LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 26 - May 24, 20224

The face of Northern Kentucky: ‘It’s starting to look different’

By Haley Parnell

In the 10 years that Theresa Cruz has lived and worked in Northern Kentucky, she said she has witnessed the face of Northern Kentucky changing.

“I think people really need to open their eyes and accept that what Kentucky looked like before – it’s changing,” Cruz said. “It’s not going to look the same. You’re getting people from not just Hispanic and Latino countries; you’re getting people from all over – the Republic of Congo, from Haiti, from Somalia. You’re getting people from all over here. It’s starting to look different.”

In response to this change, Cruz started the nonprofit Fiesta NKY in January to help fill the service gap in NKY’s Latino communities.

“There’s such a discrepancy between the actual numbers and what we see and what has been recorded,” she said. “It’s because they come here, and they’re told to keep their head down. It’s a scary thing. And they’re asking you to fill out a government

Continues on page 3

NKY in photos: Community Canvas

Each week this summer, LINK is exploring a different part of the Northern Kentucky community through photos. From murals to coffee shops to festivals and protests, LINK nky multimedia intern Hailey Roden will be canvassing our community all summer to tell the stories of the people who live, work and play here.

This week, we’re delving into Northern Kentucky’s rich history and culture through murals. See murals you may not have discovered yet and learn where they are so you can check them out yourself.

Have an idea for a photo gallery? Email news@linknky.com with the subject line “photo gallery idea.”

See more photos, page 10

This issue was produced in partnership with Northern Kentucky University’s Advanced News Media Workshop class and NKU’s student newspaper, The Northerner.

Find more stories related to the changing face of Northern Kentucky inside:

Meet owners of some area immigrant-founded restaurants p5

How one Congolese native inspires community p7

International markets share slice of home p9

Tiburcio Lince brings ‘alegría’ to NKU’s Latino Student Initiatives p13

Two women embrace at a World Refugee Day event. Photo provided | RefugeeConnect

Feed me! Popular mural artist Joshua Stout strikes again at Garden Grove Organics in Covington.

Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

Advancing Greater Care for Your Heart in Northern Kentucky

Across the nation, we face a growing epidemic of individuals experiencing arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat that occurs when the heart’s electrical impulses are too fast, too slow, or erratic. Not all rhythm disorders are dangerous, but if your heart cannot effectively circulate oxygen-rich blood, then the lungs, brain, and other organs may be adversely affected—and may shut down or be damaged. The most common arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AFib) which, according to the Center for Disease Controls (CDC), will affect a projected 12 million people nationwide by 2030.

Electrophysiology (EP) is the cardiology subspecialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating disorders related to the heart’s electrical system, such as AFib. But with the tremendous influx of arrhythmia patients, many EP practitioners are struggling to meet the increasing demand for services. Ablation, a common treatment for AFib, often has a waiting period of up to six months due to the high demand and limited availability of appointments.

Fortunately for the tristate, The Christ Hospital Health Network recognized this pressing need and implemented a monumental expansion of its EP center to meet the growing demand. In early April 2024, the doors to this reimagined EP suite were opened to serve the community.

Expertly staffed and completely upgraded with cutting-edge technology, this expansion is a game changer for the Tristate. The newly opened EP center significantly increases the treatment capacity, reducing the wait for arrhythmia patients seeking timely, expert care.

Daniel Pelchovitz, MD, FACC, FHRS, Medical Director of Electrophysiology at The Christ Hospital Health Network, leads a world-class team of EP physicians who treat patients at the expanded suite located on the Mt. Auburn campus. These experts routinely perform AFib ablations and other arrhythmia procedures and treatments, including pacemakers, defibrillators, and lead extractions—for which the hospital is a regional leader.

Dr. Pelchovitz explained the likely reasons for the national surge in arrhythmia patients.

“Advancements in science and research have significantly improved numerous therapies and procedures, enabling people to survive many medical conditions and live longer. Consequently, there is an unprecedented increase in the number of individuals aged 75 and older developing atrial fibrillation (AFib). Additionally, recent advancements in personal digital devices, such as Apple Watches and home EKG machines, alert individuals to the possibility of an AFib event, further contributing to the increased detection of this condition.”

Patients from Columbus, Cleveland, Louisville, Lexington, and beyond who faced bottleneck delays now have easy access to a myriad of EP procedures and care from these EP providers at The Christ Hospital Health Network. This team performs the highest arrhythmia treatment volumes with the lowest possible complication rates, typically less than 1%.

Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, MSCAI, Chairman of the Heart & Vascular Institute, said completing the state-of-the-art EP expansion exemplifies The Christ Hospital Health Network’s mission and vision.

“As the leader in regional heart care, The Christ Hospital Health Network strives to improve the health of our community. This extraordinary state-of-the-art electrophysiology suite features multiple labs equipped with ultra-modern technology, positioning us as one of the nation’s premier electrophysiology facilities.”

In addition to innovative technology and nationally distinguished physicians and surgeons, the EP team provides extraordinary compassionate care to every cardiology patient.

“When we treat a condition of the heart, it starts with a sincere interest in the individual and their healthcare goals,” said Dr. Pelchovitz. “Our patients are more than just a heart failure diagnosis or heart rhythm disorder.”

Cardiology patients also come to the Heart & Vascular Institute for a second opinion, especially those who are told by their providers that there are no further medical options to pursue.

“At The Heart & Vascular Institute, we never want to tell a patient there is nothing more we can offer them,” said Dr. Kereiakes. “Our team of cardiology specialists have unparalleled access to revolutionary treatments, innovative devices, and unique alternatives that are not available elsewhere. Many of our experts have been directly involved in the research and development of these groundbreaking therapies, which now benefit patients regionally and worldwide.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder, The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Center offers consultations and second opinion visits to review symptoms and treatment options.

Get piece of mind. To schedule a second opinion call 513-998-5570, or visit thechristhospital.com/second-opinion

Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, MSCAI

Daniel Pelchovitz, MD, FACC, FHRS

PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison

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document that wants information about you.”

BE NKY Growth Partnership, using data from the U.S. census, estimates that just over 8,500 people born outside the U.S. came to live in Boone County between 2018 and 2023. In Kenton County, 6,161 people came to live from outside the country during that time; in Campbell County, it was 2,150.

According to KentuckyRefugees.org, as of July 31, 2023, Kentucky ranked fourth in the nation in the number of refugee arrivals compared to other states.

Cruz told LINK nky she believes those numbers are probably low, because immigrants and refugees are less likely than other communities to complete the census. That’s often because families fear sharing their personal information.

Cruz said that discrepancies and inaccurate reporting will continue without organizations that can build relationships with these communities. She said it’s important for them to know the organizations are there to help them. Fiesta NKY operates out of Florence at 7536 U.S. 42 and primarily serves Boone County.

Another nonprofit created to serve this growing population is RefugeeConnect, which started working in Northern Kentucky in April 2020. This was after Boone County schools reached out, asking for help welcoming the growing number of students born outside the U.S., said Kristen Burgoyne, RefugeeConnect’s executive director.

RefugeeConnect supports families in Southwest Ohio and NKY, primarily in Boone and Kenton counties.

“A lot of those gaps existed around resource connection,” Burgoyne said, “and what we know is that there are a lot of resources available to the community, but they were either not being connected to those resources, or they didn’t know that those resources existed.”

She said there are growing Congolese and Somali populations in Boone County and a growing Chin population – an ethnic group from Myanmar (often still called Burma) –in Kenton County.

“[The Chin community has] been here for a number of years, and with renewed violence in Burma against the Chin com-

This chart shows the number of languages spoken, the countries represented and the families served by RefugeeConnect in 2023.

munity, I think we can expect … additional members of the Chin community being resettled here,” Burgoyne said. “I think that the population overall has grown a lot. We also have an increasing number of Haitians moving into Northern Kentucky.”

One of the services Burgoyne and the organization have helped connect people with are government programs called family sponsorships and sponsor circles.

“They can come through that legal pathway through the government if they are sponsored by a family member, and that gives them also temporary protected status,” Burgoyne said.

Fiesta NKY and RefugeeConnect work with people regardless of their legal status.

The temporary protected status through the sponsorship programs means people can legally live and work in the U.S. for typ-

Refugees vs. immigrants

Refugees are people forced to leave their home or country to escape persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order, according to Cincinnati-based RefugeeConnect. More than 25,000 people in Greater Cincinnati are refugees, the organization reports.

