LINK Kenton Reader Issue 1, Volume 2 - Nov. 25, 2022

KENTON

ISSUE 1, VOLUME 2 — NOV.

25, 2022

From addiction to success at Center Table p3

Attracting and retaining talent in NKY p6

A mansion with a wild past p11

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

CHIEF

OPERATING OFFICER Mark Collier

CONTENT OFFICER Michael Monks

MANAGING EDITOR Meghan Goth

PRINT EDITOR Kaitlin Gebby

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place doesn’t just cure the addiction, it heals you’

BY HALEY PARNELL | LINK nky REPORTER

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.

In 2019, Erica Owens went through the treatment program at Brighton Center’s Recovery Center for Women. Today, she is the food service manager for Center Table, working in the same program she said played a considerable role in saving her life.

“Tons of positive things happen here all the time,” Owens said. “Lots of miracles. I always say that Center Table saved my life.”

Center Table is a catering business that supports recovery efforts and culinary training for women with substance use disorder. After completing the treatment program in January 2020, Owens took the next steps in her journey when she became a staff member just a few months later in March.

At the time of completing the treatment program, Owens said she was still on probation and had a felony on her record,

making it difficult to find employment. Owens said she doesn’t know what she would have done without the Brighton Recovery Center.

“The best part is that it gets us out into the community, and it shows the community what the face of recovery is and not the face of addiction,” Owens said.

The phrase “the kitchen is the heart of the home” rings true at Center Table. Owens said it makes the women at the facility feel at home; they get in the kitchen, share laughs, and create good memories.

“When you’re in your own home, and you’re cooking, and people come to the kitchen and just talk to you and eat snacks and stuff, that’s like how it is in here,” Owens said. “Center Table gives them a chance to build confidence and self-esteem.”

Owens said she found new confidence in

herself by learning new kitchen skills.

The past two years have been the most successful at Center Table, Owens said. They just celebrated their 10th anniversary in August.

Center Table also recently partnered with The Florentine Event Center in Florence. Owens said they average about 30 to 40 events a year. They have catered for the governor, St. Elizabeth hospitals, and the Boone County Library, to name a few.

“People love our purpose, and that’s why they want to help us, and every bit of the proceeds go back into the recovery center,” Owens said.

On the road to recovery, Owens’ outlook hasn’t always been positive. When she first got to the treatment center, she said she was “extremely angry.”

Continues

‘This

Kay Osborne and Erica Owens in the kitchen of Center Table. The Center Table is a culinary school and teaches the art of food to women who are recovering from addiction. The Center Table has grown to 40 events a year. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky contributor

Erica Owens, from the Brighton Recovery Center, talks about the recovery rate and behavior modification at the center. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky contributor

After years of bullying in school, two failed marriages, and her father’s passing, she turned to methamphetamine to cope.

“I didn’t want to live anymore,” Owen said. “It was weird. Every night, towards the end, when I was ‘in the madness,’ we call that ‘in active addiction,’ I didn’t want to do the drugs anymore; and every day when I woke up, I had to. It’s hard to explain when people don’t understand.”

Her addiction eventually led to her arrest. Owens said she felt like she had lost all control of her life.

“The ladies in this house loved me back to life and took good care of me, and they’re still my friends to this day,” she said.

The treatment could be mentally exhausting, Owens said. She said it was hard to work on things that she didn’t realize have always bothered her, like the years of bullying in school and her father’s death, and have those emotions get brought to the surface in recovery.

“The women in this house taught me how to love myself,” Owens said. “It makes me almost get emotional because I wouldn’t change my life today for nothing. I used to say that I regret that I had to lose my house, my car, and my mom had to take my son for me, but I don’t regret it. I know now that God made me do that so that I could be where I am today to help these women.

“I love to empower them, and to watch the light come on in their face, and to teach them how to be self-sufficient and successful, and that we don’t always have to be that sad person that we looked like when we got arrested.”

Part of her work at the recovery center includes teaching at family night with her mom. Family night educates families on the treatment, how to be helpful in their loved one’s recovery, and how to avoid enabling their habits. They also provide the families with resources to help them heal.

