publication

• Mailed those five editions to every single household in NKY

• Covered every single competitive race in the primary and general election in NKY

• Had live election night coverage for both the primary and general election

• Started the Kentucky Side and the LINK Daily Headlines podcasts

• Moved to a bigger office

• Hired 14 people, and brought on more than 28 contributors to cover NKY

• Published more than 3,700 stories about our community

Click on the QR Code to donate:

Dick Monson sits in his regular seat for Sunday morning service.

Sue Ann Kues sits with her dog Sugar in her Latonia residence. Kues has been a member of Runyan Memorial Christian Church for 72 years.

Covington Latin School recognized as one of the Best Schools in America for 2023

Covington Latin School, a co-educational, Catholic, accelerated, college preparatory middle and high school, was recognized as the top-ranked Catholic school in Kentucky, according to Niche.com.

They also claimed the “Best Private School” in Northern Kentucky, with a state-wide rank of fourth in Kentucky. These accolades come on the heels of awards in 2021 & 2022 from Cincinnati Family Magazine for “Best Private School from Cincinnati” and “Best School Spirit” from Best of NKY.

Scoring is tabulated through an algorithm mixing feedback from students and parents on topics ranging from cafeteria food to college prep work. These factors provide a glimpse as to what it is really like to attend Covington Latin School as a student and what it is like as a parent of a student.

See the school and meet the facility firsthand during Covington Latin’s annual Open House on Dec. 4, 2022, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Braxton charges in with their ‘Dark Charge Winter Party’ this December

Braxton Brewing Company is unveiling a celebration of Northern Kentucky uniqueness with a limited-edition Chocolate Pretzel and Bourbon Ball Dark Charge Imperial Stout during their “Dark Charge Winter Party.”

The batch offers hints of chocolate and pretzels after being aged for a year in bourbon barrels from three distillers along the B-Line: Old Pogue Distillery, New Riff Distilling and Boone County Distillery.

Only available for purchase during the expanded two-day Dark Charge Winter Party, the unique homage to Northern Kentucky will complement the new Bourbon Lounge in the loft portion of Braxton Brewery, where beer fanatics who are bourbon curious can learn more about these distillers and try bourbon pulled straight from the barrel while enjoying live music from local acts.

The special brew is only available Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

Beshear appoints seven locals to boards, commissions

Gov. Andy Beshear appointed seven Northern Kentuckians to boards and commissions in November.

Beshear appointed Fr. Matthew Young, of Newport, as a member of the Kentucky Fire Commission; Regina Watts, of Covington, as a member of the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities; David

Sloan, of Fort Mitchell, as a member of the Public Advocacy Commission; Christopher John Fryer, of Independence, as a member of the Education Professional Standards Board; William St. Pierre, of Villa Hills, as a member of the Consumers’ Advisory Council; and John Scott, of Bracken County, as Magistrate for the 6th District.

Lawmakers suggest noncitizens could patch the state’s workforce problem

Gov. Andy Beshear often points to Kentucky’s low unemployment rate, which sits at 3.9%, as proof that the state’s economy is doing well.

Republicans, however, often cite the Commonwealth’s workforce participation rate – 56.8% in December 2021 – as proof that Kentuckians aren’t participating in the workforce as a reason to cut crucial benefits in order to get them back to work.

Rep. Nina Kulkarni (D-Louisville) is approaching employment from a different

A helping of Braxton’s limited-time Dark Charge Winter Party brew. Photo provided | Braxton Brewing Company

angle. She recently suggested reforming the state’s licensing requirements so non-citizen immigrants can participate in the workforce.

Kulkarni, Deputy Program Director for The Council of State Governments Carl Sims, and Utah State Representative Norm Thurston presented their arguments to the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations.

Kulkarni said that she thinks Kentucky would benefit from license reform that allows foreign-born workers to work here to meet the region’s economic and workforce needs, even if they are not citizens.

Republican Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville) said he’s willing to have the conversation, but if it costs Kentuckians their jobs, he said it’s not worth it.

“I know there are workforce issues and are workforce gaps, but I’m not willing to fill those gaps if it’s gonna put our citizens in danger,” Douglas said.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients cannot obtain occupational licensure in Kentucky. They must prove their citizenship when applying for licensure; if they can’t, they can be disqualified from getting a license.