Immigrants have come to one country or region from another but are not necessarily refugees or asylum seekers. Some left their former country because they want to work, study or join a family, while others feel they must leave because of poverty, political unrest, natural disasters or other serious circumstances. (Emigrants are those who have left a particular country or region for another.)

ically two years. Once they reach that mark, they can apply for asylum if it is not safe for them to return to their home country. Asylum is a form of protection that allows immigrants or refugees to remain in the U.S. instead of being deported.

NKY’s appeal

A lower cost of living, job availability and an established network of resources are some of the reasons immigrants and refugees want to live in Northern Kentucky.

“There’s already an established community of support for Venezuelans, Congolese, Somali and Chin because there’s already a significant number of people from those communities who live here, and they typically tend to live in the same area,” Burgoyne said. “Some of them have lived here a long time, so they’re able to kind of provide that support to newcomers and help them to navigate different resources and services.”

Cruz echoed Burgoyne. She said many people are coming to Boone and Kenton counties, specifically, because they have family members here that they can live with until they can stand on their own feet.

“The needs that we see here are food, clothing and work,” Cruz said. “Those are the three main things that people come in for. It boils down to their basic needs that need to be met. Before I can do anything else, I can’t talk to you about financial literacy or ESL classes if you don’t have food on your

Continued from page 3 table. I can’t talk to you about being a part of your child’s school, volunteering or helping them with their homework.”

Wilson Mejia, the resettlement director at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, also emphasized the need for jobs. Mejia said the organization works with employers and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to place their clients in jobs.

“Workforce is a big topic in Northern Kentucky,” he said. “It has been noted that, based on population trends, we don’t have enough workforce in the region to fill some of the jobs.”

Covington-based Kentucky Refugee Ministries works to resettle refugees and welcome immigrants. Because the organization receives federal dollars from the Office of Refugee Resettlement Services, it must follow federal regulations, meaning the people it serves must be in the country legally. If they aren’t, Mejia said his organization directs them to other agencies like Fiesta NKY and RefugeeConnect.

Even with the services available in NKY, many people from outside the United States face many barriers when moving here. Language is a significant one, said Fiesta’s Cruz.

“These families that look different, that have the language barrier, that don’t know how to navigate the system here,” she said. “They don’t know where to go for whatever it is that they need. That’s huge.

“When you get here, no one looks like you. You don’t speak the language. You don’t have anything. You come here with nothing. What do you do?”

Fiesta NKY’s goal is to be a local hub for the Latino community. It’s a place where Cruz said people will feel welcomed and respected and where they can come to be heard.

Another barrier people new to the U.S. face is health care, said Burgoyne. She said the size and complexity of the U.S. health care system, coupled with the language and cultural barriers, creates inequity in the delivery of health care.

“Families are not being educated about the health care system, and our providers are not being educated about how to better support newcomers,” said Burgoyne. “So that’s actually why we started the Health Navigator Program – to really address that because it is such a huge issue in the community.”

Burgoyne said that a lot of families come

from destabilized countries. She said, for example, families that fled Afghanistan in 2021 because of the Taliban already didn’t have a solid health care system. They may have come to the U.S. with chronic medical conditions that have never been treated, and Burgoyne said organizations like RefugeeConnect have to explain to them what that means and why they need to see a doctor.

There is also a mental health crisis within the community, she said, due to the traumas many families have experienced on their journeys.

“They’re usually leaving because of some threat against their life, in fear for their safety,” Burgoyne said. “It’s usually a very real threat to their safety and their livelihood. A lot of people have experienced torture or have PTSD because of what is happening in their own country.

“And just the process of migration is traumatizing. Then, the resettling in a country that you’ve never lived in and you don’t speak the language, and they’re not immune to the discrimination that happens in our country. And that’s an extra layer of trauma.”

Mejia said he sees the most significant barrier in housing and transportation. That’s why each client through Kentucky Refugee Ministries gets $1,125 that can be put toward a deposit for an apartment and the first month’s rent.

“That person doesn’t have much money to play around with, especially since we use it right away,” he said. “Housing is very expensive, and it’s hard to find affordable housing near sensible transportation.”

Because most clients rely on the bus system for transportation, Mejia said it makes their housing options even more limited. Most are placed in river cities that have bus routes. He said roughly 70% move to Covington, and the other 30% disperse among Newport, Bellevue and Dayton.

“They can easily take the bus to get to us, get to their ESL classes. Buses often go to CVG hubs,” he said.

When Kentucky Refugee Ministries opened in Covington in 2017, one part-time person worked to resettle clients. Since it

opened its doors full-time in October 2021, it has resettled 511 clients and has grown to 19 full-time employees.

“Two and a half years and 511 clients, it’s very remarkable,” Mejia said. “I think it speaks a lot to the support that we have received from the community.”

Cruz encourages everyone in Northern Kentucky to embrace the region’s changing face. “We’re missing out on so much rich culture and so many amazing people that we just choose not to interact with, and we’re missing out.”

Learn more, get involved

Here’s how to learn more about the organizations mentioned in this story, or how you can get involved.

Fiesta NKY

To be connected to services in Northern Kentucky, go to fiestanky.org/services. Those include a Latino food pantry, clothing distribution and connection to community resources like employment, health care, schools and housing.

To donate, go to fiestanky.com/give. Monetary donations are accepted; volunteers and items for FIESTA’s food pantry are also welcomed.

Address: 7536 U.S. 42, Suite 7, Florence. Phone: 859-534-0672

Email: fiesta@fiestanky.org Website: fiestanky.org

RefugeeConnect

To refer someone to RefugeeConnect, fill out the form at bit.ly/3QKdfVD. To donate, go to refugeeconnect.org/donate. Donations can be one-time or recurring.

Items on the organization’s wish list also can be purchased and donated. Find the list at refugeeconnect.org/wishlist.

Address: 2692 Madison Road, Suite N1 #315, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45208 Website: refugeeconnect.org

Kentucky Refugee Ministries

To get involved as a volunteer or co-sponsor, or to donate items and more, go to kyrm.org/get-involved.

Address: 632 Russell St., Covington Phone: 859-547-5571

Website: kyrm.org

The percent of residents in Northern Kentucky, compared to Kentucky, who were not U.S. citizens when they were born. Provided | BE NKY

Breaking bread at immigrant-founded restaurants

By Isabella Huecker

Decades ago, in a quiet German village, a pastry chef opened his bakery at dawn. He carefully prepared the dough using sacred baking traditions gathered from across Europe.

Sixty years later, his grandson continues the same story, opening the bakery at dawn just as his grandfather did all those years ago.

Instead of Germany, though, the bakery is in Highland Heights. The Servatii’s Northern Kentucky location is one of several immigrant-founded restaurants on this side of the Ohio River that help connect the area to cultures from around the world.

Servatii, Highland Heights (German bakery)

Distance from Servatii, Highland Heights, to Münster, Germany: 4,240 miles

Proudly dubbed the “no fakery bakery,” Servatii’s prides itself on honest products made with the same techniques that started in Germany. Café Servatii was founded by Georg Gottenbusch in Münster, Germany. His son, Wilhelm, brought the Servatii name to the Tri-State.

The business has since grown to 15 locations across Greater Cincinnati, including one in Highland Heights. It’s now owned by Georg’s grandson, 52-year-old Greg Gottenbusch, who remains dedicated to continuing his family’s long-standing traditions. His earliest memories with his grandfather involve long days of cookie-packing in the flour-dusted bakery.

“As kids, me and my sister would sit around the bakery after school and pack up gingerbread houses and cookies,” Greg Gottenbusch said. “The smells were just incredible. The bakery was our playground. It takes me back to being a kid again.”

Gottenbusch studied pastry-making at Germany’s most recognized pastry school, emphasizing the importance of honoring tradition. After high school, he visited Germany to educate himself on pastry and walk in the footsteps of the generations of bakers before him.

Unataza in Dayton. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

“It was so special to me, to stand in the hallways where my grandfather made his cakes for the first time,” Gottenbusch said.

“It was a bit intimidating at first, but then I started to love it. I want to continue his legacy for as long as possible.”

When Gottenbusch’s father moved to the U.S. to continue the family business, the journey was far from easy.

“When my dad came here, he had nothing,” Gottenbusch said. “He was definitely treated differently for being German, but he didn’t let that stop him.”