The recovery center is a long-term residential treatment facility that can house up to 108 women. Owens said a lot of their participants are from the Department of Corrections. When they arrive at the facility, they work through

four treatment components.

The first step in the treatment center is Safe Off the Streets. Women quarantine for seven days due to COVID-19, then meet their “big sister,” who takes them to treatment classes.

The women then move on to Motivational Track. They walk two and a half miles to and from a church to attend classes. Owens said this allows bonding time, exercise, and gets them out into the community.

“Unfortunately, before the Brighton Recovery Center got here, treatment was very hush-hush,” Owens said. “It was embarrassing. People didn’t want to know, and that’s not how it needs to be.”

Owens said the center wants the community to see who they are and what they do.

Women receive counseling and medication for their mental health during the Motivational Track, if needed. The center also has a nurse practitioner and a nurse from St. Elizabeth on staff four days a week.

The Motivational Track lasts about eight to 10 weeks, and then the women start working with a sponsor, following the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) steps.

Owens said her sponsor, “Tai Chi Dan,” who teaches Tai Chi to the residents, was the “strict” sponsor she knew she needed once she got out of the program.

Dan Landers’ sobriety date is Oct. 20, 1983, making him 39 years sober. He has sponsored hundreds of people over those years.

Landers and Owens work through the 12 steps of recovery, which he said are technically suggestions but something he sees as mandatory to stay sober.

“I help her with her problems,” Landers said. “I help her with her anger problems, with her normal everyday problems when she doesn’t know what to do. I suggest things to her, and she usually follows my suggestions.”

Kay Osborne and Erica Owens stand in front of the Center Table sign. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky contributor

Owens said the guidance is invaluable.

“We tend to be selfish and self-centered people,” Owens said. “My sponsor always says, ‘What have you done today to inconvenience yourself?’ It’s all about giving back.”

Landers passed on those words of wisdom to Owens –words he once received from his sponsor.

“My sponsor told me a long, long time ago, ‘Takers don’t last long in the land of givers,’ and I went, ‘Wow.’ We become givers so we can live this life,” Landers said.

Even after 39 years sober, Landers has a sponsor. He said he has outlived four of his sponsors over his years of sobriety.

“The first guy, he died (of old age) after eight years of sobriety,” Landers said. “Probably not a day goes by where I don’t think about him at least once because he gave me these tools to live by.”

When Landers first started working with Owens, he saw how much turmoil she carried.

“I thought when I first met her, ‘This woman’s going to explode.’ She was so full of anger, guilt, and resentment and has gotten rid of most of it,” Landers said. “She’s still got a way to go, but she’s working on it. I love her so much. I’m glad she’s in my life today, and I can be a part of hers.”

After 30 days, people in treatment can attend AA meetings outside the property, where they must attend five meetings a week. They also must attend three in-house meetings a week. The center brings in Narcotics Anonymous for people to participate in other programs as they see fit.

Once the Motivational Track is completed, the women can pick a job to start working in the facility. They can join the kitchen crew, become a door greeter, become a big sister to help women in the Safe Off the Streets program, or work on the catering crew.

Participants will work those jobs for anywhere from two to four months as they work on their life skills. Life skills

classes can be anything from financial help, parenting, and healthy relationships, to how to write a resume and prepare for a job.

Owens said during her stay, she was able to relieve some of her debt through help from the financial class.

“We want them to be able to walk out this door and have everything they need at their fingertips. Once they complete it, they are always able to go to any Brighton Center to get any resource that they have,” Owens said.

After the 12 steps, phase two begins.

During phase two, there is an option to become a peer mentor that helps teach classes and share their recovery experiences. Or they can opt to get a job within two weeks.

Phase two lasts 90 days. After the first 30 days, residents can move off the property if they want to, and then for the remaining 60 days, they come back once a week for group counseling.

Owens said they never “throw them out.” Women receiving treatment are allowed to stay for 24 months. Phase two is the biggest transitional stage, and staff ensures that residents know that the center is always a safe space for them.