Northern Kentucky Rep. Adam Koening (R-Erlanger), who co-chairs the committee, asked Thurston what they did in Utah to ensure individuals met the right qualifications.

“I think it’s good policy,” Koenig said. “My concern, primarily, is every state has different licensing rules.”

Thurston said they’ve worked with their refugee communities to train them on competency-based tools, even if they’ve had some educational opportunities.

Republican Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville) said he’s willing to have the conversation, but if it costs Kentuckians their jobs, he said it’s not worth it.

Legislators weigh creating Office of Gun Violence Prevention

A freshman lawmaker from Louisville is looking to improve gun safety in Kentucky by trying to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

Rep. Keturah Herron (D-Louisville) recently spoke about the idea to the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity and said she plans to introduce a bill in the 2023 session.

Herron said office would collect and disseminate data and make recommendations related to gun violence policy, community-based gun violence intervention and prevention programs.

Herron said that she has seen the impact of gun violence first-hand. Sabrina Brown, the core director and an investigator for the Kentucky Injury and Prevention Research Center, presented with Herron. She said that said six out of 10 deaths in the U.S. in 2019 were firearm-related suicides, and 109 people died a firearm-related death every day in 2019.

Herron told the commission that this bill is not seeking to ban guns or impose new restrictions on gun ownership.

“I know that when you say ‘gun violence,’ people get scared, they think that you’re talking about taking guns away,” Herron said. “For the record, I do fully support the Second Amendment, and I am a legal gun owner.”

Northern Kentucky Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) introduced two gun-friendly bills during this year’s session, but both failed to make it to committee. One would have banned “gun-free” zones. The other would have lowered the age requirement for concealed carry from 21 to 18.

An outspoken advocate of gun rights, Maddox said she’s opposed to a gun violence prevention office.

“‘Gun Violence Prevention’ is nothing more than a euphemism for gun control, and I am strongly opposed to any proposal that would empower unelected bureaucrats to have influence over public policy in a way that would infringe upon our right to keep and bear arms,” Maddox said.

Please send any events, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, or other special announcements to LINK nky via email, at news@linknky.com, with the subject line

“Town Crier.” Please note, meeting times and dates are subject to change. Contact organizers for the most up-to-date information.

Dec. 2-10, 2022

Boone County

Dec. 4: Boone County Holiday Tree Lighting, 4 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2951 Washington St., Burlington

Dec. 6: Boone County Fiscal Court Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

Florence

Dec. 6: Florence Holiday Tree Lighting, 5 to 8 p.m., North Lot, Florence Government Center, 811 Ewing Blvd.

Dec. 6: Florence City Council Caucus Meeting, 6 p.m., Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., (Note: The Florence tree lighting is also at this time, so the caucus meeting may be canceled. Check the Florence website for info)

Union

Dec. 3: Gift of Giving Food Drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Union City Building parking lot, 1843 Bristow Drive, Union

Dec. 5: Union City Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Union City Building, 1843 Bristow Drive, Union

Campbell County

Dec. 7: Campbell County Fiscal Court Meeting, 7 p.m., Alexandria Courthouse, 8352 E. Main St., Alexandria

Alexandria

Dec. 1: Alexandria City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Dec. 6: Alexandria Planning and Zoning Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Dec. 8: Alexandria Code Enforcement Board Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria

Bellevue

Dec. 2: First Friday Holiday Market, 5 p.m. to

9 p.m., Bellevue Business District, 200-700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue

Cold Spring

Dec. 1: City of Cold Spring Coat Drive, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cold Spring City Building, 5694 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring (drive is ongoing through January, Monday to Friday)

Dec. 7: Light Up Cold Spring House Decorating Contest, after dark, throughout Cold Spring

Dec. 10: Cold Spring Winterfest, 2 p.m., 5686 E. Alexandria Pike Cold Spring

Dayton

Dec. 6: Dayton City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Dayton Community and Meeting Center, 625 Second Ave., Dayton

Fort Thomas

Dec. 4: Fort Thomas Holiday Walk, 3 to 6:30 p.m., Fort Thomas Central Business District, Fort Thomas