Servatii’s most popular pastries are their carrot cakes and pretzels. From a simple, village bakery to a Tri-State household name, Servatii’s has earned its place as a symbol of immigrant resilience, tradition and success.

East African Restaurant, Florence (Somali cuisine)

Distance from East African Restaurant, Florence, to Mogadishu, Somalia: 8,179 miles

In the heart of Florence, the aroma of Somali spices may whet your appetite. Although it was founded in Northern Ken-

tucky in 2019, East African Restaurant’s cultural roots lie in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia.

Mahmoud Dhudhi, 40, grew up on a large farm with his brothers and sisters. They grew everything from watermelon and sesame to onion and papaya. Tea with milk, mouth-watering chicken suqaar and sambusas are just a few of the tastes that shaped Dhudhi’s cultural identity.

“For me and my family, we didn’t go hungry. That was important for us,” Dhudhi said. “I never want someone to be hungry. Community and family is a huge part of why I love connecting with people.”

He came to the United States for a chance at a new life and the opportunity to share his identity and culture with Northern Kentucky. He arrived in Columbus in late 2005, aspiring one day to open a restaurant with his brother, Zaq.

Even as the African community expanded, finding the opportunity to live his dreams as a restaurant owner proved challenging. He felt the need for more representation in Northern Kentucky, starting with his deep love and appreciation for food.

“Somali food is not popular here, but when people come and try it they love it,” Dhudhi said. “It’s exciting to add a new thing to the neighborhood and give people more options.”

During his time in the U.S., Dhudhi said he strategized about how to bring the vibrancy of his culture to life here. Cultural barriers, unfamiliar locations and the quest for a perfect location required patience and resilience, he said.

In 2019 those dreams became a reality, and he opened the first East African restaurant in Northern Kentucky. East African Restaurant mainly caters to the Somali palate, but it also serves as a cultural hub for other neighboring communities in Dhudhi’s home.

“I wanted to create a restaurant that honors my culture and others,” Dhudhi said. “Our foods are similar, but we all have distinct ways of preparing food. It makes sense to open a restaurant that benefits more than one community.”

For Dhudhi, his purpose highlights the diverse influences that shape Somali cuisine and encourages intercultural exchange. His restaurant serves as a platform where different culinary traditions can be appreciated; it is also a testament to his resilience.

Unataza Coffee, Dayton (Honduran Coffee)

Distance from Unataza, Dayton, to Tegucigalpa, Honduras: 2,942 miles

Nestled in the quaint riverside town of Dayton, a Honduran coffee shop awakens locals with the smell of freshly ground coffee and subtle sweetness of horchata. Ale Flores, 37, said she aims to weave her story into the heart of Northern Kentucky.

Growing up in the lush landscape of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with her brother, her earliest memories of coffee were experienced with her grandparents.

“Every day after school, my grandparents would bring us home, and we’d enjoy a cup of cafe con leche,” Flores said. “Coffee has always been my identity.”

Continued on page 6

Flores left Honduras at age 23 with a tourist visa. She eventually earned an MBA from the University of the Incarnate Word, a private, Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating, she wanted to open her own business and bring the real taste of Honduras to the U.S.

Her reflections on her hometown’s rich coffee culture set the tone for her mission in Kentucky.

“Honduras is a coffee country,” she said. “You’d sometimes see three or four coffee shops on the same street. Even our gas stations have good espresso machines.”

Making the transition to U.S. life as an adult presented a set of obstacles that went beyond the challenge of opening a new business. Adapting to the changes, Flores weighed in on the everyday differences she experienced once she moved here.

“It was an accumulation of a bunch of smaller things that were challenging,” Flores said. “As an immigrant, driving was much different. And you can’t purchase medicines the same way when you have a visa versus when you’re a citizen.”

Additionally, there were no Honduran coffee shops in Northern Kentucky when she moved here.

The menu at Unataza, Flores said, is a reflection of the rich tapestry of traditions that make up the soul of Honduras. The Tacoma Taquito, a flour tortilla with scrambled egg and grilled peppers and onions,

is a fan favorite that satisfies all breakfast cravings. The cafe integrates traditional Latin flavor with a local twist, appealing to a broad audience.

Despite hurdles, Flores envisioned Unataza to be not just a coffee shop, but a central hub for Latin American celebration. The shop provides free Spanish classes every Wednesday, and it showcases local Latin American artistry and small business on their walls.

Caroline Storer, a barista at Unataza, echoes the sentiment of community fostered within the cafe.

“The community comes first,” Storer said. “When you walk in the door, we want to make sure you feel connected to the space and the culture. There’s no difference between the person making coffee or washing dishes. We’re all a team.”

This culinary approach to dining illustrates the true meaning of community, inclusion and family. Whether you’re looking for a decadent blend of coffee or a quick bite to eat, Unataza is a crafted getaway to Honduran hospitality.

Guru India, Crescent Springs (Northern Indian cuisine)

Distance from Guru India, Crescent Springs, to Punjab, India: 7,413 miles

Rooted in tradition yet adapting to the tastes of diverse clientele, Guru India has become a key player in the local Indian restaurant scene. Founded by Sonia and

Evan, the couple’s mission is to bring the savory tastes of Punjab, India, to the local community.

The family restaurant story started in the early 1980s, when they immigrated to the United States. Evan’s family honored authentic methods of cooking by receiving the community’s blessing. The couple’s son explains the family’s deep love for honoring their roots.

“It was very important to make food for other Indian immigrants,” he said. “We got the approval from them, and then we knew it was good. Then it fell into a larger audience.”

Chicken pakora, tikka masala and samosas are just some of the classic dishes you’ll find in their bustling kitchen. These dishes embody the scents and culinary richness that the family is eager to preserve.

Creating a menu that honors traditional methods while catering to local tastes requires a delicate balance. “Some days we add more spices or cream, depending on tastes,” Evan said. “We realized there’s a demand for vegan options, so we adjust to meet those needs.”

The journey of an immigrant family to the United States is often marked by challenges and a pressing need to thrive in an unfa-

When asked about the significance of his culture, the son smiled and offered his thoughts on immigrant resilience.

“Having hope that it’ll work out is forced upon you,” Evan said. “You have to have hope and resilience as immigrants. It’s the key that drives you forward.”

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miliar space. The family not only pioneered the Indian restaurant movement in Northern Kentucky, it founded one of the oldest Indian restaurants in Cincinnati: Ambar India.

Servatii in Highland Heights. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

By Elita St. Clair

ACongolese native’s journey inspires hope for others

single event in 1991 changed Mwamba Mwamba’s life forever.

“It’s not something you can just easily shake off or forget,” said the Independence resident, who now works to help the French-speaking Congolese community adjust to life in Northern Kentucky. “The student protest of Mobutu Sese Seko, the president-dictator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, happened on the center square of the University of Kinshasa in the Congo’s capital city on a fall day.”

The protest’s leaders read prepared statements through a megaphone, protesting the dictator’s rule and the lack of free and democratic elections.

“We [were] protesting the imprisonment of the Congolese people in their own land,” said Mwamba, who was a student at the time. “We were driven by conviction as opposed to fear of death.”

Suddenly, police officers flooded onto the center square and opened fire. Bullets flew. Mwamba wondered if he would make it home.

“They were just gunning people down left and right,” Mwamba said.

The city was locked down, and public transportation was gridlocked.

Mwamba, who was 18 at the time, crawled on his belly until he got to a place where he could get up and run. For 25 miles, Mwamba traveled, winding his way through small streets and alleyways trying to make it back home.

“By God’s grace, I did make it home,” he said.

Then the secret service began apprehending anyone carrying a student ID in order to see if they were connected to the protests. Most of those students, Mwamba said, never returned home.

Growing up

Growing up in Kinshasa, Mwamba said he could have never predicted where his life would lead. In a city of over 10 million people, where everyone wanted to make it big, citizens migrated from the villages to the capital to pursue their vision of success.

Mwamba’s parents had also chased this dream, moving from the village where they grew up into the city, where Mwamba’s father got a job as a customs agent and his mother became a stay-at-home mom and home business owner, hustling and selling things to support her growing family. There were nine kids in all, four boys and five girls. One of Mwamba’s brothers died young, leaving a 10-person family.

A community mindset was central throughout Mwamba’s childhood.

“Whatever I had was not my own personal belongings,” Mwamba said. “It belonged to my siblings as well.”

Shirts were shared back and forth. All 10 people fit into a three-bedroom house.