Owens said 83% of women involved in the program achieve sobriety. In her opinion, it’s because the treatment is longterm.

“It takes a long time for your brain to heal from drugs and alcohol,” Owens said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to get addicted, but it takes a long time to get better.”

They see women as young as 18 years old to women in their mid-70s who need help. The center holds two graduation ceremonies annually and has already celebrated 13 graduates this year. Once a resident graduates, they become

After going through the program, Owens said her mom is now her best friend, and her son, who used to hate the center, views it in a new light.

Thanks to the recovery center, Owens is now three and a half years sober.

“I was hopeless,” Owens said. “You learn in Alcoholics Anonymous that you feel like you’re going to die of hopelessness, and nobody ever has, but mentally, you feel that way … I’m so grateful today. That’s one thing you learn in recovery is you learn to be grateful for things that you took advantage of before. Like the sunshine or the fall leaves, different things like that, and that’s why I say this place doesn’t just cure the addiction. It heals you.”

Erica Owens, from the Brighton Recovery Center talks about the recovery rate and behavior modification at the center. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky contributor known as alumni of the program.

How NKY is fighting to attract talent and keep it here

BY KENTON HORNBECK | LINK nky REPORTER

Ademographic drought is at the forefront of economic discussions in Northern Kentucky, which makes attracting and retaining talent in the regional workforce a critical focal point.

Older adults are projected to outnumber kids for the first time in the country’s history in less than two decades, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2034, people ages 65 and over are expected to reach 77 million while children under age 18 will reach 76.5 million.

For Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Brent Cooper, the message hits home.

“We are in a national and international battle for talent. It’s not just our community, it’s every community across the country,” Cooper told LINK nky. “Everyone is talking about this from a business and civic leader standpoint. We’re going to have to convince our community to make the business-case as to why attracting and retaining talent is such a priority.”

Cooper argues the key to maintaining the region’s vitality lies in attracting and retaining talent, and it should be the top priority of the Northern Kentucky business community. In order to achieve quality of life and maintain reasonable growth, Cooper thinks Northern Kentucky needs continued investment in health, education,

transportation and community vibrancy.

“We have to grow the talent we have, there’s no question about it, but we also have to attract talent,” Cooper said. “We have to make businesses better businesses, so that they can grow their talent. That is what the Chamber of Commerce is talking about every day.”

Now that the regional business community has identified the problem, its organizations are formulating a cohesive response to address the downsides of the phenomenon.

Dustin Lester, vice president of community consulting for Lightcast, a company

that utilizes data to create hiring strategies, presented Northern Kentucky business leaders with strategies to create a better training infrastructure and hiring environment.

“It’s an important thing to the residents of the region to provide new upscaling, rescaling and retraining opportunities, more career career growth potential, but then on the other side of it, you need a strong talent base to support existing businesses so you can have potential to attract new businesses into the region,” Lester said.

For employers, Lester suggested adopting flexible, creative work arrangements; making the recruitment process simpler and

Students of Ignite carefully cut wood in a shop class at the trade and career-focused high school. Photo provided | Boone County Schools

Manufacturing students at Gateway Community and Technical College. Photo provided | Gateway Dustin Lester, of Lightcast, speaks at an Eggs ‘N Issues session in October. Photo provided | NKY Chamber of Commerce

Employers aren’t the only important party crucial to bucking the trend. Regional economic organizations and business advocacy groups play a key part in fostering a business environment that promotes growth, financial literacy and quality hiring environments.

For these organizations, Lester suggested they use strategies such as strengthening their understanding of regional talent; using a data-driven approach to attract talent from outside the region; aligning local education programs to meet the needs of the market.

Cooper said the chamber has already begun implementing these strategies. GROW NKY, which stands for Growing Regional Outcomes through Workforce, is a workforce collective made up of business leaders throughout key regional industries.

Their primary goal is to work collaboratively to leverage the region’s assets to grow, attract and retain a globally competitive workforce, Cooper said. GROW NKY follows a “cradle-to-career” model, which aims to provide the region with reliable education and skills training from childhood to adulthood.