Dec. 7: Fort Thomas Holiday Market, 3 to 7 p.m., Mess Hall in Tower Park, 801 Cochran Ave., Fort Thomas

Highland Heights

Dec. 6: Highland Heights City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Highland Heights City Building, 176 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights

Southgate

Dec. 7: Southgate City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Southgate City Building, 122 Electric Ave., Southgate

Kenton County

Dec. 1: Letters to Santa, all day, Santa Express Mailboxes will be located in Kenton County libraries, Kenton County Government Center in Covington, Historic Kenton County Courthouse in Independence, Kenton County Animal Shelter. (Mail letters to Santa, no postage needed, ongoing through Dec. 12.)

Covington

Dec. 1: Covington Economic Development Authority Meeting, 1:30 p.m, Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

Dec. 1: Covington Human Rights Commission Meeting, 5:30 p.m, Covington City Hall,

20 W. Pike St., Covington

Dec. 7: Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority Board Meeting, 9 a.m., Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., Covington

Edgewood

Dec. 2: Edgewood Home Decorating Contest, all day, throughout Edgewood (Exterior decorations only, runs through Dec. 4; see city website for neighborhoods)

Dec. 2: Edgewood Night at the Behringer-Crawford Museum, 6 to 8 p.m., Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington (Free admission to Edgewood residents, canned food donation requested)

Dec. 5: Edgewood City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Edgewood City Building, 385 Dudley Road, Edgewood

Elsmere

Dec. 6: Elsmere City Council Caucus Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Elsmere Community Center, 179 Dell St., Elsmere

Dec. 10: Elsmere Holiday Party, 3 to 5 p.m., Billy Bradford Park and Elsmere Fire Station, 401 Garvey Ave., Elsmere (Registration required)

Erlanger

Dec. 2-3: Erlanger Holiday Train Display, 1 to 8 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 2: Erlanger Annual Tree Lighting, 6 to 8 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 6: Erlanger City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Erlanger Municipal Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Dec. 9: Erlanger Home Decorating Contest, after dark, throughout Erlanger (through Dec. 11, lights should be up entire weekend for judging)

Fort Mitchell

Dec. 1: LiveWell Fort Mitchell Produce Popup, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

Dec. 5: Fort Mitchell City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

Dec. 9: 12 Houses of Christmas Lights Contest, after dark, throughout Fort Mitchell (through Dec. 11, lights should be up entire weekend for judging)

Church turned house on Overton Street is ‘best of both worlds’

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHARLES INFOSINO | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Some people like to buy houses once owned by celebrities, but Zachary and Chelsea Bear reside in a place that was once a house of God.

Their house is a former church, which gives the Bears bragging rights, since God is probably the world’s best-known celebrity. Their house is on Overton Street in the East Row Historic District of Newport. They will participate in the Annual East Row Victorian Christmas Tour on Dec. 3 and 4, when people on the tour can see this house and seven other distinct homes in the area.

A religious order named the First Temple of Society Spiritualists built the church at Overton Street in 1901. The letters “FTSS” are still at the front of the house. The First Temple of Society Spiritualists had similarities to the Catholic Church, but believed in spirits and mediums.

The building became a Catholic Church in the 1950s before a couple purchased it in the 1980s and converted it into a house in 2004.

The building features Colonial-inspired architecture and an entry gate reminiscent of The Addams Family home.

The house has 4,870 square feet of living space with four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half-bathroom, and an attached, one-car garage. All flooring and woodwork are original.

Beyond the four rooms, there is a spacious living room with a pool table and two sofas, adjacent to the dining room. The area has six stained glass windows, a reminder of the home’s history.

In the back of the dining room are a bar, a kitchen, and a stairway to a wall that the Bears named “Stairway to Heaven.” The wall features a poster, and the kitchen is where the pulpit once was.

Past the kitchen is a home gym, a laundry room, a half bathroom, the entrance to the garage, and the entrance to the unfinished basement.

The old choir loft, the home’s upstairs, features the master bedroom with a walk-in closet, a bathroom, and a small area with chairs.

The Bears have owned the house for three years. Zachary grew up in Eastern Kentucky, attended Louisville Medical School, completed his medical training in St. Louis, and currently works as an ENT specialist physician with Mercy Health in Cincinnati.