Growing up in an African country was fun, Mwamba said, but dinner time was especially fun.

“We ate together,” he said. “There was no such thing as you having your own plate, your own food. Everything was put together. Just imagine, you cook, let’s say for instance rice and some kind of chicken stew, and everything is put on a big platter, and we all sit around as kids and we eat using our hands, and that is how we share our meal together.”

Mwamba said he learned self-discipline young. He and his siblings went to Catholic schools – one for the girls and one for the boys. School ran Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday was church.

They walked to school in the sun or rain and wore a uniform of navy blue pants

and a white shirt. Mwamba and his classmates had a headmaster who checked the whiteness of their shirts before they were allowed into the school compound.

“Your white shirt had to be spotless,” Mwamba said.

Leaving the Congo

Mwamba grew up playing soccer. In high school he studied electronic engineering and went on to college after graduating high school. Then came the protests.

One day in 1991, around six months later, one of Mwamba’s neighbors and fellow classmates disappeared.

“We were asking, looking for him left and right,” Mwamba said. “He never came home. We never knew what happened to him. He just disappeared.”

That’s when Mwamba said he realized the Congo was no longer safe for him.

“My mom said, ‘You know what, you gotta go,’” Mwamba said. “‘We don’t want you to be next. We can’t afford losing you.’”

Mwamba left in the middle of the night with another student.

When his plane landed in Kenya, Mwamba didn’t understand a word of the English or Swahili that people were speaking. Once

through immigration, Mwamba took the name and number of a Congolese resident his family knew and rode a taxi to the man’s house. The man had a large family with nowhere for Mwamba and his friend to stay.

They spent the night sleeping in the man’s living room and the next morning went to the United Nations’ office to apply for asylum. The high commissioner did not have a place for Congolese refugees to stay yet, so Mwamba ended up homeless on the streets of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

Waiting for the refugee camp

Mwamba waited for a year.

“I found myself homeless with no place to stay,” he said. “I felt lost.”

A Catholic services’ organization started to give him $10 a week, so Mwamba and four other friends pooled their money to rent a small apartment big enough to squeeze a mattress in.

One morning, Mwamba went to the French International Center. A French language teacher walked into the hallway where Mwamba was waiting. She asked if she could help him, and Mwamba told her his story.

The woman later connected Mwamba to a Kenyan doctor whose children needed a

Continued

Mwamba Mwamba.

Photo by Elita St. Clair | Special to LINK nky

The French PAC worship service. Photo by Elita St. Clair | Special to LINK nky

French tutor. Mwamba was grateful for the job and soon moved into a bigger apartment.

Around a year later, the situation changed again. The Kenyan government decided to relocate the refugees to a remote desert camp close to the Ethiopian border. Mwamba, along with 200 other refugees, boarded a bus and began a new season in the desert camp to wait for their opportunity for international asylum.

The refugee camp

Life in the refugee camp was hard, Mwamba said.

After arriving, Mwamba was given a tent, a shovel, a blanket and a water bottle. He lived there for six months, eating rations of rice and peas. Outbreaks of typhoid and malaria swept through the camp, and sandstorms were a constant frustration.

Eventually, Mwamba was able to pick up odd jobs working construction, masonry and carpentry for the UN officers’ camp as a way of earning a small income. The officers’ camp was made of brick houses with generators, electricity, wells and a large fence around the perimeter. Mwamba spent his income at a small local market to supplement his food.

One day the camp was given a soccer ball. Mwamba and the other refugees created soccer teams as did the other refugee nationalities to play together. These moments of joy brightened the constant challenges that the camp produced, he said.

Asylum in the United States

Refugees could be resettled in four different areas: Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States. The UN arranged Mwamba’s hearing with a representative officer from the U.S. embassy.

The officer read Mwamba’s file and asked him a series of questions about how and why he left the Congo and why he couldn’t go back. Mwamba answered the questions, left the office and waited anxiously for when the camp would post the list of who had been granted U.S. asylum.

On a Monday in the late afternoon, the list was posted on the camp gate.

“I was so, so afraid,” Mwamba said. “So anxious that I could not muster enough courage to go up and read through the names to see if my name was on there.”

He told his friends to let him know if his name was on the list. Mwamba saw his friends return, jumping in excitement over having seen their names.

“Did you see my name?” Mwamba asked. Yes, it was there, they told him. Mwamba then went up to the paper and read his name beside a date. Mwamba boarded the bus and headed back to Nairobi on that date. He went through a medical screening and was given a United Nations travel document.

Mwamba called his parents to tell them he was finally leaving for the United States, and they couldn’t believe it.

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“I wouldn’t lie to you,” he told them. “I’m really leaving.”

The day came. In 1993, Mwamba boarded a plane bound for the U.S. with 200 fellow refugees.

“We were all singing praises and hallelujah because we were leaving behind a very harsh life and potentially going into the country of Uncle Sam, the country of opportunity,” Mwamba said.

The group landed on March 3 at Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The American Baptist Church Association, which sponsored Mwamba to come to the United States, picked him up at the airport and provided a place for him to stay until his work permits and Social Security cards came in. It helped him get an apartment and paid his first month’s rent.

Mwamba had learned English and Swahili in Kenya, and now in a new land Mwamba became his group’s official translator, but the differences between American and Congolese culture still led to culture shock.

Helping others

In Dayton, Ohio, Mwamba went back to college at Sinclair Community and Technical College and received an associate degree in electronic engineering technology. Mwamba lived in Dayton for six years before relocating to Northern Kentucky.

Mwamba married his wife on July 5, 2003, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Cincinnati Christian University. Mwamba said he knew his calling was to be a pastor.

“At age 12, I had a dream,” Mwamba said. “In my dream, I was in front of a crowd with a microphone in my hand, and I was preaching to that crowd.”

Mwamba started attending Christ’s Chapel Assembly of God. after moving to Northern Kentucky and years later his calling became tangible.

“Pastor Mwamba was the first person from the nation of Congo to live in Northern Kentucky,” Terry Crigger, senior pastor of Christ’s Chapel said. “My first memories of Pastor Mwamba were how passionate he was for Jesus, as well as his heart for prayer and evangelism.”

Cadet Katulushi, a pastor from the Congo, and his wife became an intrinsic part of Mwamba’s journey. Together with Crigger they founded a service called the French Parent Affiliated Church for Congolese people coming to the United States who do not feel comfortable with American churches, language or culture.

President Mobutu was forced into exile in 1997 and died soon after, but immigrants from the Congo continue to travel to the U.S. to build a better life for themselves and their families.

“We determined it was worth considering starting a French PAC because our area began to experience extensive growth of French-speaking Congolese families,”

Crigger explained. “Our area provides a strong economy and specific jobs that make it a favorable destination for minorities looking for a way to make a decent living.”

The church started as a Bible study at Katulushi’s home and then grew into a formal church service after about six months, with Katulushi as head pastor. The goal of this service, as seen on the church’s website, is to help “Edifier la foi, les familles et les amis” – “building faith, families and friends.”

Mwamba oversees the service, helps new Congolese immigrants adjust to life in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, provides connection between the French and English language services and creates a link between Katulushi and Crigger.

“He has become a father to so many people,” Patrina Mwamba, Mwamba’s daughter, said. He has helped foster an environment where “being Congolese in common definitely helps make the mini-Congo that is here, building that community so that [they] have a home away from home.”

Mwamba’s hope is now to help Congolese immigrants learn English and move to English services. Mwamba talked about the vision he has for the French PAC, saying he wants “to see all of our congregation blend in. We can still be distinct in the way we worship and the way we do things but achieve unity in spite of diversity.”

“We are having a great impact in the community so far as the people whose lives are being changed and transformed by what we are offering to the community,” Katulushi said. “We hope to see more people come to know Christ and grow in faith,” and provide help to those coming to the United States not to make the same mistakes they did when they came here.

Church attendee Adoni Mbengami, a Congolese immigrant, said being part of the church is a beautiful experience. “Having a venue where we can actually worship God in Lingala and in French helps us continue to serve the Lord while our English level is improving.”

Now, as Mwamba looks back on his journey, he said he learned that God was always with him.

“I wish I could go back in time and tell that to the younger Mwamba, what he doesn’t know about today,” Mwamba said. “That it’s going to be all right.”