“We’ve been talking about the importance of early childhood education, childcare, quality childcare, the importance of work based learning, co-ops, internships, ap-

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prenticeships, the importance of getting all available workers working so removing barriers to employment,” Cooper said.

Besides growing members of the workforce inside the market, re-engaging second-chance, disabled and disengaged workers will provide employers and job-seekers with more opportunities, he added. Applicants who were formerly incarcerated are a key audience in this, as well as folks who have unemployed for a long time, like veterans and caregivers rejoining the workforce.

“These individuals may need a little bit more flexibility and accommodation to bring them back into the workforce,” Lester said. “Obviously, there’s certainly plenty to do but employers can be flexible and more engaging as well.”

Lester suggests employers accommodate and use out-of-the-box ideas to re-engage these workers.

Northern Kentucky isn’t the only place battling with the effects of demographic drought. Chicago, Charlotte, Detroit, and other metropolitan areas are facing the same wave of retirees, meaning Northern Kentucky has to set itself apart from the pack.

For Cooper, advocating regional infrastructure improvements, including foot and bike paths, and continuing to invest in healthcare and education will help Northern Kentucky stand out when competing for workers outside the region.

• 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

A student of the Ignite Institute in Erlanger measures pieces of wood during a class. Photo provided | Boone County Schools more inclusive; letting workers grow into their jobs through targeted training; consciously working to retain employees.

Quick-thinking Covington resident thwarts cruiser theft

A Covington resident used quick thinking to thwart a police car theft earlier this year, and the city celebrated him at a recent city council meeting.

Rudy Ramirez-Roblero was leaving a church event on June 3 of this year when he observed Covington Police in pursuit of a suspect in the area of 15th and Russell streets. The suspect, jumped into the responding unit Officer Knott’s abandoned car as he was pursuing her, throwing the car into drive and fleeing the scene.

A quick-thinking Ramirez-Roblero hurried to the police cruiser and pulled the suspect from the car. He then put the car in park, and stood by for the police to retrieve the vehicle.

Covington police officers recognized Ramirez-Roblero’s heroism during the Covington Board of Commissioners Legislative Meeting at City Hall. Presented

with the Civilian Appreciation Award, the room of people erupted in applause as Ramirez-Roblero accepted the plaque and shook the hands of council members and Mayor Joseph U. Meyer.

Kenton County increases one tax rate to decrease another

Kenton County recently voted to increase its occupational license tax to help decrease property taxes and better align with other counties in the state, such as Boone and Jefferson.

County Treasurer Roy Cox said the county currently puts more of a burden on the property owners in the county by having a higher property tax.

Kenton County currently gets 35% of its revenue from occupational licenses, whereas neighboring counties earn 66% to 90% of Boone, Jefferson, Fayette, and neighboring Hamilton counties’ revenue comes from occupational licenses.

The Kentucky League of Cities describes an occupational license tax “as a percentage of gross earnings (payroll) on all persons working within the city or on gross receipts or net profits on all businesses within a city.”

Kenton County currently has the lowest rate and the lowest cap for its occupational tax. The cap has not changed in the county since 1978, and the rate hasn’t changed since 1995.

Cox said people paying an occupational license tax would get information from the county each year, telling them the new rates.

Recently retired Nader named new Fort Mitchell Police chief

The city of Fort Mitchell named Rob Nader as their new Chief of Police, replacing Andrew Schierberg, who is retiring at the end of 2022.

Nader spent 25 years as a police officer for

the city of Covington where he served in various roles, including patrol officer, community relations officer, SWAT commander and administrative captain.

In 2017, he was appointed as chief, a position where he served five years. Nader announced his retirement from the Covington police department in August.

During a recent Fort Mitchell City Council meeting, Nader was unanimously appointed as chief. The Fort Mitchell resident is set to be officially sworn in, in January 2023.

Historic building will offer hands-on experience for Covington students

The former Colonial Inn motel earned an infamous reputation as a magnet for drug and prostitution complaints, as well as a spot on the popular reality television show Cops.