Chelsea grew up in South Carolina, is a nurse, and is in a doctoral nurse anesthesia program.

The couple met while living in Anchorage, Alaska. Both love to hike, travel, indulge in the food and drink the area has to offer, lament every college football season, and occasionally scuba dive.

They moved to Cincinnati to be closer to family and friends, though their hearts still very much remain in the mountains. The couple initially lived in an apartment in downtown Cincinnati and began casually browsing Zillow shortly after their move.

“We saw the church house and thought, ‘No way. This thing is beautiful. We have to go see it,’” Chelsea Bear said. “Admittedly, we had no idea we would be into buying a property so unique. There is no yard. This does not bother us at all. The other highlight, however, was that it was in a neighborhood we had fallen in love with. We would run across the Purple People Bridge from our apartment multiple times a week, into the East Row Historic District. The stars just sort of aligned and we took the leap of faith.”

The couple plans to make some changes to their house. They will convert the basement into a livable apartment, and replace some or all of the outside siding. The Bears said they also plan to build a deck on top of the garage.

Above all, the couple said they love their house and living in NKY.

“We love its uniqueness. It fits our personalities quite well,” Chelsea Bear said. “It really is low maintenance, city living at its finest, in a single-family home. The best of both worlds. One of the best features of our home is the neighborhood.”

Executive Sales Vice President

Evidence that this home was once a church is still visible at the crest of the roof, where it reads “FTSS 1901” for the church who founded it and the year it was established.

Stained glass crosses hang in the window at the back of this bar area looking into the kitchen.

Zachary and Chelsea Bear pose for a photo inside their Newport home that was once a church.

What makes you feel proud to live in Northern Kentucky?

Powered by Merk & Gile Injury Attorneys

Each week, LINK nky goes to social media to hear what the community has to say on topics directly impacting the region, or simple, seasonal matters. The responses below are comments given on the LINK nky Facebook page’s Question of the Week post. Users may notice their comments have been edited for grammar and brevity.

Shauna Kitts: We have a unique and tight-knit community.

G. Michael Graham: The great people here. I married into the NKY (region).

Mark Collier, LINK nky’s COO: An NKU win over a good UC team!

Someone called Phillips recently, and said they were worried about a person experiencing homelessness near their home since it was getting a lot colder outside, she said.

“And they said, I really just don’t know where to start. I don’t know what to do. And really asking the question is the first thing you can do,” Phillips said.

For her part, Desiree Bradley is so glad she asked the question.

While she still has a long way to go, she has a path ahead of her and she knows that if she keeps going, things will get better.

Every day, she gets up, gets her kids on the bus, and she gets ready for school.

“In the back of my head, I’m dreaming about what will come from me going every single day, working every single day, getting up in the morning, and just knowing that there’s going to be a bigger picture and one day we’re gonna see, then we’re going to experience it. That’s what keeps me going every day,” Bradley said.

But Bradley knows she will continue to face hurdles. Even when she is able to get her Section 8 voucher, she knows finding a place that accepts it could be near impossible.

“But I know that if I keep doing the right thing, and I wake up every day, and I do what I’m supposed to do, everything will fall into place,” she said.

But Bradley doesn’t want to stop there. She wants to share her story, she said, to show Northern Kentuckians that she is just like them. She could be them; they could be her. And, most importantly, she wants to help people like her.

“I want to be part of that movement,” she said. “I want to find a way to give back to someone. If I can work with people and help women and men that were in my situation, that is my ultimate goal in life.”

Michael Monks, Haley Parnell, Kaitlin Gebby and Kenton Hornbeck contributed to this report.

LINK streetscapes: Main Street in Covington Powered by Duke Energy

BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Earlier this year I visited Main Street in Covington, focusing on the latter half. Since then, I’ve had a flood of suggestions and these three spots are always among those. For this streetscapes, come with me to a morning on Main Street for all things breakfast and coffee.

Cedar: 701 Main St.

The concept at Cedar is simple: They want to serve “one hour vacations to our guests,” and as all vacations should begin, I started with a mimosa. Although they have boozy coffee, bloody Marys and just about any cocktail you can think of, there really is something about a mimosa with brunch that just feels right.