Mwamba Mwamba, right, and Cadet Katulushi. Photo by Elita St. Clair | Special to LINK nky

By Elita St. Clair

Five international markets share a slice of home

“We just hope that everyone can join us and grow together to make our beautiful state the best place, full of cultures,” said Abdirahman Nur, co-owner of Yasmin Halal Market. Yasmin Halal is one of five international markets in Northern Kentucky we visited to learn more about what the region can learn from emerging local cultures –and their cuisine.

The markets, above all, aim to foster familiarity and ease the homesickness of other immigrants by bringing products from distant lands as well as introducing local individuals to their distinct cultures.

Thawng Asian Grocery

“This is Golden Pompano,” Grace Thawng said, holding up a plastic bag with a frozen white and gold colored fish inside. “It’s a very good type of fish. It is one of our most popular fish.”

Thawng put the fish back in the freezer and walked down the packed aisle of the Asian grocery, pausing and pointing at certain products to explain what one could do with that ingredient and where it’s used in Southeast Asia. The smell of sweet bubble tea drifted through the shop and the bright colors of packaging glistened throughout the market.

Thawng Asian Grocery, a Burmese Chinrun international market, specializes in products from cultures around Southeast Asia including Burmese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Micronesian and Korean foods and products. Thawng Asian

Grocery is the only family owned and operated Asian market in Northern Kentucky. Founded in 2021, Thawng caters products to many different Asian immigrant cultures in the area.

Run by the Thawng family – Cung, Hlei, Andrew and Grace Ramthalen Thawng – the market aims to make Asian products available to Northern Kentucky audiences.

“Thawng means strong and good news,” Andrew said.

The Thawngs try to have a personal knowledge of the products they sell so that they can give recommendations to customers.

“We want to know the items that we sell,” Grace Ramthalen Thawng said. “If we order something and we try it because we want to recommend it. If a customer asks, we want to be able to tell what it tastes like and what it is.”

Thawng offers products ranging from canned and packaged goods to fresh produce, frozen meats, housewares, spices, drinks, breads, bubble tea and fresh sushi, which the owners make daily. The market’s most popular products beyond sushi and bubble tea include golden pompano fish, coconut sauce, kimchi and varieties of canned fish.

“When we came here, we missed our own food, the food that we ate back home, and we didn’t have ingredients,” Grace Grace Ramthalen Thawng said. “We hopefully have enough varieties to provide those who have immigrated here what they are looking for so then they can make their own

meal from back home.”

The Thwangs hope to expand the market to include additional products.

“The community has been so supportive,” Grace Ramthalen Thawng said.

Unique International Market Indo Nepali Grocery

Neat rows of colorfully packaged ingredients and spices lined the aisles, their labels a mix of languages.

Copper-hammered pots and brass plates glistened in the evening sun, which streamed in through the front windows.

“Hello, my name is Bhim Dahal,” the owner said.

Dahal’s smile often welcomes customers in the door of Unique International Market Indo Nepali Grocery. Dahal welcomes anyone who wants to find products from their homeland or who wants to learn and experience other cultures into the market of unique products, where the grocery got its name.

“We have a very popular item that people are buying every day: ready to eat fish,” Dahal said, holding up the spicy chili fish packets. He also said that handicrafts from Nepal, along with momo dumplings, paratha bread, ivy bean, bamboo shoots and certain varieties of rice are also very popular items.

Dahal emigrated from Nepal in 2009 and opened the market in April 2023, when he realized that, in order to find Nepalese

products, he would have to drive all the way to Jungle Jim’s, which was 45 minutes away for him.

“Our mission assessment is to connect with people from different backgrounds, with that local hub here, and provide the best product with good customer service,” Dahal said.

While Dahal said that his first focus is still to the people of Nepal and India, he is slowly incorporating other products from Southeast Asia for other ethnic communities in the Northern Kentucky area.

“I think a lot of people are homesick,” Dahal said. “They are looking for the product they are used to back at home.”

He said it takes time for immigrants to get assimilated to another culture and that his goal is to make their move easier and provide comfort to those in Northern Kentucky.

“My favorite part is interacting with the people,” Dahal said. “I meet many different people from different backgrounds – young, old – and they come to the store to buy the product, but we end up kind of talking to each other, sharing cultures.”

Diakas International Market LLC

The smell of cooking meat, fish and plantains wafted throughout the market as Didier Diakandulu greeted customers in French when they walked into the market.

The market itself is packed with drinks, corn, beans, rice, spices, canned fish and all

Continued on page 12

Andrew and Grace Thawng stand in front of Thawng Asian Grocery in Florence. Photos by Elita St. Clair | Special to LINK nky

Bhim Dahal stands in Unique International Market Indo Nepali Grocery.

Didier Diakandulu stands inside Diakas International Market LLC.

A view of one of the market’s colorful aisles filled with ramen, chips, cookies and other snacks.

Mural “The Ripple of Ralph '' by Christian Dallas depicts the late Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Haile, who was a banker in Cincinnati for over 20 years and a significant member of the Covington redevelopment effort.

The mural at the corner of Fourth and Scott streets in Covington, by street art group London Police, honors the late Mike Amann, founder of BLDG Brands. The tribute features Armann’s dog Juno.

The C-Forward Information Technologies mural, painted by BLDG Brands, features many Northern Kentucky landmarks, including the Carroll Chimes Clock Tower, Braxton Brewing, Roebling Suspension Bridge and more.

Opal Rooftop Restaurant and Bar on Madison Avenue displays an elaborate and retro design by FAILE artist collaborators Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller. Photos by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

“A Tribute to Newport” by artist Quentin Gibeau and apprentices showcases the rich and extensive history, culture and geography of the city of Newport established in 1795.

Gina Erardi’s mural honoring the Southgate School, Newport’s school for African-American students during segregation, is among the art created on Newport’s floodwall. This mural is part of a greater project started in 2020 that plans to add more artwork in celebration of Newports 225th anniversary.

In honor of its 60th anniversary, St. Elizabeth joined forces with ArtWorks (a Greater-Cincinnati nonprofit organization that creates community-based art) to create a mural by BLDG Brands, honoring health care heroes everywhere.

WHO DEY! Northern Kentucky celebrates their Bengals pride with a tribute to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow with a vivid mural by owner of Makeshift Mammoth Joshua Stout.

Artist Joe Hedges brings a touch of nature to Northern Kentucky, with seven murals painted in partnership with Kerry Collision Center and the City of Covington. They run down Fifth Street and onto Scott Boulevard.

measures of products sourced from Africa.

At the back of the store is a restaurant filled with food from the Democratic Republic of Congo containing dishes like roasted chicken, pork feet, swordfish, beans, cassava greens and plantains.

Diakandulu moved to the United States from Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, in 2004 after being selected from the Diversity Visa Lottery program. The government program makes a limited number of visas for immigrants available to people each year who meet certain requirements.

Diakandulu graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2010 with a degree in mechanical manufacturing engineering technology and founded Diakas International Market in 2019 with his wife and four children.

Diakandulu said his mission for the market is “to make sure all the Africans from Congo and around Africa are satisfied with food that they were eating when they were growing up and that in America they can have that type of food.”

talk to, and it’s a good time all the time here.”

Diakandulu said some of the Congolese food staples served at the restaurant include pondu (cassava leaves), makayabu (salt fish) and makimba (fried plantains).

“By bringing the food of Congo [to the U.S.], then people can find out the world is not limited,” Diakandulu said. “The future goal is to open more stores around the United States to sell more to Congolese people.”

Supermercado Garcia

Supermercado Garcia reverberates with

ingredients and cuisine to Northern Kentucky through their well-stocked grocery store.

Garcia’s daughter, Fatima Mejia, said Garcia and her brother started with a sales business 20 years ago, she said, but it started in Ohio before growing into Northern Kentucky.

Garcia emigrated from Mexico to the United States when she was 18 in 2001 and now wants to bring groceries and goods from Central America and South America to the Latino population here, Mejia said.

“America’s like a melting pot so it’s hard to maybe find products from your country, so I wanted to help other people make it easier to find their stuff,” Garcia said. “We want customers to be able to find something from home so they don’t miss the food that they would be able to find there.”

The market’s produce, including different types of peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, pepino, cilantro, epazote, mangos, pineapples and more, along with butcher products, have been very popular products for the grocery.

“We welcome everyone from different countries so they can share with us our beautiful culture and join us to grow together,” he said.