The three-story building on 1515 Madison Ave., which has been a drain on Covington

taxpayers, will soon be transformed into a working laboratory for the city’s new Covington Academy of Heritage Trades. The school aims to teach a new generation of construction workers the skills required to restore historic buildings back to their former glory.

Besides the laboratory on Madison, the school’s main campus will be based out of the Latonia Commerce Center, formerly known as the Latonia Shopping Center, where the Enzweiler Building Institute is developing a Covington branch. The inaugural school year for the larger construction trades campus is scheduled to run from Jan. 31 to June 1, 2023, said Vicki Berling, director of Professional Development.

Eventually, the work will culminate in the transformation of the dilapidated building into office space. At that point, the city would transfer ownership of the building to the school to sell, with the proceeds being reinvested back into the school.

Kentucky Supreme Court hears arguments over abortion bans

Kentucky’s highest court will soon decide whether or not to continue to uphold or pause the state’s two abortion bans while the case moves through the justice system.

The Kentucky Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday about whether to uphold the state’s two abortion bans triggered after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this summer.

Roe v. Wade federally protected the right to an abortion, but the decision was returned to individual states after the decision. The state’s two abortion trigger laws – Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law — took effect after the June United States Supreme Court ruling.

The ACLU immediately filed lawsuits on behalf of EMW Women’s Surgical Center and Planned Parenthood, the only two abortion providers in Kentucky.

The arguments come a week after voters in Kentucky voted against a constitutional amendment that would have eliminated the right to an abortion in the Commonwealth’s constitution.

The court will now decide whether to uphold a temporary injunction made by a circuit court judge that would effectively block the ban. The case will most likely go back to circuit court for a trial.

Executive order allows medical cannabis if purchased legally in another state

Gov. Andy Beshear announced he’s taking executive action to allow Kentuckians with certain health conditions to use and possess small amounts of medical cannabis purchased in another state starting on Jan. 1. 2023.

Beshear also said he’s issuing an executive order to regulate the sale of Delta 8, which contains THC but at a lower level than marijuana.

There will be certain conditions to qualify.

First, the cannabis must be lawfully purchased in the United States in a state where the purchase is legal and regulated. There must also be a receipt that proves that the cannabis was bought in one of those places.

Second, the amount a person can purchase and use at any time cannot exceed eight ounces.

Each person must also have a certification from a licensed healthcare provider that shows the individual has been diagnosed with at least one of 21 medical conditions, which include cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic disorder, muscular dystrophy, a terminal illness, and others.

Covington Police Department names new PIO

Lt. Justin Bradbury has been named as Covington Police Department’s new Public Information Officer.

A 17-year veteran of the department who has served several roles during his career, he currently serves as assistant bureau commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau.

In the event that Bradbury is unavailable, 19-year veteran of the Covington Police Department Captain Matt Winship will be standing in. He is currently serving as the Patrol Bureau Commander and SWAT Commander.

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.

Nov. 25 to Dec. 4, 2022

Boone County

Nov. 29: Boone County Fiscal Court Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

Nov. 30: Boone County Planning Commission Zone Change, 5 p.m., Boone County Administration Building, 2950 Washington St., Burlington

Dec. 3: Boone County Holiday Tree Lighting, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Burlington Commons 2951 Washington St., Burlington

Florence

Nov. 28: In the Loop, 10 a.m. to noon. Knit or crochet in relaxed, friendly company. Learn for the first time or pick up some new tricks. Boone County Public LibraryFlorence Branch

Dec. 1: Best of the Best book group, 3 to 4 p.m. Read and discuss “The Boston Girl” by Anita Diamant. Please email Suzanne Yowler at syowler@bcpl.org to register. Boone County Public Library - Florence Branch

Hebron

Nov. 30: Yoga for healthy weight, 6 to 7 p.m.

A holistic approach to maintaining weight, increasing flexibility and building muscle. Bring a yoga mat. $30 fee for the month. Register online at boonecountyky.org/ parks or call the office at (859) 334-2117.