Cedar isn’t a simple breakfast diner. They serve unique, flavorful and filling meals I wouldn’t even begin to know how to cook at home.

I opted for the Hangover, a house-made breakfast bowl of potatoes, chorizo, avocado, sunny eggs, crema, cilantro, jalapeño, and house pico, which paired perfectly with my mimosa. I was expecting a meal this hearty to be greasy, but the addition of pico and avocado not only added flavor, it added a lightness to the meal that I’ve never had in a breakfast bowl before.

For those seeking comfort in their morning meal, Cedar offers a biscuit bowl, featuring buttermilk biscuits made in-house, chorizo lamb sausage gravy, fried egg, and green onion. For a Southern classic, reach for their chicken and waffles. This dish offers a fried chicken thigh and a candied bacon waffle, served with Nashville hot honey syrup and two slices of candied bacon.

With a gorgeous interior and kind staff, it’s clear why Cedar fills up quickly. Guests can grab drinks at the bar while they wait, and pass the time on their patio tables during warmer weather.

Bean Haus: 640 Main St.

As long as it isn’t snowing out, I will be ordering an iced coffee. While waiting at Cedar, I saw someone leaving Bean Haus with one of the largest coffees I have ever seen. Someone had a coffee that was literally served in a soup bowl, and I almost changed my order but wasn’t sure if I could handle all that caffeine.

I ordered an iced pumpkin spice latte, a controversial classic. The pumpkin was the perfect mix of sweet to complement bold coffee. I mentioned I will always order an iced coffee unless it’s snowing, and the same goes for sitting outside. We sat on the patio and people-watched on a busy Sunday morning, where we saw soup bowl sized coffee, pastries and sandwiches being brought outside to other patrons braving the cold.

As much as I love my iced coffee, I made a trip back inside to have one of these giant hot coffees and maybe a pastry or two.

Mama’s on Main: 621 Main St.

Everyone has been talking about Mama’s. Like most of NKY, I have been desperately trying to get a reservation here for their authentic Italian cuisine. A friend of mine suggested I visit them on weekends for Mama’s mornings, when they serve coffee and pastries.

I have attempted to come here twice, and the first time they were completely sold out, but I met the most fabulous man in pajamas who suggested I come even earlier next time. He said there would probably be a line out the door before they open. You’ll never find me in a line for a club or bar, but I will wait hours for a coffee and croissant. The second visit there was a line, but to me that was good news. It meant there were warm pastries and coffee waiting for me inside.

I stocked up on some pastries that are well worth an Instagram post. I will eventually make it for their famous pesto and marinated olives, but until then at least I have their fresh baked pastries to give me a little Italian experience.

Mama’s on Main serves pastry and espresso Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until pastries sell out.

For those interested in their evening service, inspired by classic New York Italian eateries, Mama’s is open Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.

And for anyone who can’t get through the door of this popular restaurant, they regularly tease appetites on Instagram, found at @Mamas_Mornings and @Mamas621Cov.

Have a street, city or business you want me to check out next? Email me at mchehman@gmail.com and it could be featured on the next installment of LINK streetscapes.

NOW HIRING!

LINK nky IS HIRING FOR THESE OPEN POSITIONS:

• Marketing Communications Specialist (full time)

• Sales Intern

• Production Assistant (part time)

TO APPLY, CLICK ON THE QR CODE BELOW:

Mama’s on Main dining room. Photo by Maria Hehman LINK NKY Contributor

NewCath holds on for state quarterfinal win at Kentucky Country Day

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds held on for a 28-21 victory over the host Kentucky Country Day Bearcats to advance to the Class 1A state semifinals for the second time in three years.

The Thoroughbreds came out on fire, scoring on their first three possessions and maintaining the lead throughout the game. NewCath senior running back Luke Runyon led the way scoring all four touchdowns – three rushing and one receiving.

KCD (9-3) could not stop Runyon on the jet sweeps in the first quarter allowing the Thoroughbreds (11-2) to build a 21-0 lead. Runyon ran behind his offensive line scoring on touchdown runs of 23, 59 and two yards and senior Ryan Barth hit the three point after touchdown kicks giving NewCath that lead with 2:35 left in the first quarter.