Abdirahman grew up in Somalia, fleeing to Kenya during political unrest, where he and his family lived in a refugee camp until they were given an opportunity by the United Nations to settle and build a new life in the United States in March 2013.

“It was really difficult to find halal meat because we are Muslim,” Abdirahman said. “We just wanted to benefit our community where they can come and get good food and good groceries and Halal meat.”

Yasmin Halal Market opened in 2016 and sells ingredients and products ranging from traditional spices to clothing which are inspired by Somali culture. The market specializes in products from Somalia but also has introduced items from other countries like Morocco and Senegal.

“It’s better for the community to have different cultures where the more you learn about these cultures the better,” Nur said. “It inspires us and makes us wise.”

The market’s most popular products are a certain small grain rice from Somalia and a traditional spice mix which includes ingredients like coriander, garlic, salt, paprika, cumin, onion, tomato, sugar, citric acid and parsley, Nur said.

Thawng Asian Grocery

Location: 3155 Dixie Hwy., Suite A, Erlanger Phone: 859-414-7855

Unique International Market Indo Nepali Grocery

Location: 8125 Connector Drive, Florence Phone: 859-817-0035

Diakas International Market LLC

Location: 7009 Dixie Hwy ste E, Florence, KY 41042 Phone: 859-866-9041

Supermercado Garcia LLC

Location: 7914 Dream St., Florence Phone: 859-372-0129

Yasmin Halal Market

Location: 7133 Turfway Road, Florence Phone: 859-525-1555

Spices, sauces, canned goods and piñatas line an aisle of Supermercado Garcia. Photos by Elita St. Clair | Special to LINK nky

Abdirahman Nur, right, and a family friend stand inside Yasmin Halal Market.

Yasmin Halal Market offers many products straight from Somalia.

Tiburcio Lince brings ‘alegría’ to Latino Student Initiatives at NKU

By Shae Meade

Two years ago, Leo Calderón retired from NKU after serving over three decades as director of Latino Student Initiatives. After so many years in the role, Calderón left an impact on the Latino community both on campus and off, and his retirement left many wondering who could fill his shoes.

Tiburcio Lince, a Texas native, stepped up and worked to bring “alegría,” or “joy,” to the department.

Lince graduated from Texas State University with a master’s degree in Spanish philology – the study of Spanish culture, history and language. Before coming to NKU in June 2022, Lince was the director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and International Programs at Tarleton State University in Texas.

“As I stepped into the role as director of Latino Student Initiatives, I had found that there had been a lot of work done already by the previous director,” Lince said. “One of the things that I had the wonderful opportunity of was to really give it my own spin.”

One way that Lince said he first did this was with the preexisting mentorship program within LSI called Latinos Avanzando Mentorship Program or LAMP. His goal was to redefine LAMP as a program not just for

first-year students, but for everyone, including alumni.

“The way that we did it was using a family structure,” Lince said. “Second-year students, they become our ‘primos,’ or cousins. Once the students graduate, they become our ‘tíos,’ or uncles or aunties, and they still come back to our events.”

Toward the end of the spring semester, students and alumni gathered for what used to be known as the Latino Student Recognition Banquet. Since Lince’s start at NKU, he has rebranded this banquet as the Alegría Latino Achievement Celebration. The event highlights the work of various Latino student organizations on campus and in the community, awards students who are involved and progressing in LSI and celebrates the graduation of Latino students.

“The joy that our students have in accomplishing things, serving the community, is completely unmatched,” Lince said. “I wanted all of those things to be reflected by Alegría.”

Caryn Connelly, chair of the World Languages and Literatures department and a Spanish professor at NKU, said that changing the celebration to Alegría is “just a little slice” of what Lince has brought to NKU so far.

Lince teaches a Spanish 101 class at NKU, along with being the director of LSI, and,

according to Connelly, has discussed teaching vocational Spanish as well. Lince taught similar courses for law enforcement and educators at Tarleton State University for almost two years. Connelly said that she looks forward to the Spanish department’s collaborating more with LSI in the future.

Theresa Cruz, founder of Fiesta NKY, worked with Calderón during his time at NKU and now works closely with Lince since he stepped into the role. Fiesta is a nonprofit organization that helps connect migrant and refugee communities to needed services in Northern Kentucky.

One way Cruz and Lince have collaborated so far is through a mentorship program at Ignite Institute.

“We mentor a group of about 25-30 Hispanic students,” Cruz said. “[Lince] has been helping them to set goals, find out what they want to do, help them find how to go to college.”

Lince also was the keynote speaker at the Fiesta annual community event last year.

“He’s one of those people that you’re just immediately pulled toward,” Cruz said about Lince. “He’s just got that personality.”

Connelly echoed Cruz’s thoughts on Lince. “It’s been a good transition to new leadership, the type of person that Tiburcio is.”

URBAN RESORT Developed by

Ovation is an urban mixed-use development that sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers in Northern Kentucky. It is a vibrant riverfront destination that bridges the cities in the region, connects residents and the community directly to the rivers, and enables everyone to be transformed by the incredible river views combined with a boardwalk that transcends time and activates all your senses.

Lince presents the Student of the Year Award to Maggie Perez, LAMP lead mentor, at the English Language Learning Foundation recognition breakfast. Photos by Shae Meade | special to LINK nky

Spanish and French professor Iliana Rosales Figueroa, left, partnered with Lince and LSI during Hispanic Heritage Month with extracurricular events like cooking classes at which students learned about Puerto Rican culture.

kenton county briefs

Covington receives first clean audit since mid-1990s

The city of Covington’s first clean audit since 1995 was presented to the board of commissioners at their meeting on May 14.

During the meeting, Steve Webb, the city’s finance director, introduced Morgan Ryle of Cincinnati-based Barnes Dennig. Ryle was part of the team that performed Covington’s 2023 fiscal year audit. Ryle reported a clean opinion on all financial statements and on all major federal programs.

“There were not any deficiencies that were found, and any that were there before have been cleaned up, ” Ryle said. “We did not see any this year.”

This represented their first clean audit in around 20 years, dating back to 1995, which Mayor Joseph Meyer said is a significant achievement.

Applications for Aviatra’s Momentum Accelerator program now open

Aviatra Accelerators, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting women entrepreneurs, announced the opening of applications for the 2024 Momentum Accelerator program.

Momentum is a comprehensive business education program for early and midstage women entrepreneurs. This in-person, 10week program is tailored to entrepreneurs who have been in business between one and five years, with total revenue of at least $50,000, and who are seeking to build on their business’ momentum.

Women entrepreneurs can apply for Mo-

mentum until May 27.

The 10-week program will be held in Covington beginning June 5, with sessions Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

“Momentum is designed to help women entrepreneurs master the fundamentals of their businesses and accelerate growth with confidence,” Jill Morenz, president and CEO of Aviatra Accelerators, said in a news release. “Through expert-led modules, participants will gain insights into customer analysis, sales techniques, marketing strategies, funding options, business planning and storytelling.”

The fee for Momentum is $995. Aviatra Accelerators is offering two full scholarships for this year’s program. One, a need-based scholarship, was donated by Lisa Woodruff, CEO of Organize 365 and herself an Aviatra graduate. The second was donated by Blue North, a Northern Kentucky organization that supports local entrepreneurs, specifically aimed at a Northern Kentucky-based business with high growth potential in the next few years.

For more information or to apply, go to aviatraaccelerators.org/momentum.

Federal agency gives Brent Spence project environmental OK

The Federal Highway Administration concluded its legally required environmental review of the Brent Spence Bridge Replacement project, officially giving the project a green light to begin the final stages of design work and begin construction. The federal agency issued a finding of no significant impact.

The administration’s “determination with the ‘finding of no significant impact’ … is based on a supplemental environmental assessment conducted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Ohio Department of Transportation,” according to a news release from the project. “The assessment evaluated the social, economic and environmental effects of the project as well as measures to mitigate unavoidable impacts. The decision is also based on the

highway administration’s consideration of public and agency comments received during the public comment period.”

Large, federally funded construction projects like the bridge are required to undergo an assessment of how they will affect the local environment. The project underwent an initial review in 2012, which also reached a finding of no significant impact, but the project languished for about a decade due to lack of funding.

In 2022, the federal government allocated $1.6 billion to the roughly $3.6 billion project as part of the Infrastructure & Jobs Investment Act. This triggered a review of the project’s environmental assessment to bring the information up to date.

The review included public comments, which were collected in part through several public open-houses at which community members could submit comments and ask questions.