Campbell County

Alexandria

Dec. 1: Alexandria Public Works Committee Meeting, 6 p.m., 8236 West Main St., Alexandria

Business Retention and Development Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 8236 West Main St., Alexandria

Alexandria City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., 8236 West 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

Nov. 28: Cold Spring City Council Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Cold Spring Administration Building, 5694 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring

Dec. 3: Cold Spring Craft Show, 9 a.m. to noon, Cold Spring Community Center, 5686 E. Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring

Dayton

Nov. 30: Dayton VFW Post 2899 Bingo Night, 5 p.m., 828 Sixth Ave., Dayton (every Wednesday)

Fort Thomas

Nov. 28: Renaissance Board Meeting, 5:45 p.m, Fort Thomas Community Center (Mess Hall), 801 Cochran Ave.

Nov. 30: Fort Thomas Farmers Holiday Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fort Thomas Community Center (Mess Hall), 801 Cochran Ave. Will also run Wednesday, Dec. 7 and 14.

Dec. 4: Fort Thomas Holiday Walk, 4 p.m.to 7 p.m., Fort Thomas Central Business District

Newport

Dec. 3-4: Victorian Home Tour, Tea & Stained Glass Walking Tour 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., throughout East Row Historic Neighborhood (Fundraiser/ticketed event, go to Eastrow.org for information)

Kenton County

Nov. 28: 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

Nov. 29: Covington Board of Commission-

ers Legislative Meeting, 6 p.m, Covington City Hall, 20 W. Pike St., 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

Edgewood

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

Erlanger

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

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

Dec. 3: Erlanger Holiday Train Display, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Erlanger City Building, 505 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger

Fort Mitchell

Nov. 30: Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Fort Mitchell City Building, 2355 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell

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

Dec. 4: Holly Jolly Days for Fort Mitchell, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Behringer-Crawford Museum, 1600 Montague Road, Covington (Fort Mitchell and Lakeside Park residents free admission day, proof needed)

Fort Wright

Nov. 28: Santa’s Mailbox Fort Wright, all day, Fort Wright Administration Office, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright

Dec. 3: Fort Wright Tree Lighting, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fort Wright Administration Office, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright

Independence

Dec. 3: Annual Independence Christmas Walk, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Memorial Park, 2003 Jack Woods Parkway, Independence

Former home of Bengals player on market for $1.8M

BY KAITLIN GEBBY | LINK nky PRINT EDITOR

The home of former Cincinnati Bengal Domata Peko, who played defensive and nose tackle for 11 seasons, has been listed for sale for nearly $1.8 million.

The Crestview Hills property, located at 2515 Legends Way, has a whopping six bedrooms and six bathrooms, an in-home theater, a full bar in the basement, a sauna, and a pool complete with a waterfall and slide.

The home’s fascinating history goes beyond its former owner, though.

Buried in the backyard inside a soft-sided cooler was $250,000 of cash, which was dug up by federal authorities in 2010, according to reports from the Associated Press at the time. The money linked back to a housing developer who was ordered to pay back $34 million as part of a conviction for bank fraud and conspiring to obstruct an official investigation. Investigators told the AP it was buried between the third tee box and the sixth green of the Summit Hills Golf Course, just beyond the rear of the home’s property.

Kim Hermann Executive Sales Vice President HUFF REALTY

859.468.6429

KHermann@huff.com

This listing is being managed by Keller Williams’ Nicole Elliott.

A drone-level shot of the six-bedroom, six-bathroom home once owned by a Cincinnati Bengals player in Crestview Hills. Photo provided | Keller Williams Realty

The backyard of this home is practically on the fairway of the Summit Hills Golf Course. Photo provided | Keller Williams Realty

The full bar in the basement of this $1.8 million mansion in Crestview Hills on Legends Way. Photo provided | Keller Williams Realty

A slide is one of the eye-catching features of this $1.8 million mansion in Crestview Hills. Photo provided | Keller Williams Realty

question of the week

What is your most hated food at the holidays?