The Thorougbreds stifled KCD’s running game, forcing them to pass the ball. KCD scored its first touchdown with 7:28 left in the first half. The Bearcats drove to the NewCath one yard line on their next possession on a 47-yard pass, but an interception stopped the drive.

In the fourth quarter, after NewCath was held on fourth down at its 22 yard line, the Thoroughbreds decided to punt. The Bearcats scored on their next possession when junior quarterback Ethan Harris found senior wide receiver Dylan Keene for a six-yard touchdown with six minutes left in the game.

After recovering an onside kick, NewCath had a touchdown run called back on a holding penalty. After a punt gave KCD the ball back with 3:59 left, the Bearcats threw three straight incompletions. After a punt, NewCath earned a first down and ran out the clock to secure a spot in the state semifinals.

NKU volleyball falls short in Horizon League championship game

defeated run through the Horizon League regular season and tournament in three years.

Both teams made 16 hitting errors. But Wright State had 131 attempts to 109 for Northern Kentucky resulting in 49 kills to 34 for the visitors and hitting percentages of .252 and .165 respectively. Fifth-year senior libero and the Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player Jenna Story made the difference for Wright State with 19 digs.

“The atmosphere was crazy. It was a huge stage,” said Liz Hart, NKU head coach. “Once we got into rhythm, we were able to get some things going. Wright State has five solid hitters and you can’t forget Jenna Story in the back.”

Northern Kentucky had 53 digs, 34 assists, one ace and nine blocks to 48 digs, 45 assists, six aces and seven blocks for Wright State. Graduate student outside hitter Anna Brinkmann and middle blocker Abby Kanakry made the all-tournament team. Brinkmann had 13 digs, one ace and seven kills with Kanakry recording 10 kills and two blocks.

16 points each. Turner made all eight freethrow attempts and added five rebounds with Duvall adding four rebounds and two assists in her fourth double-digit scoring game of the season.

They had a lot of help as nine different Norse scored. Sophomore guard Khamari Mitchell-Steen had eight points, five rebounds and two assists and sophomore guard Kailee Davis had seven points, four assists and two steals.

The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team has consistently been in contention for the league championship since entering the Horizon League in 2015.

The Norse (18-13) headed north Sunday hoping to bring home the gold after losing in the title game to the University of Illinois at Chicago last year. NKU gave a good effort, but could not stop the run of the rival Wright State Raiders in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23) loss. Wright State (28-3) has won 23 games in a row completing a second un-

NKU women’s basketball routs Tennessee Tech

The Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team (3-1 overall) scored the game’s first 19 points and never looked back in a 75-53 win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (3-2) on Sunday at Truist Arena.

Tennessee Tech could not stop the duo of graduate student guard Lindsey Duvall and senior guard Ivy Turner, who scored

NKU made 25 of 55 shots for 46 percent including 4 of 16 from three-point land for 25 percent and an impressive 21 of 26 free throws for 81 percent. Tennessee Tech made 19 of 50 shots for 38 percent including just 1 of 9 from three-point land for 11 percent and 14 of 20 free throws for 70 percent. The Norse had 16 points off 17 Golden Eagle turnovers and had 15 second-chance points to none for Tennessee Tech.

Northern Kentucky led 24-7 after one quarter and 44-24 at halftime. The Norse outscored the Golden Eagles, 13-10 in the final quarter after Tennessee Tech won the third quarter, 19-18.

Presented by:

As a reminder, our honor is available to any athletics team from any sport at any level – from high school and collegiate to youth to recreational and beyond. Readers can scan the QR code to head to linknky.com to vote for the next Team of the Week.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY SELECTS

Newport Central Catholic football team

NKU sophomore guard Khamari Mitchell-Steen makes a move in the game Sunday against Tennessee Tech. Mitchell-Steen scored eight points and had five rebounds in the 75-53 win. Photo provided | NKU Athletics

Northern Kentucky University volleyball players Skyy Smith (11), Abby Kanakry (7) and Anna Brinkmann (3) celebrate a point in the Horizon League championship at Wright State on Sunday. NKU lost 3-0. Photo provided | NKU Athletics