“The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project is a testament to what can happen when we work together to get things done,” said Gov. Andy Beshear in the release. “The federal approval is a major milestone for us, and we’re grateful to all our partners and communities for their feedback. We look forward to completing this project, which will further boost our economic growth and create more good jobs for our families.”

Independence considers installing splash pad in Memorial Park

Reinersman’s annual budget address to the Independence City Council at a May meeting.

Reinersman began by speaking about the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. He was upbeat about the city’s financial health, saying that “things are looking great here in Independence,” adding that the proposed budget does not rely on increased property taxes and that the city was beginning to rely less on property tax and more on payroll tax.

“Our ability to maintain and reduce the property tax rate as we have for these last several years can largely be attributed to my consistent goal of revenue diversification,” Reinersman said.

“Our first full year budget in 2016-17 projected property taxes at nearly 50% of the total revenue while payroll, occupational license revenue was less than 30%. This gap has closed substantially.”

Draft budget documents furnished by the city put projected payroll tax revenues for the next fiscal year at about $4.9 million and payroll tax revenues at $4.5 million. The draft budget put overall revenues exceeding overall expenses, as well.

Reinersman’s statement led to a broader discussion of what the city ought to invest in, particularly the potential for a community splash pad. Other communities in the region, such as Wilder and Covington, already have splash pads in operation.

Much of the discussion at the meeting was preliminary, and the council took no official action. The discussion suggested, though, that the city could soon make moves to prepare.

Reinersman asked the council to consider setting aside funds to build a splash pad at Memorial Park. The mayor estimated the cost of building a splash pad to be about $500,000 and recommended splitting the cost over three years, beginning in the current fiscal year – which would require council action – and continuing over the next two fiscal years. He added that the city would likely seek grant funding to offset the expense.

Independence may be getting a splash pad in Memorial Park.

The possibility arose during Mayor Chris

The audit is presented to the board of commissioners. Photo by Hailey Roden | LINK nky

City Center Park in Wilder hosts a crowd in June 2022. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Historic Ryland Heights home on over 50 acres

Address: 4633 Lambs Ferry Road, Ryland Heights

Price: $1,075,000

Bedrooms: Four

Bathrooms: Four (plus two half-bathrooms)

School district: Kenton County

Square footage: 5,000

County: Kenton

Special features: This historic Ryland Heights home offers privacy and convenience to city life. The property features 51 private acres with a hillside view, an inground pool and a patio area. The firstfloor addition allows for a step-free owner’s suite and guest area. The second level has three additional bedrooms and a full bath. The property also has a building with a large recreational room, a garage and a barn.

This

Streetscapes heads east from Newport’s Ann Street

By Maria Hehman

This Streetscapes we head back to Newport to check out some businesses heading east from Ann Street. Coffee and cocktails, brunch and dinner all await on Ann Street.

The Baker’s Table

One of the most popular businesses in Newport, the Baker’s Table garnered recognition nationally not long after its 2018 opening. It’s become a staple of the area and a favorite of guests who love the seasonally rotating menu and communal atmosphere.

Because the Baker’s Table is one of the smaller spots in NKY, reservations are a must for both dinner and brunch. With its menu rotating with each season, guests can always expect the freshest products. The farm to table menu can be ordered a la carte or as three- or four-course prix fixe meals. The Baker’s Table always feature starters and snacks, pastas and entrees, with vegetarian and vegan options alongside seasonal proteines.

The quaint space is adorned in rustic vintage decor along with a 25-year-old baking table, the restaurant’s namesake. Large-party guests may be familiar with it, as it’s currently used as a dining table. Craft cocktails, fine wines and select beer are perfect pairs to the menu. For weekend brunch, there’s also a full coffee bar that, like everything else on the menu, highlights seasonal flavors.

In addition, the Baker’s Table adopted its sister shop, Baker’s Table Bakery, back into the business after closing earlier last year. Baker’s Table Bakery offers fresh made breads, pizzas and pastas along with community events and private parties.

Collective Espresso

Collective Espresso originated across the river and opened two Cincinnati locations before opening its third in Newport. Off the main drag of Monmouth and easily overlooked, this tiny coffee shop is a peaceful oasis in an often boisterous area.

Collective Espresso has all the coffee staples one needs – cold brew, espresso and drip options with customizations in flavors and milks. The espresso lemonade and espressodas are unique options not found at many coffee shops. The first is a combination of lemonade and espresso over ice; the second a blend of espresso and soda water over ice. They may sound polarizing, but they’re refreshing choices for a midday pick-me-up.

The interior space is very small – ideal for working or relaxing. Those wanting a place to socialize should use the Collective’s ample outdoor space. The outdoor seating is

enclosed and feels like a backyard hangout at your hipster friends’ house, complete with colorful murals and greenery. Enjoying a classic latte on the patio is one of the most enjoyable ways one could spend an afternoon.

Carabello Analog Bar

Carabello Coffee is known for having some of the best coffee and pastries in the area. The atmosphere is always jovial and relaxed, tasty coffee is always brewing and there’s always good company to be found.

Attached to the beloved coffee shop is Carabello’s Analog Bar. It’s housed in the mysterious room to the left of the ordering counter and gives guests an intimate cocktail lounge atmosphere where they can watch as their drinks are creatively crafted.

Drinks on the Analog menu include craft coffees, many of which mimic classic cocktails. The best part is that none of them has any alcohol. The current menu is inspired by Cincinnati icons from food and events to people. At the moment, for example, you can order the Flying Pig, a nitro cold brew with maple syrup, strawberry cream and bacon (yes, bacon).

Analog also hosts community events including latte art, mocktails and beginner basics classes. For guests who just want the comfort of their cappuccinos in a more intimate atmosphere, Analog is the answer.

What to Know If You Go

The Baker’s Table

Location: 1004 Monmouth St., Newport Hours: Dinner – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m. Brunch – Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.2 p.m.

Website: bakerstablenewport.com

Phone: 859-261-1941

Collective Espresso

Location: 121 W. 10th St., Newport Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Website: collectiveespresso.com

Carabello Analog Bar

Location: 107 E. Ninth St., Newport

Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Website: carabellocoffee.com/pages/analog-coffee-bar

Phone: 859-415-1587

The Baker’s Table exterior. Photos by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

Collective Espresso side patio and entrance on the corner of Ann and W. 10th streets.

Menu at Collective Espresso.

Iced vanilla latte from Collective Espresso in their eccentric patio.

Bellevue baseball coach rounding third and heading for home

By Marc Hardin

Rob Sanders is looking at wet baseball grounds at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Field at Bellevue Vets. One of the last home games of the high school season is in peril.

The Bellevue coach makes contact with opponent Pendleton County. He tells the Wildcats they don’t have to make the 32mile trip. It’s a disappointment. Bellevue is eager to end a three-game losing streak that interrupted a hot stretch when they won six of seven.

“Doubt we’ll make it up,” Sanders said of the canceled contest. “Late season and non-conference.”

Fast forward to now. Bellevue’s baseball season is over, and the six seniors are concentrating on studies. They are getting ready to graduate and enter a new phase of their lives. Senior catcher Aidan Dickerson is reflective. He flirted with a team-leading .400 batting average all season and led the Tigers in home runs. The other seniors are Jackson Day, Justin Holloway, Nick Keener, Wyatt Messman and Jackson Fornash.

“I think our strength this year is we finally have an older team,” Dickerson said. “It was nice to have that age in the dugout.”

It’s all going away. The seniors and eventually the coach will depart.

Next season is Sanders’ last as Bellevue baseball coach. He’s in his 20th and final year. He will exit with all the program’s major coaching records, including seasons coached and games won. He nailed down career win No. 200 during the final weeks of the season. His teams have won seven conference championships and a district crown.

“I’ll worry about next year, next year,” said Sanders, a winner of 500 games with club team Bluegrass Chiefs. “I want to stay in the moment right now and enjoy this year.”

That means saluting his seniors in the class of 2024.

“We’re losing great kids,” Sanders said. “They work their butts off and play hard despite any issues they may have. Most have been around since the eighth grade. That’s a lot of knowledge we’re not going to have. Next year, I’ve got one senior.”

That is shortstop TJ Sorrell, son of Bellevue girls basketball coach Tommy Sorrell. The lone junior was among team leaders in several hitting categories, including runs, hits, RBI and batting average. Sorrell was the most consistent pitcher, posting an ERA under 4.00 most of the season.