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.

Steve Coffman: Creamed corn casserole, way too sweet, and usually mushy.

Barbara Reinhart Butler: Yams/ sweet potatoes and pumpkin or pecan pie!

Stephanie Sandefer Rottman: Cranberry relish with oranges and celery. Yuck!

Kristen Barrett: The only cranberry I like is canned. No fancy relish!

Shane Patrick: Green bean casserole

Gina Dew: I haven’t hated on any dish. Or on any family members’ contribution. It’s for giving thanks for being together. I didn’t even cry when my pie went splat.

November saw the first snow of the season across the region. We asked residents to show us what the accumulation looked like from home, and they delivered. Here are a few favorites submitted in the comments on the LINK nky Facebook page:

A short but fashionable snowman is well-dressed for the cold weather. Photo provided | Jane Moczydlowski Kyle

A Fort Mitchell resident bundles up for a romp through the snow.

Photo provided | Leigh Sassler

Snow covers a backyard in Cold Spring. Photo provided | Alicia Lambert Laffin

LINK Streetscapes: Ritchie Avenue in Crescent Springs Powered by Duke Energy

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

The Ritchie Avenue area of Crescent Springs is right off the expressway, and there are so many hidden gems.

Sweet Basil: 2520 Hazelwood Circle

This small spot used to be Rima’s Diner, which was one of my grandma’s favorite places to take me and my siblings. When they closed down, I was sad to see them go, but thankfully they were replaced by Sweet Basil.

Sweet Basil has a variety of options. They are a Thai and sushi bar, making it easy to find a dish everyone will like. While I don’t crave sushi, I seek out Thai food all the time, and I find myself coming back to Sweet Basil for each craving.

Though the inside is cozy, service is quick and so is finding a seat. Large groups should make a reservation online.

When I visit Sweet Basil with a friend, she always orders adventurous sushi rolls, mixing up classic California rolls with an eel roll. Meanwhile, I stick with a low-heat pad thai and a Thai iced tea. And that’s what I love about Sweet Basil – they have options for both safe and daring palates.

I also enjoy the gyoza and wonton soup. The prices and huge portions make it easy to come back for more.

Miyako Sushi and Steakhouse: 2511 Ritchie Ave.

In high school this was the place to be. I had two classmates who sat in front of me in my last class of the day, and every day they would plan to go to Miyako after school.

Like Sweet Basil, they offer sushi and more. However, Miyako doubles as a steakhouse with hibachi grills.

The hibachi offers a show as the food is made right in front of guests. High-end atmosphere and entertaining chefs make it an easy choice for a large group or simple sitdown experience.

I highly recommend reservations online, as the hibachi side quickly runs out of space.

Moonrise Donuts: 2513 Ritchie Ave.

When Moonrise Donuts opened earlier this year, you would think it was the first and only donut shop in all of Kentucky. It was madness, but the popularity and anticipation was largely due to their Latonia location’s success. People were anxious to have another store to find these tasty treats.

The biggest difference in this location from their famous Latonia spot, is that this one operates in the mornings, as the original operates at night.

You do have to visit fairly early in the morning to catch them before they close at noon. Early risers can get a head start on the crowds, if they show up at 6 a.m. when the shop opens.

For those who need an extra hour of sleep, Moonrise lets you preorder donuts online a day in advance. All you have to do is roll in and pick them up. The flavors rotate often but there is nothing like a hot, fresh donut on a cold morning.

For donuts of this high a caliber, they are easy on the pocket book. So really, the only worry here is choosing the right donuts to make the perfect dozen.

Framed NKY: 2519 Ritchie Ave.

Though this is a custom frame store, I very first came upon Framed NKY for reasons one would not expect. My siblings and I wanted to transfer old home videos from VHS tapes onto DVDs for our parents as a gift. We did our research and found that Framed offered just that. It was a quick, easy process and the staff was very attentive, assuring everything was perfect.

The gurus at Framed also source local art, and can put buyers in touch with artists for customized pieces.

After seeing how much my parents loved the gift, we took more home tapes back to Framed to be transferred. Gifts like this are priceless and the extra care they took in helping us was amazing that I will definitely be back to utilize their many other services.

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Fresh donuts from Moonrise Donuts’ new location in Crescent Springs.

Empty seats are arranged around a hibachi grill inside Miyako Sushi and Steakhouse before the dinnertime rush.

Women’s high school hoops teams prepare for season openers

The Walton-Verona Bearcats open the season Nov. 29 at home against Conner High School. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

The Bearcats finished 15-14, winning a fourth-straight district championship when point guard Audrey Carrico hit a jumper as time expired. The team’s post-season road ended in a loss to Spencer County in the region quarterfinals.

Last year, they outscored opponents, 16481459 and grabbed 779 rebounds. This year, the Bearcats hope to push the tempo and run the motion halfcourt offense and a mixture of zone and man defenses.

The Simon Kenton Pioneers open the season at home Nov. 28 against the defending All “A” state champion Owen County Rebels at 7:30 p.m.

This year, the Pioneers are led by former assistant coach Brenden Stowers – son to former head coach Jeffrey Stowers, who retired last season.

The Pioneers finished 17-13 last year, losing 77-67 to Anderson County in the region quarterfinals. They also lost 56-54 to Walton-Verona in the district title game. Simon Kenton graduated three starting seniors from that team, guards Alexis Baker and Teanna Griffin, and center Sereniti Webb. returning starters are senior forward Emilee Eggleston and eighth grade guard Brynli Pernell. Freshman forward/guard Anna Kelch had eight to 10 starts down the stretch. Eggleston averaged 10.6 points per game.

This year, the Pioneers hope to play an up-tempo style of basketball, pressuring the basketball and running the motion offense in the halfcourt and play mostly a man-to-man defense.

Norse women’s basketball team wins triple-overtime season opener

The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team needed three overtime sessions to outscore old Atlantic Sun foe Lipscomb Bison, 101-95 in the season opener Thursday at Truist Bank Arena. The visitors from Nashville fell to 0-2 on the young season.

NKU had many chances to close out the game before the third overtime but the Norse missed some key shots and free throws. NKU made 33 of 73 shots overall

for 45 percent including 5 of 19 from threepoint range for 26 percent and just 30 of 53 free throws for 57 percent.

Head coach Camryn Whitaker came into the postgame press conference and said she’d never been part of a game like that.

Only three NKY teams survive second round of football playoffs

The second round of the Kentucky high school football playoffs brought the end of the season for seven local teams.

Three managed to march on to the third round, the quarterfinals.

The night claimed some of the region’s top teams, including Highlands High School and Covington Catholic, as well as Bishop Brossart and Simon Kenton.

Lloyd High dispatched the Walton-Verona Bearcats in the only pairing of local teams,

while Dayton could not build on their previous momentum and lost on the road in Louisville.

Ryle High School also lost on the road in Louisville against Louisville Ballard.

Thomas More QB ties school record for passing touchdowns

Thomas More University recently won in a big way, starting with a great finish for the Saints’ football season. They finished with a 43-10 Mid-South Conference romp over the University of the Cumberlands.

Quarterback Blaine Espinosa tied a program record with five passing touchdowns, throwing for 254 yards and running for 23 and a touchdown. That equaled Justin Post’s five in a 2019 game against Kentucky Christian.

In the same weekend, the TMU men’s basketball team won 87-62 against Kent State-Tuscawaras in the Connor Classic.

Thomas More quarterback Blaine Espinosa. Photo provided | Thomas More Athletics

Simon Kenton 5-4 eighth grade guard Brynli Pernell (4) gets down in defensive position in the 32nd District semifinals against Williamstown last year. Pernell returns to run the point guard for Simon Kenton this year. Photo provided | Carla Martin

Northern Kentucky University senior guard Ivy Turner (2) dribbles against Lipscomb sophomore guard Claira McGowan (20) in the season opener on Thursday. NKU won 101-95 in triple overtime. Photo provided | NKU Athletics

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