“It’s going to be weird being the only senior,” Sorrell said. “I do see our sophomores stepping up with me next year as far as leadership.”

Their leader will soon follow his last big senior class off the Bellevue baseball diamond for good. Dickerson may not meet another man quite like his baseball coach.

“I feel like there is a lot of trust with coach Sanders,” Dickerson said. “And I’ll explain that. Sometimes in baseball you may question a coach. But I never question coach Sanders. There’s never a doubt. Coach knows what he’s doing.”

Even when he’s drawing up a difficult schedule?

“The schedule makes it fun,” Sorrell said.

Sanders has put perennial powers Beechwood, Campbell County, Dixie Heights, Highlands and Ryle on the non-district schedule. He puts the small-school Tigers in the annual Doc Morris Tournament and Bryan Stevenson Memorial.

“It’s my belief that, while we’re teaching kids baseball, we’re showing them how to compete in life,” Sanders said. “We have to teach our kids that they belong on the same stage as the best. That’s why I like to play a schedule with bigger schools and better teams. Yeah, we take our beatings, but the kids deserve that opportunity to play against the best.”

Had Sanders been content to have an easier schedule, Bellevue might never have enjoyed one of its biggest victories. The Tigers took down Covington Catholic, 9-8, in 2008.

“We get better fundamentally when we play good teams,” Sorrell said. “Coach wants the best for us.”

Folks outside the baseball team seem to agree. Sanders has also served as Bellevue assistant athletic director and golf coach.

He has coached girls basketball and volleyball.

Sanders also is the Bellevue Independent Schools Family Resource and Youth Service Center coordinator. Its mission is to minimize or eliminate outside the classroom barriers to learning for students and their families. Sanders works with outside agencies and providers. He helps direct those in need of services to professionals who can make a positive difference.

Sanders is so effective the Bellevue Board of Education gave him the United Way Do Good Award. He also received the Fred Award given by the Bellevue Education Foundation, and a Kentucky Colonel.

“Playing baseball is fun,” Sorrell said. “Coach Sanders makes it that way.”

Bellevue baseball coach Rob Sanders stands with Tigers girls basketball coach Tommy Sorrell, his shortstop’s father. Photo provided.

The scene at Bellevue Vets’ St. Elizabeth Healthcare Field on dedication day. Photo provided | Bellevue Independent Schools

The Tigers prepare for their first game of the season against Holmes. Photo provided | Bellevue Independent Schools

Newport looking for a football coach

Newport High School is looking for its fifth head football coach in nine years following the surprise resignation of Ryan Hahn. The school posted the position May 8.

Hahn coached for two seasons, posting an 11-12 record while Newport Stadium became unavailable for home games due to upgrades.

Hahn’s tenure continued a rise that began with coach Joe Wynn in 2018. The Wildcats followed up a 3-8 finish and went 8-4 in 2023. They won a playoff game for the first time since 2019, beating Holy Cross 54-14 with just 25 players.

The Wildcats went 4-29 in three seasons before Wynn took the helm. That came inside an 11-year stretch, when they went 36-87 with one winning season. They just completed a six-year stretch resulting in a 33-33 record.

The Wildcats boasted exciting players in 2023. Many should return, most in the passing game including the top receivers. They lose seven seniors. Newport expects the return of four new seniors. They include quarterback Kyle Lee who passed for 2,534 yards and 24 touchdowns and wingback Rodzion Thompson. He ran for 643 yards and seven TDs and caught 51 passes for 750 yards and seven more TDs.

There could be 10 returning juniors, including Kendall Buck-Barber, team leader with seven interceptions. There could be four sophomores. They include receiver Amonte Lowe who had 37 catches, 541 yards and seven TDs, and linebacker Sean Hurry. He led the team in sacks.

The next football coach will be Newport’s 11th this century. Included are some wellknown names such as Brian Weinrich, Nick Rice and John Schlarman. There’s also Mark Goetz and Roy Lucas Sr., brother of basketball hall of famer Jerry Lucas. After the legendary Lucas Sr. in 2000, Goetz and Rice coached the longest, four years each. Weinrich and Hahn came to Newport after coaching at Highlands.

NewCath star commits toNKU

Newport Central Catholic High School girls basketball player Caroline Eaglin committed to play basketball at Northern Kentucky University. Eaglin is planning to attend NKU after former Thomas More University women’s basketball coach Jeff Hans became the replacement for former Norse coach Camryn Volz. Coach Hans has experience coaching former NewCath basketball players including 2022 grad Rylee Turner at Thomas More. Hans extended an offer to Eaglin last August while at TMU. Now, she’s his first recruit at NKU.

Eaglin, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, is highly athletic and can score at all three levels. A multi-sport standout, she’s an invitee to play on the Kentucky Junior Girls All-Star Team. Eaglin was honorable mention allstate as a sophomore and junior at NewCath. She was second-team all-9th Region and first-team all-Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II in 2023-24. She led the 9th Region and finished eighth in Kentucky in scoring with 24.8 points per game as a sophomore. Eaglin led NewCath

with 21.9 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior. She finished 19th in Kentucky scoring and first in the region once again.

Eaglin has scored 1,807 points in her NewCath career. She’s on pace to pass Nicole Chiodi as the program’s all-time leader. Chiodi scored 2,124 points, then played at NKU. Turner is next with 2,003. Eaglin also played volleyball as an outside hitter and excels in track and field. In volleyball, she recorded a team-high 214 kills plus 198 digs and 83 assists as a sophomore. She didn’t play as a junior. In track and field, Eaglin posted the 12th-best girls triple-jump in NewCath history. She had a leap of 30 feet, 8.5 inches this year.

Beechwood legend stepping down

Barb Wentz, the longest-serving coach at Beechwood High School, is retiring after 30 seasons as girls tennis head coach. Wentz, a substitute teacher in the Beechwood School District, began her Beechwood tennis coaching career in 1995. The Tigers promptly won a region championship that year.

“We won it before Notre Dame took over,” said Wentz, a three-time local tennis coach of the year. “It was our only region championship. That was a long time ago and it’s been a lot of fun coaching at Beechwood. We did win four or five conference championships. I’ll always be a Tiger. I just think it’s time to stop coaching.”

Born and raised in Kentucky, Wentz attended Ludlow High School and went to college at University of Kentucky. She played several sports at Ludlow, including tennis, basketball, softball, bowling and powderpuff football.

CovCath pair finishes runner-up at state bass fishing championships

Covington Catholic juniors Brandon Smith and Phoenix Parks earned the highest finish for a Northern Kentucky high school team May 10-11 at the KHSAA Operation UNITE Bass Fishing State Championships.

The duo trekked down to Kentucky Lake in Western Kentucky to compete with the top 87 qualifying teams for the state tournament. Smith and Parks had a two-day, 10 bass total of 31 pounds, seven ounces. The weight and placement had them in fourth place after day one on Friday, jumping up two spots on day two on Saturday and taking home runner-up honors.

Muhlenberg County’s Isaiah Smith and Spencer Shemwell took home first place with a two-day, 10 bass total of 40 pounds, two ounces.

Smith and Parks teamed up this season after Smith’s partner graduated last year and the two finished with an impressive showing after placing 21st in the region tournament.

Parks and Smith were one of four NKY teams to compete in the tournament.

Covington Catholic’s second boat of Sam and Eli Scroggins finished in 19th place with a two-day, nine bass total of 22 pounds, two ounces. Fred Scroggins was Sam and Eli’s boat captain.

Bishop Brossart’s Lincoln Schabell and Carson Schultz finished 45th with a twoday, six bass total of 12 pounds, 10 ounces.

Simon Kenton’s Mason Stewart and Jake Taulbee finished right behind the Bishop Brossart pair in 46th with a two-day, six bass total of 12 pounds, nine ounces.

Ryan Hahn, a former Highlands and Hanover College offensive lineman, was promoted to head coach of the Newport football program in 2022. He resigned May 8. Photo provided

Barb Wentz is retiring as Beechwood girls tennis coach after 30 years. Photo provided | Beechwood athletics

Covington Catholic’s Brandon Smith and Phoenix Parks finished runner-up at the 2024 Operation UNITE Bass Fishing State Championships presented by UK HealthCare over the weekend at Kentucky Lake. Photo provided | KHSAA

Newport Central Catholic basketball standout Caroline Eaglin has committed to Northern Kentucky University. Photo provided